The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-03-23
DISTINGUISHED
TENNESSEAN.
COL. J. 3. KlLLEEREW GOES TO
HIS REWARD.

Col. ]. B. Killebrew, one of the mos
prominent and widely known citizen.
in this state, passed away Saturday
morning at 4:30 o'clock at Forts In
Urinary, Nashville, where he had beer
for the past two weeks, suffering from
an attack of pneumonia. Col. Kille
brew was nearing his seventy-fifth
birthday, having been born May 20
1881.
The remains were taken to his
home in Montgomery County near
GAINESVILLE, where funeral services
were conducted at 2 o'clock at
Whites Chapel. The burial was in
the family burial ground and he was
inferred with Masonic honors.
The Nashville American gives the
following brief history of Col. Kille-
brew's life:
Col Killebrew was a man of many
attachments and of fine character and
was held in the highest esteem by
the people of Tennessee. His death
was preceded but few weeks by that
of his wife, beside whom his remains
were laid to rest Sunday afternoon.
He is survived by the following chill
dren: Mrs Matte K. Jones, of New
York Mrs. Lula K. Orr and George
w. Killebrew, Oh Mt. Pleasant; ]. P.
and A. B. Killebrew, of GAINESVILLE,
and j. B. Killebrew, of Mobile, Ala
In the death of Col. Killebrew Ten
lnssee has lost one of her most val
ued citizens, his knowledge of the
State resources and economic status
was perhaps greater than that of any
other man. The many public address
es delivered by him and the valued
writings he has left have served to
impart something of the extent of his
diligence and intelligence. The adj
vantage possessed by Tennessee for
the purpose of industrial and agricul-
tural enterprises were never more
widely or accurately advertised than
through the treatises upon this sub
ject prepared and circulated by him
while Commissioner of Agriculture.
May 20, 1881, Joseph Buckner Kill
Hebrew was born in Montgomery coun-
ty, Tennessee, coming of Revolution
airy ancestry who had migrated into
Tennessee from North Carolina and
Virginia in the last decade of the
century. His education
was received at the University of
North Carolina, from which he grad
uated in 1856. While a practitioner
of law at GAINESVILLE he was married
to Miss Kate Wimberly, and from
the union was born seven children
He was made Commissioner of Agri-
culture on the election of John G.
Brown as Governor in 1872 and was
at the same time agent of the Pea
body Fund, Secretary of the National
Association and editor
and publisher of the Rural Sun. For
several years he was also agricultur-
al editor of the American. The work
lone by Col. Killebrew before the |
Legislature of the years 1912 is con-
;idered to have resulted in the adop-
ion of the present system of public |
schools. AS the editor of the Rural |
Suu ho hanomo a rocoCni1od o,,tbor
ty in the agricultural world and was
Isked to contribute essays on related
ubjects by the Standard Dictionary,
prominent magazines, and in 1880
vas engaged by the Census Bereau
o direct it's reports on tobacco and
Is culture.
Ills knowledge of the minerals,
oils, forestry and grasses of the
outh, and especially Tennessee, gave
i'm a high place among agricultur-
lists, his writings being quoted by
'riters on these subjects in all parts
the world. The medal offered by 6
lie Commissioners of the Paris Elk {
osition for the most practical work {
4 Grasses was given to Col. Kille-
rev for paper prepared by him for J
lie University Of Tennessee. f
Until few years ago Col. Kille.
'ew was Industrial and Agricultural
gent for the Nashville, Chattanooga
st. Louis Railway. During his in
of that position he brought
any new people into the State. They
me from the North and Northwest {
ID were Of the most desirable class,
ing in most instances families of
cans. Through his entire service
tn the railroad he continued to ad- "
rtise the State, sending descriptive m
amphlets and other matter to IT
lrope. is
The last few years of his life were tc
ent on his farm in Montgomery SC
unity, which consists of several hun /
ed acres Of the best farming land th
the State and under the highest er