The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-04
EDWARD GATCHELL
is DEAD IN SELMA
Was One of the Most Promi-
nent Men in State
B'NAI BIRTH SMOKER
Was Cne of the Most Entertaining At
fairs Of the Kind Ever Given
BY the Order In
Selma.


For the past five or six days it has been
known that Mr.. Gatchell was critically
Ill. He had undergone an operation and
the treacherous complications, pneumonia
set in leaving little hope for his re-
covery For the past three days many
anxious inquiries have been made as to
his condition evincing the high esteem in
which he was held and the interest felt
in his condition by his hundreds Of
friends. Last night the word was given
out that the end was near and the in
|, formation was received with deep sor-
row. The end came about half past
o'clock, and there passed to the realms
of the unknown a man beloved by many
respected by all and dislked by none.
The death of Mr.. Gatchell is nothing
short of a calamity to Selma. He was
citizen of the energetic, enterprising sort
conscientious in his dealings with his fell
low men, unselfish in his devotion to Sell
ma, and the sort that builds up a city
In his home life he was the ideal hus-
band and father and in his religious life
no more faithful, loyal Christian gentle
man ever gave more of his means and in
fiuence than did he.
His Life History.
Mr. Gatchell was born in Selma about
forty-two years ago, and he has made his
home here ever since his birth. From boy
hood estate he embarked into the drug
business with J. d. wilkins & Co, who
conducted pharmacy, corner Broad and
Water streets. For two years he ran az
express messenger on the old Selma,
Rome and Dalton railway. Later with w.
S. Butler he established the book firm
of Butler & Gatchell and still later re-
turned to the drug business in the firm
of Cunningham & Gatchell For a number
of years he travelled this territory for
Montgomery drug firm and finally pur-
chased the drug business of Gait & Co.,
and established the Gatchell Drug COM
pany in which he had built up a SPLEEN
did trade when death cut him off in the
very zenith of his career and usefulness.
Mr.. Gatchel took the greatest interest
in all civic, military and fraternal affairs.
In his younger days he was an energetic
member of the Selma Guards and later
of the Pettus Rifles. He belongs to the
Commercial and Industrial association of
Selma and among his last expressions
relative to Selmas good was that of re-
greet that, owing to having to undergo
| the operation he would not be able to
attend the recent smoker given by that
organization.
In the matter of fraternal organizations
Mr. Gatchell was one of the most widely
known and brightest Masons in the state.
He was also a member of Selma lodge of
/ - Nc.
and held number of positions In that
order.
| The deceased married Miss Minnie Scott
| Taylor of Montgomery who with four
children survive him. They are Miss
Danna, student at Livingston college,
| Catherine, Edward and Lillian.
The funeral occurred this afternoon at
o'clock from the late residence of the
| deceased, conducted by the Rev. E. B.
Robinson, pastor of Alabama Street Pres
| byterian church of which the deceased
| was an elder, and of the Sunday school
| of which he was the first enrolled scholar
| The Rev. A. A. Little, pastor of the Broad
! Street Presbyterian church assisted in the
ceremonies. ~
! AS Mr.. Gatchell was an officer of the
| grand lodge of Masons that body Of
| ficiated In the services at the grave, the
knights Templar furnishing uniformed
escort for the body. H. S. d. Mallory.
deputy grand master, officiated in the
| funeral services, assisted by members
from Selma Fraternal lodge and Central
City lodge No. 305
The pail bearers were: ]. A. Stephen
son, ]. S. O'Gwynn. j. w. Preston, o.
H. P. Wright, George A. Cunningham and
f. P Gait.
!. o. B. 8. Siaokcr.
The members of Zadac lodge No. 155.
/ Independent Order of B'nai Birth marked
an epoch in Its career last night when a
smoker was given at the rooms Of the
| Harmony club. There were about fifty
| members of the order present and Leo
Levy. the president of the Selma lodge
presided over the meeting.
The first thing on the programme was
| the initiation of the six newly elected
members of the order, which was done in
| due form. Then came the carrying out
of programme which had for its object
the entertainment and edification Of those
present
| Isaac Schwartz, who was elected grand
conductor of the grand lodge of the
| seventh district at its recent meeting in
Montgomery made and extended report on
| the state of the order, and his remarks
were listened to with strict attention
| There were other reports made and then
those present gathered around a table
| laQen with BoOu tTlISS TO eat ana the
remainder of the evening was spent in the
| making and listening to responses to sem
| timents of interest to members of the
order and for the good OF the order
| The smoker is declared on all sides to
| be a great success and those who attended
give much praise to the committee in
whose hands was left the arrangements
for the affair
Local and Personal.
| DIR. c. Brooks Thomas of Thomaston is
visitor to the city today.
Mr. Charles Henderson, candidate for
associate railroad commissioner. was in
Selma a short while yesterday afternoon,
having gone down the Birmingham Selma
and New Orleans and returning this
| morning when he went down the Pensa-
| cola division of the Louisville and Nash
Vile. Mr.. Henderson is expected to re-
| turn to Selma tonight or tomorrow and
| spend some time in this city.
a. lG Payne. who will succeed c. L..
! Whaiey as soliciting agent OF the Louis
willie and Nashville in this city. will reach
here tomorrow from New Orleans. Mr..
| Payne is said to be an exceedingly cour-
teous and energetic railroad man and he
will receive cordial welcome from Sell
| mians.
Major Joseph Hardie of Birmingham is
| in Selma, his old home. It was thought
| that Major Hardie was In Los Angeles
| at the time of the San Francisco disas-
| ter but he states that he had left that
city and was in Mexico and en- route home