The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1907-12-27
DEATH COMES
SUDDENLY
To Judge Vertrees-Palatka
Mourns Its Best Loved
Citizen,

Judge James ". V GfGTeeS, Dy Fed-
son of age and his numerous friend
ships, probably Palatka's best loved
citizen, died suddenly on Monday
evenings the 23d inst, of heart fail
ure. Judge Vertrees made his home
with his daughter and son-in.law,
Mr.. and Mrs. J. N. Walton, and his
death occurred at their residence
about s o'clock. Mrs. Walton, Mrs.
w. A. Walton and Miss Susie Lee
| Walton were alone with him at the
time. Death came without premon-
ition and there was no struggle. In
fact the end was as he had frequent
| ly expressed the wish that it might
| be when the time should be. full. To
his daughter he said, "Catch me,
am falling;" there was gasp, and
all was over.
Judge Vertrees had been confined
| to the house since Monday evening
attack of dizziness. He also had a
nounced la grippe. But he was up
and in his chair much of the time,
was cheerful, and on the night of his
proving; so much better was he that
l IlIC VI i0htAAJ iiNNN
gone down srteet to do their Christ
mas shopping,
Only some half hour before he was
sitting up and visiting with his pas
tor, Rev. j. F. Bell, who had prayer
with him. After this all engaged
in cheerful conversation for few
moments, then babe him good night.
Drs. Warren and Cyrus were sum-
4 y1,nnn1 i'm obi atalu and both
nounced that death had resulted I'M
mediately.
| News of the death of Judge Yer
trees spread rapidly, and the express
sions of sorrow were general and
sincere.
The funeral occurred from the
home at o'clock on Tuesday after
noon, Rev. J. F. Bell of the Metho-
dist, and Rev. L. r. Lynn of the
Presbyterian, churches, officiating
The house and grounds were filled
with sorrowing friends and they
, brought beautiful flowers to pile up
ION the bier. The veteran association
of the Blue and Gray attended in a
, body, as also did the Daughters OF
the Confederacy.
The body was taken to Nashville
, Tenn, for interment and was accom-
panied by his son, James G. Vertrees
Judge Vertrees was born in Gray
/ son Co., Kentucky, June 18th, 1925
! His family moved to Gallatin, Tenn,
! when he was Is years of age, and
: here he lived several years, when he
moved to Missouri, and where he
served some time as a Judge of Pro-
, bate. At the breaking out of the
civil war Judge Vertrees entered
: in Capt. McCarty's company-t the 9th
Missouri Infantry, serving under
Gen Sterling Price. He was third
! lieutenant of his company. He serv-
ed through the Missouri campaign
until the battle of Lexington, where
= he was severely wounded. On re-
turning to his regiment he was as.
I signed by General Price as a com
missioner for the exchange of pris
oners.
| At the close of the war Judge Yer
. trees returned to his old home il
q Gallatin, Tenn, and where he con
\ tinued to reside until his removal tC
this city in January, 1884.
During his residence here Judge
= Vertrees has filled the offices o.
county treasurer, county commits
sioner, and member of the city coun
Gil. He was senior member anC
founder of the firm of Vertrees & Co.
of this city and director in the Put
nam National Bank.
Judge Vertrees was married July
29th, 1S49, and survived his wife 1
little over II years. He is survived
by one sister, Mrs Owen of Leitch-
field, KY, who is two years hi
senior. Also by his sons, John j
and w. O. Vertrees of Nashville
Tenn, and James G. Vertrees of this
city, and one daughter, Mrs. j. N
Walton, also of Palatka.
Judge Vertrees was a faithful at.
tendant and supporter of the Meth
odist church, and his whole life bore
witness of his entire reliance upor
the promises of God for that future
from whose bourne no traveller re
turns"