The Washington times., 1907-07-28
Brief History
of the Senator's
EVentfuI Life

Edmund Winston Pettus was born !
July G, 1871. in Limestone county. Ala 4
bama, and was educated in the common \
schools OF that State and at Clinton \
College. He studied law with William |
Cooper and was admitted to the bar at ,
the age Of twenty-One- He began prac-
ice at Gainesvifie, Ala, in the latter
part OF 1S42 and met with marked sue
cess from the beginning Of his career. /
In 1874 he was elected solicitor for the i
seventh circuit Of Alabama and in 1873 \
resigned this office and went to Cali I
fornia, going the entire distance on /
horseback.
six years later he returned 70 his |
native State and was elected judge of
the same circuit He resigned from (
this Office after three years and went to
Dallas county, where he had his resi-
dence in the town Of Selma
Senator Pettus saw much service as
a soldier, being a lieutenant In the Mex
lean war and entering the Confederate
army in 1861 as major Of the Twentieth
Alabama Infantry. He was soon after
wards made lieutenant colonel OF that
regiment In October, 1863, he was
raised TO the rank Of brigadier general
Of infantry and served to the end OF the
war.
Elected to the Senate.
He returned to his home after the
war and again commenced the practice
OF law. in which he met with continued
success. In November, 1895. he was
nominated and elected TO be United
States Senator fer the term commencing
March 4. 1897. His present term would
have expired on March g. 1909.
His aged colleague, Senator Morgan
died in this city only two months
previous to Senator Pettus' serious i'll
ness. Senator Morgan was also a resi-
dent OF Selma.
A lifetime associate, in paying tribute
TO Senator Pettus short time ago.
said:
"People who talk about age and oge
limits should know Senator Pettus
When he had reached the time for chlo-
reforming. according TO the Osler doc
trine. back in 'G3, he was instead per-
forming pranl5s Of daring in defense Of
Vicksburg.
"He was young officer then. fight
ing for the Confederate army. Tho
situation had become desperate, and
volunteers had been called for in a for
lorn hope. y brigade Of reckless Texans
offered for the service. and Fettus Of
fered to lead. Ard he did leed-led
where war WAS hottest, and at the head
of the column, his six feet looming large
in front, that protruding lower jaw set,
and bent upon taking the works at any
cost
Loved for His Daring.
"The Texans loved him for his dar-
ing. and where that tall figure led they
followed When all was done and they
learned he was from Alabama, and not
from Texas they insisted on adopting
him for their state, and by one acclaim
he was christened Old Texas
Senator Pettus was a forty-niner. He
rode from Alabama to California on
horseback with q company or forty
neighbors. He was then mere lad Of
twenty-eight, but had already seen ad-
venture In the Mexican war II was a
hazardous undertaking in 40 TO cross
the Continent. when Pullmans were un-
known and red men were well known.
1t took toughness OF fiber and other
traits which belonged TO Pettus, and
which even then presaged longevity and
usefulness"
Willis J. Abbott, writing in the Au-
gust Munsey Magazine said:
During their ten years Of joint SER
vice in the Senate the two Alabama
veterans came to occupy a distinct po-
stion in the upper house" They were
relics OF a past era of craftsmanship
differing widely from the ideas and be-
"
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