Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1908-07-31
GOVERNOR LANHAM DIES
Passes Peacefully Away at HIS
Weatherford Home.
H0NORED CAREER AT END.
Coming With His Wife to Texas Aftes
Calamity Fighting For the Lost Cause
He Was. School Teacher, a District
Attorney. Congressman and Governor.


Aeornsys Congressman and Governor.
Weatherford, Tex, July 3O.-After
rallying in the earlier part of the day.
Hon. S. w T. Lanham began to sink,
and surrounded by all his children
except his son, Frank. then en- route
home from Fort Worth, passed peace
fully away at 11:25 o'clock Wednes-
day night He died with a smile upon
his lips.
In the morning he called for his
spectacles, put them on and directed
that the morning newspaper be
brought to him. During the day he
talked pleasantly with various mem.
bers of his family
II was not until sometime after
sunset that he showed any symptoms
of sinking Growing weaker about
10 O'Clock, Governor Lanham seemed
to realize that his end was a matter
of few hours. Calmly he gave direc.
tions that his sons, Dr. H. NJ. Lanham
of Waco. Edwin Lanham OF Weather
ford and Fritz Lanham and his daugh.
ter, Mrs. Ed Connor of Dallas, who
were at home, remain at his bedside,
saying that the end of his earthly ca
reer was near.
During his last illness, which follow
ed the shock attendant upon the death
of Mrs. Lanham, Governor Lanham
lost greatly in weight. His face grew
much thinner and his frame rather
emaciated, but with wonderful vitality
for a man of his years. his mind was
clear and his wits keen to the last
hour of his eventful life.
S. w. T. Lanham was born on his
fathers farm in Spartanburg district.
South Carolina, July 4, 1916. AS a
boy he was very fond of reading. Often
when sent to the field to work he
would be found curled up under a
tree buried in some good book. At
the age OF fourteen he knew by heart
Pollock's Course of Time" When he
was fifteen he had his first and only
great teacher. He never tired of pay
ing tribute to the influence and inspira-
tion of this man under whose tutelage
he learned as much Latin, Greek and
English in one year as most boys
learn in four
While still a boy he entered the
Confederate army and did gallant SER
vice until the end of the war. Return
ing home. he married. and in 1866
started overland with his pretty young
bride to Texas. His property consist
ed of two mules, a wagon and 5000.
The trip took three months, but the
young couple were never discouraged
After looking over the country, Mr.
Lanham chose Weatherford as a per.
manent home He taught school for
a time. assisted by his wife Indeed,
Governor Lanham has often said that
his wife contributed greatly to his ed.
ucation
Mrs. Lanham, whose maiden name
was Sarah Meng, was born in Spartan
burg, S c.. and died at Weatherford
on July of the present year.
Mr. Lanham was admitted to the
bar at Weatherford in 1869, and was
soon thereafter named district attorney.
He was elected to congress in Novem-
ber. 1888, and was reelected four
times. He then devoted himself to
the practice of law for four years, but
was again made congressman in No
vember. 1896, and continued to serve
in that position until inaugurated as
governor in January. 1908. He was
reelected in 1904 to the chief magls.
try of the state and served in that
position until January, 1907, when he
retired to his home at Weatherford.
He did valuable service in congress,
especially on the judiciary committee.
Those who knew him best attribute
his success in life to his untiring in
dustry, his perfect sincerity and his
high moral ideas (Adapted from Mrs
Pennybacker's New History of Tex
as.~
Mr.. Lanham was a candidate for the
Democratic nomination for governor
In 1894. but was defeated by Hon
Charles A. Culberson. After period
of four years he returned to congress
and then In 1902 made a successful
race for governor, being nominated by
acclamation. The duties of his office
were heavy. He was conscientious o
the performance of them, and 1t soor
became apparent to his friends anC
acquaintances that he was impairint
his health. He retired from office
in 1907 very much broken physically
but with the good opinion of the peo
pie. His condition continued to grow
worse, and he declined rapidly aftel
Mrs. Lanham's death.
Governor Lanham was. a self-mad'
man. AS he often remarked, he had
in his youth, to contend both with ig
norance and poverty. He became {
scholarly man, and his writings anC
speeches, both public and private
were models Of correct English.