The Washington herald., 1909-07-15
YIRGINIA'S GRAND
OLD MAN Is DEAD
John GOOde, Statesman and
Lawyer, Expires.
DEATH WAS NOT UNEXPECTED
Served SIX Years in Congress from
the Norfolk District-Twice Helped
Appointed Solicitor General by
Cleveland, but Not Confirmed.
speaaI % The wa.h.netan Head.


Norfolk, Va. July 1A-John Goode. Vir-
ginia's grand old man. and supposed 10
have been the last surviving member of
the Confederate Congress, died at s:45
o'clock this morning at st. Vincent's Hos
pital. aged eighty years.
Death followed a stroke OF paralysis
sustained few weeks ago. With him
when he died was his youngest son. At
torney James Z. Goode. Of this city. and
on their way TO the death bed when the
end came were his other children, Mrs.
W. T. Brooke. Of this city. and John B.
Goode. an older son. OF New York.
The funeral services viii be conducted
tomorrow afternoon at $50 O'Clock at st.
Luke's Episcopal Church. The preacher
has not yet been announced The body
will be inferred in Bedford.
Hundreds OF messages Of coincidence
have been received by the children and
other relatives Of the distinguished man
Born in Bedford County.
John Goode was born in Bedford Coun-
ty. Va. on May q, 1923, and was the son
Of John and Ann Leftwich GOOde His
father was a farmer and a soldier in the
war OF 1872. and his mother was a daugh-
ter OF Gen. Joel Leftwich, a soldier OF
the Revolution.
The early education Of the future states
man was obtained at country schools.
He later attended the New London Acad-
III,
latter institution he entered in 1916. A
student at the Lexington Law School. he
was admitted to the bar in ISL, and in
November OF that year he was elected 10
the State legislature. His political activi-
ties commenced with that election In
the Presidential campaigns Of 1852 and
iS56 he was chosen as electOr, represent
ing the county OF Bedford In the conven-
lions which elected him
Served in Secession Convention.
His next public Office was that OF a
representative OF his county IN the State
Secession Convention IN 1861. In his
''ReeoIlectons OF a Lifetime" he pre-
sents a graphic picture OF some Of the
men with whom he was associated IN
that conventioE4, and narrates many
striking events Of those epoch-making
Jays.
be volunteered his services in defense
OF Virginia when the war between the
States broke out, joining a company or
eanized by Capt (afterward Gem Will
lam r. Terry After the first battle OF
Manassas he was assigned as yoluntesr
aid on the staff OF Gen Jubal Early
upon the application OF the general him.
self, with the rank OF captain. While in
camp at Union Mills, near Fairfax Court
House, in the fan OF 1851, he was elected
10 the Confederate Congress and served
as a member Of that body until the disso-
luton OF the Confederate States govern
ment.
Moved TO Norfolk
IN September, 1865. ne moved 20 Nor
folk and engaged in the practice of law
here. becoming a member OF the firm
Of Hinton, Goode & Chaplain. IN 1856
he was again elected TO the Virginia
house OF delegates. and was later ap-
pointed a visitor 20 the Virginia Poly
technic Institute by Gov. Walker. He
also served az q member Of the board
Of visitors 10 the University OF Virginia
and the College Of William and Mary.
In 1868 he was sent as a delegate 10
the Democratic national convention al
New York that nominated Seymour and
Blair. and during that session was
named as the Virginia member Of the
Democratic National Executive Commit
tee, for a term OF four years, and was
reelected in 1872 for a like term. In
the same year he was chosen president
Of the Virginia Democratic State con-
vention, and was also a delegate from
Virginia to TIE Democratic national con-
vention which convened IN Baltimore.
Elected TO Congress.
In November. 1874 he was elected a
member Of the Forty-fourth Congress OF
the United States from the Norfolk dis
trict. and also served this district in the
Forty-fifth and Forty-sIxth Congresses
but was defeated as a candidate for the
FOrty-seventh Congress. The Congress
sional campaign in this district during the
summer and fall Of 1874. when he ran
against the then Republican Congress-
man. James II. Platt, was one of the
most exciting and strenuous contests ever
witnessed here. Party feeling was bitter
and excitement was for weeks ar fever
heat Never did his superb physique
wonderful voice on the hustings. and
great elOQuence stand him in better stead
and he made one OF the most brilliant
and successful campaigns against great
odds the state has ever seen.
After the final adjournment Of the
Forty-sixth Congress. in March, 1881, he
returned 10 Norfolk, and afterward
opened an Office IN Washington. where
he practiced law. In 1884 he was ap-
pointed one OF the electors on the Cleve-
land ticket, and afterward chosen presi-
dent OF the State college Of electors.
President Cleveland appointed him So
iic1tor General Of the United States, which
position he held until August, 1856. when
the Senate refused 10 confirm his nomi-
nation, the opposition being led by Gen.
Malone. then a Senator During Presi-
dent Clevelands second term Mr.. Goode
was appointed q commissioner OF the
United States 10 settle certain claims be-
tween the United States and Chile. He
also served a term as president OF the
State Bar Association.
In Constitutional Convention.
He was elected delegate from Bed
ford County 10 the Virginia constitutional
convention OF lsM-O2, OF which he was
elected president and over which he pre-
sided with marked ability and i'm
partially.
His last active work was as a commits
sioner TO several States which he visited
in the interests OF the jamestown Expo
sltion.
For more than half a century Mr.. Goode
was leading figure in the affairs Of Vir-
ginia, and his voice and pen and sword,
when necessary, were always at the COM
mand Of his State and country. He was
In all respects, in private and public life,
a man Of spotless integrity and lofty
patriotism. and was noble example 10
his day and generation.
Mr. CoOde IS survived by three cbff5rao