The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1913-02-15
DEATH OF J. BURRUss McGEHEE.

Tenee, aSeQ~ ~ years, the Iludle VI
a gradual decline, following many
years of a dyspeptic state of health.
His devoted wife and his only son,
j. Stewart McGehee, of st. Louis,
Mo-, were with him at the end. The
body was taken to WOodville, Miss,
on the afternoon train, Wednesday,
and there lay in st. Marks Epis-
copal Church over night. The funer-
al services took place Thursday
morning at II o'clock, with interment
Ill Bowling Green plantation, where
the family burial ground is located.
A number Of persons from West Fe.
liciana went up for the funeral.
Mr.. McGehee was foremost among
the citizens and planters, not alone
of West Feliciana, but of South Lou.
isiana. He came of a virile ances.
try. He was the son of Judge Ed.
ward McGehee, of Wilkinson Co.,
Miss, man who stood head and
shoulders above the rank and file
Of mankind as regards character,
piety and life Of usefulness. Like
father, like son, and though the lat
ter was the child of the fathers old
age, he embodied in his own life
many of the fine characteristics that
set Judge McGehee up as a remark.
able man. The younger man was
we'll trained and educated, complet-
ing his studies at the University of
Virginia.
He served as a soldier in the Civ.
il War, member of Co. C, La. Cav
airy. But he always deprecated any
credit therefor, saying that dyspep.
sla and adverse orders had made
him only "a buttermilk ranger" For
that reason he declined cross of
honor, ignoring the fact that "they
also serve who only stand and wait"
But if he considered his war rec
ord of slight value, his subsequent
career could certainly not BE so
characterized. From early manhood
until the clear call came, "up high
err he served not merely the in
terests Of himself and his own fam
lily, but considered the welfare of
the commonwealth. No matter con-
corning the public veal but attract
ed his interest and received his sup
port. He stinted neither his time
nor his money in the public service.
His voice, his pen and his purse were
easily enlisted for any cause his
judgment approved as of benefit to
the people. Noticeable even among
such efforts that filled life length
ened almost to the Scriptural limit,
were his activities for white suprem-
acy in the days Of Reconstruction,
and in the Anti-lottery and the Good
Government League campaigns, and
n his unceasing efforts to teach his
fellow-planters the folly of the all
cotton system of farming.
He was among the first to break
away from cotton. Over 25 years
ago he went into stock-raising and
the cultivation of grain and hay. He
called his big plantation "a farm"
and introduced plain farming meth
DDS in it's care and culture. He be-
came an authority on raising South
ern oats and lespedeza hay. He
pointed out the admirable possibili-
ties along these new lines, which
the soil and climate of the parish af.
forded. That the coming over to bis
opinions has been long delayed is all
the greater tribute, now that it IS
coming. For despite great conf
dence in him, the people were slow
to abandon the all-cotton crop, and
would not do so, until forced by in
sect ravages.
Though a sufferer from vari-
GUS ailments, it took much to
sap the vim and energy of a
broad and tireless mind, and a body
set, like a watch, to habits of unflag'
sing industry. AS long as his health
permitted, he bore alone the cares
incident to the conduct of his large
plantation, and yet was unfailing in
the performance of every public duty
as citizen and as Christian. When
increasing infirmities brought his
son to his side as a devoted helper,
he still kept up his methods of sup
ervision, and his live interest ii
the world never failed.
A devout churchman, he was lay
reader of st. Johns Episcopal church
at Laurel Hill, and year after
year was an attendant upon the an
nual Diocesan council in New Or
leans.