Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-20
SENATOR ECHOLS
DIES AT HIS HOME
Was Chairman of State Tax
Commission and of Senate
Finance Committee.
IN PUBLIC LIFE SINCE 1880
Served as Lieutenant-G Governor
of Virginia With Governor
]. Hoge Tyler.
IN PUBLIC LIFE SINCE 1880

State Senator Edward Echols died at
9:1o yesterday morning at his home in
Staunton. whore he had been i'll for
about month. For several days his
death had been expected at any time
For years he had not been in good
health. but his friends had grown used
TO his condition and felt no apprehen-
zion when he was taken down about
n month ago. Never in robust health
ne had overtaNcd his strength in the
past year in his service as chairman
OF the Finance Committee OF the state
senate, as chairman OF the state Tax
Commission and IL connection with his
duties as president of the National
Valley Bank, of Staunton. of which he
had been director. vice: president and
president covering a period Of thirty
one years.
HAD nEEN IN PUBLIC
LIFE EVER SINCE 1880
NO man In recent years has held the
devotion Of the people OF his section
as has: Edward Echols lie had been
In public life since 1850, without u
break except for four years after he
had served as Observation-Disclosures
ana he was always elected with ease
Ills position in financial circles had al
ways given To the banking institutions
OF Stnunton strength and standing
that they might not have otherw ise
had.
Senator Echols's funeral will be held
tomorrow afternoon at o'clock from
IFinit? Episcopal Church. Staunton
ana the interment will be in Thornrose
cemetery kilograms have been re-
ceived from all parts OF the state and
from outside the state expressing sym-
pathy with the family, and there will
ne many from Il distance To attend the
funeral.
ROTH HOUSES or I.EGISIATt,KE
The General Assembly will he renre
senteu at the funeral of Senator
Echols by delegations appointed yes
terday by Lieutenant Governor r
TAYLOR Ellyson, president of the Vir-
GINA Senate. and Speaker Edwin -
CON. OF the House Of Delegates Lieu
tenant Governor EHiyson, a warm ner-
sonal friend and for many yenrs an ns-
soclate in political life of Mr. Echols
viii attend the funeral
The delegation named by lieuten
ant Governor Ellyson consists of the
,oiiowins: Senators William 4. Rine-
mart. or Allegheny: j.. s. Tnyenner of
shenandoah; John Paul. of Rocking
nam; George Latham Fletcher. of Fau-
qnier: John A. Lesner. OF Norfolk
iSland Mnssie. of Nelson: John II. Saun
aers. OF Middlesex; c. Harding Walker.
Richmond Va
speaker Cox. OF the House of Dele
Sutes named the following: Delegates
mn Montague. of Richmond: \. Il
Spessard, OF Craig: j. H. c. Grasty. of
Aueusta; Herbert J. Taylor OF Staun-
). w Stephenson. OF Bath: Hugh A
White. of Rockbridge. and S M Page
Of Albemarle So
AS mark of respect to the memory
OF .he state Senator and former Lieu
nant-Governor of Virginia Goynrnor
a INA
state Capitol be lowered to halr-most
immediately upon learning of rho
death The flag Will ny at bolf-m,st
uhtil after the funeral hour tomor-
row. ''
PROMINENT IN PUBLIC
LIFE FOR MANY YEARS
The death of Senator Edward Echols
removes from public life in Virginia
one o! the most prominent and able
men OF his generation. His nublic
career was long and brilliant one.
BeSinning public life as Common
"ealths attorney of the city of Stoun
toH' In 1850. he distinguished himself
'amEer' ana. in subsequent cam
paieh' when he sought political prefer
thent, ne never met with defeat.
Edward Echols was born In Union
w"ilIoe county. Va. now part of West
sdp S,psinia' ma September 20. 1899. He was the
1awver or 1onn ,on,a Eehols. distinguished
served gallantly in the War Between
the States, rising to the rank of
maJor-general In the Confederate SER
vice General Echols's wife was Mary
1hne Caperton. of the weu-known
Caperton family OF West virginia onh
woman OF fine mental attainments
from both parents Edward Echols in:
nerited the qualities of mind and hcort
that contributed to his successbi.
latner,s strong personality. suavity and
eioquence OF his mothers tender re-
hnement and charming simplicity or
character. W
fhEfARED AT WASHINGTON
COLLEGE, AND UNIVERSITY
Edward Echols spent his early bov-
hood In the country, his youth i'm Siam
ton. lie attended preparatory schools
In Staunton and Lexington. then an
tered Washington College, now wash
ington and Lee University. where he
renamed three years. He left college
in 1871 to take law course NJ tho
University of Virginia
Mr. ischois began the practice of
law, his chosen profession, i'm Staun
ton Immediately after leaving the mi
versity. He became in short time
prominent figure Of the local bar, and,
In May. 1850, he was elected Common
wealths attorney. continuing In Tint
once six years, when he was elected
TO represent Augusta County I'm the
Virginia House Of Delegates
After serving six years in the House.
he was elected Senator from Ninth Dis.
trict. This position no held with great
credit to himself and his district for
eight years. During his career I'm the
General Assembly he was regarded ns
one of the best debaters In the leeis-
lative body. He was not n talking
member" He spoke rarely, but he was
almost always in his seat. When he
rose to speak he commanded undivided
attention.
Among the most notable speeches of
Senator Echols was his argument on
the Miller bill for regulating the
sale OF Intoxicating liquors. n speech
Tn which he took pardonable pride and
which was widely published
SERVED STATE AS
GOVERNOR G
Mr.. Echols, soon became SO favorably
known in Virginia that he was norni-
mated with comparatively no opposition
In 1897 for Lieutenant Governor on the
Democratic ticket with j. 1Ioge Tyler
Mr.. Echols served four years rs prcsi-
. W., \