The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1916-01-28
A TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY
OF MR.. THOMAS B. IRWIN

the passing of Mr.. Thomas Beverly
Irwin, Of Marietta, Ga, who died at
DR.. NoIans sanitarium on the 12tn
day of January, 1916, after a brief
illness.
Mr.. Irwin was born in Marietta.
May oath, 1849.
OF his life, to do him justice, mucl
could be written, yet the writer here
of esteems it special privilege to be
able to place upon record some few
of the many virtues which character
lied his career Mr.. Irwin was
great lover of all nature, passionately
fond of flowers and chose the quiet
OF the farm life, else his genial man
ners, superb bearing, splendid judg-
ment and towering intellect would
have placed him far in the lead
among the statesmen of his day In
his disposition, he was kind, sympa-
thetic, considerable, communicative,
with vast fund of information, and
an easy flow of language, he was at
all times most entertaining whether
in the company of Judges, Governors
Senators or the labOrer on the farm
and if with the former his bearing
was such as became the occasion;
with the latter, he showed no dis.
tasteful assumption of superiority
but the man of the lowly estate as
well as those of exalted position al
ways felt at home in his company.
He was very fond of good literature
and it was perhaps due to this, that
he was always so alert in conver5a-
ton, and could always say the right
thing at the right time. His fond
ness for children drew to him all the
little nieces and nepheWs and grand
children whose delight was in his
tales and kindly talks, and the many
little things that come to them from
his geneous heart.
MIR. Irwin was lawyer, and for
many years practiced his profession
in Marietta, associated with his faith
er, the late Judge David Irwin, Of
whom he was the youngest child,
and with the late VIM. ID. Ander
son, under the firm name of irwin
Anderson q Irwin He was one of
those who compiled the Ga. Code of
1873 and was appointed by Cover
nor COlquitt to compile the Acts Of
the Legislature in 1876, which work
was pronounced excellent. In later
years he retired from the practice Of
law to life on the farm, but he
never did lose his fascination for the
intricate questions which continual
ly arise in the various forms of liti-
cation nor for the heavy problems
which from time to time confront
the solons of the nations forum.
In early life Mr.. Irwin was mar
ried to Miss Lila c. Atkinson,
daughter of the late Col. and Mrs.
A. S. Atkinson, at their home on
Powder Springs road, Cobb COUNTY
Shortly afterwards, he settled the
place which has been the family
home to this hour. From this union
has been reared a happy family all
grown now. Four children, two OF
whom, Mr.. Alexander A. Irwin and
Miss Mary Anne Irwin still live
with their mother and the remain
ing two living, Mr.. David Irwin in
Buford, Ga, and Mr.. George Beverly
Irwin in FIT Collins, Col, besides
these children and devoted wife he
leaves two daughters-in-law foui
| grand children, one brother, Nj
Rob't. c. Irwin and many nieces anG
nephews.
Adding to the charm of this noted
hospitable home was Mr.. Irwin,
violin. From his youth he was a de.
votee to music, and with the violi1
he eXcelled His was an exquisite
| touch which carried with it thrill
which seemed to be born of Ole Bull
or Stradivari.
The writer remembers we'll the &c.
static impression which fell upon
him as a child from this violin which
never ceased to charm until the hand
that played it was still
1t is silent now
On Friday morning Jan. 18th, al
1880 o'clock, the funeral services
were held in st. James Episcopal
church, Marietta. conducted by the
Rev. Randolph Claiborne. A large
COnCourse of friends were present
to pay the last tribute to his memory
and many and beautiful We're the
floral offerings. The lawyers of the
Marietta Bar attended in a body.
Those who acted as pall-beare-s
were Messrs. Bernard Awtrey, jim
Gam, Wayland Camp, H. e. Hague,
f. E. Smith, and NJ. G.. Whitlock, Jr.
In the quiet repose of the beauti-