Madison County AlArchives News.....Items from The Huntsville Weekly Democrat July 26, 1882 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Kenneth Stacy klstacyfamily@aol.com December 14, 2006, 10:44 am Microfilm At Huntsville Library July 26, 1882 PERSONAL MENTION Mrs. Geo. P. Beirne and Misses Eliza G. and Jane P. Beirne left Thursday last, for Old Sweet Springs, West Virginia. Hon. Joseph Wheeler and Thomas H. Jones, of Lawrence county, arrived at the McGee House on Monday, to stay a few days. Mr. J. L. Watkins, Jr., of Birmingham, Mr. Chas. L. Robinson, of Miss., and Dr. J. Lindsay Watkins, of Miss., came here last Saturday to attend the funeral of their relative, Dr. Wm. P. Watkins. Mr. David L. Moore and Misses Mattie and Katie Barnard have returned from Blount Springs. Mr. John A. DeMoville, of Nashville, reached our city yesterday. Capt. Daniel Coleman has returned, having spoken for Democratic principles and our State ticket at Talladega, Calera, Columbiana and Cullman. He gives most favorable reports of Democratic supremacy in the region of country he traversed. Dr. N. D. Richardson, of Nashville, is visiting his brother, Hon. Wm. Richardson. Rev. W. F. Kone, Pastor of the Baptist church, has gone to the Virginia Springs for a month, and his father, Rev. W. W. Kone, of Maryland, is supplying his place. Miss Carolee Pleasants has closed her school in the country, and is at home for the summer. Miss Cunningham, of Waxahatchie, Texas, is a visitor at Mr. Percy L. Harrison’s. Mr. Henry McCalley is visiting relatives here. DIED: WATKINS.—In Huntsville, Alabama, Saturday, July 22, 1882, DR. WILLIAM PATTON WATKINS, in his 28th year. Dr. Watkins was the only son of our esteemed friends, Mr. and Mrs. James Lawrence Watkins, Sr., of this city. He was born and brought up here and his virtues—obedience to his parents, reverence for his elders, and ability, generosity, freedom from even the small vices, and circumspect deportment—won the love and respect of all who knew him. Having finished his educational course at Washington-Lee University and the University of Virginia, he studied medicine, graduate, and engaged in hospital practice in the city of New York, where he obtained eligible positions in three of the principle Hospitals after rigid competitive examinations. His personal and professional character attracted the attention of Dr. T. Gaillard Thomas, a New York physician of world-wide fame, who invited him to become his partner, after he should perfect himself in some specialties in a few months’ study and practice in hospitals in Dublin, London, Paris and Vienna. He came home about two weeks ago, to see his parents before sailing for Europe. His health was delicate, he was attacked with peritonitis, and, in three days, died, causing a shock to the community rarely experienced. How sad that one, who had so brilliant a prospect of honor, fame and fortune, should be so suddenly cut off, in the bloom of a young mental and moral manhood. The large attendance at this funeral, on Sunday afternoon last, enforced the high public appreciation of him. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Dr. J. M. Banister, in the Church of the Nativity, of which he was a member, and in the Huntsville cemetery. A beautiful incident invested the gloom of his grave with a halo of glory. The sky had been o’ercast with clouds. Suddenly, during the burial service, the sun shone out and created a rainbow in an Eastern cloud—just as when, first, “God set His opal rainbow in the clouds, A token, when His judgments are abroad, Of His perpetual covenant of peace.” So, we thought, “the Sun of Righteousness arose, with healing on his wings”, for the bereaved, and, on their cloud of pent-up tears, painted the bow of promise, the beacon of hope, the covenant of peace, symbolized in “The rainbow, that, o’er Noah’s sacrifice, Stamped on the morning clouds the smile of God.” Tribute to Dr. Wm. P. Watkins, Dec’d. ----------------------------------------------- At a called meeting of the Physicians of the city of Huntsville, held at the office of Dr. A. R. Erskine, Tuesday morning, July 25, 1882, for the purpose of giving suitable expression to their feelings with reference to the sudden demise of their esteemed brother and fellow of the profession, Dr. William Patton Watkins, who had recently returned here from the city of New York, on motion of Dr. A. R. Erskine, Dr. M. C. Baldridge was called to the chair, and on the motion of Dr. J. J. Dement, Dr. Erskine was chosen secretary. After appropriate remarks by the chairman, regarding the deceased, on motion of Dr. Dement, the following committee of three were appointed on preamble and resolutions viz Drs. A. R. Erskine, David Shelby, and S. H. Lowry, who, through their chairman, reported the following, which were unanimously adopted. WHEREAS, it has pleased the Great Dispenser of all good, and Disposer of all souls, by a most inscrutable and incomprehensible providence, to remove from our midst, in the commencing age of his intellectual manhood, and, when he was about to enter upon a most promising and brilliant future, our young friend and brother of the Medical Profession, DR. WILLIAM PATTON WATKINS, who died after a few day’s illness, of peritonitis, Saturday morning, July 22, 1882, 20 minutes to 3: WHEREAS, it is but just and proper, in view of his recent entrance among the brotherhood, which he had made with such honor and distinction to himself in this, that, after passing his curriculum of study, in the different schools, and having undergone most and critical competitive examinations for hospital preferment, in the city of New York, in which, in each several instance, success crowned his efforts, and having but recently entered into an arrangement for five years’ association with one of the leading lights of the Profession of this and all countries, of the city of New York, Dr. T. Gaillard Thomas, and being about to sail for Europe, which he was to have done, the first of August proximo to enjoy the further advantages offered by the renowned cities of that Continent, that we should direct the attention of the young men of this and other communities to his noble example, and to recommend them to an emulation of his virtues, and most praiseworthy ambition. Resolved, That, while we bow with humble submission to the will of Jehovah, we do none the less mourn, with saddened hearts, for our brother who has been taken thus suddenly from us. Resolved, That, by the death of William P. Watkins, young though he was in the Profession, the Fraternity has lost one, of whom they might justly be proud, the community a valued, esteemed, and honorable citizen, and society a most courteous, affable and elegant gentleman. Resolved, That our sincere and heartfelt sympathy is tendered to his aged father and mother, whose pride, in the down hill of life, he was, and to his devoted and loving sister, in this their deepest, saddest affliction Resolved, That they be furnished with a copy of these proceedings, and that the city papers be requested to publish the same. M. C. BALDRIDGE, M.D., Chairman. A. R. ERSKINE, M. D., Secretary LOCAL ITEMS Dividend The Huntsville Gas Light Company, will pay, on demand, a half-yearly dividend of four percent. July 12, 1882. 3t. Sup’t B. W. Blake, the best Street Superintendent we have ever had, is making good gutters, with brick bottoms, on the Northern side of the Public Square and, thence, on the Western side of Washington street, a long needed improvement. He and his excellent colored hands, under the judicious direction of Mayor White, are putting our streets in a better condition than they have ever been. ALABAMA ITEMS Democratic and Conservative Ticket. -------------------------------------------- For Governor – Edward A. O’Neal of Lauderdale For Secretary of State – Ellis Phelan of Jefferson For Attorney General – Henry C. Tompkins of Montgomery For Treasurer – Isaac h. Vincent of Chambers For Auditor Jesse M. Carmichael of Dale For Superintendent of Education – Henry C. Armstrong of Macon. MADISON COUNTY For Senator – John D. Brandon For Representatives – Nathan M. Rowe, Wm. F. Jordan, Thomas B. Kelley. CLASSIFIEDS University of Alabama Session of 1882-‘83 The University will be open for students the 21st of September next. The Academic Department embraces three courses of study: The Classical, Scientific and Engineering courses—the last being under the direction of Col. R. A. Hardaway. Students can also take an irregular course if preferred. Each county is entitled to have three young men educated at the University without charge for tuition. The whole expense, per term, for board, tuition, fuel, light, attendance, washing, etc, is $95. Uniforms cost about $35 per annum. Law students are not subject to military discipline, and do not board and lodge in University buildings. For further information sent for catalogue, or address B. B. Lewis July 26-1m. President. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/madison/newspapers/itemsfro1224gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 9.6 Kb