Southampton-Nansemond County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Person, John C., 1896 

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TOWN OF SUFFOLK 

DEATH OF J. P. CLAUD 
      _______ 

His End Came As the Result of Collapse 
   Following Protracted Dissipation. 
      _______ 
[...] 
      _______ 

  Suffolk, Va., July 21. - (Special.) - While suffering a collapse following 
a protracted period of dissipation, Mr. J.P. Claud, a well-known citizen of 
Southampton county, died in Suffolk at noon to-day in the Baker House, on the 
extension of East Washington street.  The deceased had been in and around 
Suffolk for two or three weeks, rarely being free from liquor's influence, but 
not beastly drunk. 

  The collapse began two days ago, since which time he gradually sank, 
notwithstanding the fact that he had good medical treatment and close 
attention from kind-hearted citizens. 

  Mr. Claud was some years ago the most prominent merchant in Courtland, Va., 
and was recognized as one of the best business men in the community.  He was 
in addition public-spirited, honest and popular, but could not down the 
fascination for drink.  His store was burned down about five years ago and he 
was charged with the crime and jailed.  The jury considered that he was 
irresponsible at the time and acquitted him. 

  Recently the deceased has been representing a Northern fruit nursery in 
Northampton, Nansemond and surrounding counties.  The remains were to-night 
prepared for burial and taken to Southampton on the midnight train. 

****************************************************************************** 

TOWN OF SUFFOLK 
[...] 

  Suffolk, Va., July 22. - (Special.) - [...] 

  The dead body of Mr. J.P. Cloud [sic; Claud] was taken to Southampton county 
last night. 


John P. CLAUD, fruit salesman, former Courtland merchant, 
d. 21 Jul 1896, Suffolk, age circa 41, 
interred in Southampton Co.*, 
"The Norfolk Virginian," Wed., July 22, 1896, p. 3, col. 3; 
"The Norfolk Virginian," Thurs., July 23, 1896, p. 3, col. 4 

*Site not known (Oct 2019) to the Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} 
  Cemetery Project. 

(Richmond) "Times," Vol. 7, No. 159, Aug. 17, 1893, p. 1, col. 5 

    TO BE TRIED FOR ARSON. 

John P. Claud to Be Arraigned - 
 Crusade Against Applejack Makers. 

  NORFOLK, VA., August 16. - Special. - At the September term of the county 
court of Southampton John P. Claud, a prominent merchant, will be arraigned, 
charged with arson.  Mr. Claud lives at Courtland.  Recently a very large 
fire broke out in the old part of the town, and the people witnessed a big 
blaze.  A few days thereafter Mr. Claud, who lives in what is known as the 
new town, paid a visit to old town.  The fire was being discussed by a 
number of gentlemen, when Mr. Claud remarked, "You people are proud of your 
fire, but I will show you what I can do.  I will have a fire that will eclipse 
your affair so far that the people of this section will say that you 'are not 
in it.'"  No one believed for an instant that he really intended to have a 
fire, but he made good his promise, and that night he made good his promise, 
and that night the people of Courtland witnessed the most serious 
conflagration ever seen in the county.  An investigation developed the fact 
that Mr. Claud filled his head with applejack, set his store on fire, so that 
the new town could have had an event to surpass anything of the kind ever seen 
in the old town.  His spirit of enterprise, misdirected, came very near 
destroying his town, and placed him behind prison bars. 

  Mr. Claud has the sympathy of the community, and his counsel will have 
little trouble in establishing his insanity. 

************* 

Several state newspapers reported a Courtland fire, the week of Mar. 18, 1893, 
but the details do no agree with one another. 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
and transcribed by File Manager Matt Harris. 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/c430j8ob.txt