Misc. Notes
1870 Address: (Major John W. Breathitt)
27Feb 15, 1886 - Death of John W. Breathitt, Jr.
The saddest death that has occurred in this city for years was that of John W. Breathitt, Jr, Sunday morning at 3 o“clcok. The details of the shooting and wounding have already been related, it only remains to be told that the wound proved fatal, and after five days of pain and suffering his sould took its flight to the ternal. A week ago he was ayoung man in the full vigor of health with life stretching out before him in all its varied promises and joys; today his body lies in the grave and his soul has entered upon a new and higher life amid the ecstacies of heaven. The burden of grief that has fallen upon his family cannot be told and the sorrow and anguish of his friends and relatives is too profound and sacred for public mention. John W. Breathitt, Jr, was born October 31, 1860, and at his next birthday would have been twenty-six yers old. He was reared in this city. He attended school here, his friendships were here, here were his business relations, and here was he loved, honored and respected. After a few years in school he started out in life as a clerk in one of our stores. By industry and frugality he soon acquired enough to start inbusiness for himself, and a few years ago he opened a grocery on Ninth street. In all his relations in life he was an honorable gentleman. Several years ago he united with the Baptist church and has ever since conducted himself as a worthy Christian. He was good humored, kind, genial, firm, brave, resolute and honest. He was a quiet, earnest Christian, and in his church and social relations he was always the same dignified, unostentatious gentleman. For five days he bore up under his suffering and that same thoughtfulness of the welfare of others and good humor never deserted him. He was brave to tell, him plainly his condition. when at last the hour grew near and the sand of life were fast flowing, he called the male members of his family to him one at a time and big them each a last farewell with a drying blessing full of Christian tenderness and beauty. and then with his heart full of love for humanity and God and with a smile of peace flitting over his wasted features, he fell into a light slumber and his soul passed into eternity. Monday morning at 10:30 o“clock his funeral was preached at the Baptist church by Rev. J.N. Prestridge. A large audience of sorrowing friends gathered to pay their last tribute of respect to one whom we had all loved.
After the services his remains were taken to the city cemetery and there interred. and now he rests free from the cares and sorrows and disappointments of life, and while his body lies in the grave where often in the future his friends shall gather in solent contemplation of the beautiful life he lived, his soul is now safe in the arms of his Redeemer where he has but entered upon the uninterrupted joys of eternity.
Bainbridge Notes: (from another paper)
We are sorry to hear that Mr John Breathitt, Jr., was buried today. Mr Breathitt was an estimable young man and was liked by all who knew him.
A History of Christian County Kentucky from Oxcart to Airplane
by Charles Mayfield Meacham
printed by Marshall & Bruce co. Nashville, Tennessee 1930
Christian County was not in the theatre of important military operations and no battles of importance were fought in the county. The soldires of both armies made occasional incursions into the county for recruiting, observation, or other purposes, but not until the year 1864 did any clashes occur. In the fall of that year, Col. Sam Johnson occupied Hopkinsville at one time with Federal troops and undertook to rid the county of Confederate detachments from Forrest’s and other commands who were making occasional recruiting expeditions into the county. In October, Col. Johnson’s men captured Capt. Jas. G. Brewer, a local Confederate officer, while he was in the county and when he was brought into town, Col. Johnson had him summarily executed, together with another prisoner named Bassett, from Webster County. Soon afterwards, Col. H. B. Lyon, afterwards Gen. Lyon, made a raid into the county with a superior force and Johnson withdrew to Clarksville, taking some sivilians with as prisoners. One of these was Dr. R. W. Ware, of Gracey, arrested for giving medicine to Confederate soldiers. The latter’s son, Jas. H. Ware, says his father was taked on foot, under a guard, with other prisoners. While crossing a small stream, being thirsty, Dr. Ware took off his hat and dipped up some water from the stream, but a soldier punched a hole in the hat with his bayonet and thought it a great joke to see the water run out before he could drink it. On reaching Clarksville, Dr. Ware found Maj. John W. Breathitt, whom he knew, and who went to Col. Johnson’s superior officer and secured his release. Dr. Ware lived to be 80 years of age and was a life-long Democrat. Maj. Breathitt, a Republican, filled many offices in the county after the war and Dr. Ware always vooted for him. Maj. Breathitt performed many similar acts of kindness to his Confederate home boys that made them his life-long friends.