Cassville.

Gen. Wofford died Thursday night, and was buried here Saturday morning. Quite a gloom has been cast over the community by his death.

Page 3.

Gen. Wofford’s Death.

Notwithstanding Gen. Wofford’s long and critical illness, and the fact that he had for many days been lying at the very brink of the grave, the announcement of his death on last Friday morning cast universal gloom over our entire community, and today Cherokee Georgia is mourning the loss of one of her truest and most distinguished citizens, and the state that of one of her most patriotic and gallant sons.

His remains were interred in the cemetery at Cassville, by the side of his first wife, at 11 o’clock on last Saturday. In compliance with a request made by him some time previous to his death, he was buried with only a simple Christian service, Rev. Theo. E. Smith officiating.

The large concourse of sorrowing friends that followed his remains to their last resting place, testified the tender affection and high regard in which he was held.

The chief elements in Gen. Wofford’s life were charity and human sympathy, which impelled him to help the poor and lowly, to cheer and encourage the struggling, to lift up and succor the weak, and to defend and protect the friendless and oppressed, and he labored hard to give expression to this charity and human sympathy.

Both as a citizen and neighbor, he well merited the high esteem and regard in which he was held. As a patriot and soldier his gallantry in the Mexican war and the late war between the states sufficiently attest, and their annals will accord him imperishable fame.

We extend our deep sympathies to the bereaved wife and daughter in their hour of great affliction.

(In a few weeks we will give an extended biographical sketch of Gen. Wofford.)

June 3, 1884

Page 1.

Death of General Wofford.

When the wires yesterday announced the death of General William Tatum Wofford, of Bartow, they brought news that will be received everywhere in Georgia with profound regret. He has been in bad health for some time past, but his death was not anticipated until very recently. He died Thursday evening at his residence near Cass Station, surrounded by the members of his family and friends, who were dear to him.

General Wofford was born in Habersham county on the 28th day of June, 1823. He sprang from a native yeoman and a Virginia mother, and early orphaned of his father, was taught by his mother the noble traits and fine impulses which distinguished his long career. He embraced the profession of law and attained eminence at the bar in competition with some of the brightest legal minds of the state. He was also a passionate lover or rural life and spent his happiest days in the superintendence of his thrifty farming operations. He entered public life in 1849 as a member of the general assembly and served there two terms. He then became clerk of the same body by an almost unanimous vote. He was the chosen representative of his county in the secession convention, where, with exceptional prescience, he saw the fatality of the step and with rare and almost convincing eloquence combated it. When it had been decided he submitted. He had won fame in the war with Mexico as a daring and courageous soldier, and in the impending war between the states he did not hesitate to take up arms in the defense of his people. He served first as colonel of the first regiment of the fourth brigade of Georgia volunteers and afterwards commanded the gallant Eighteenth Georgia Regiment, whose record for valor and self-sacrifice was not equaled in the mighty conflict. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general, although his record might well have entitled him to more distinguished insignia.

At the close of the war General Wofford devoted his energies and the remnants of his means to the help of his distressed and devastated people and won imperishable gratitude from the thousands who witnessed and received his aid and the fruits of his devoted and patriotic services. He was elected in 1866 to the American congress, but was refused admission. In 1877 he was chosen a delegate to the constitutional convention of Georgia, and was a wise and efficient laborer in the preparation of that admirable document. Since then he has only appeared in public as the advocate of friends who were candidates for public office.

General Wofford was singularly popular among his people, as he was beloved and relied upon in war by his soldiers. He was gentle by nature, yet firm in every position he assumed. He had an eye single always to the public good, and to no one were the small arts and tricks of the politician stranger than to him. He lived a pure, useful and honorable life, and the people of Georgia will pause to mourn over the corpse of one who served his God and his state with such pure faith and such devoted patriotism. – [Constitution, May 24]