MY RIVERSIDE CEMETERY TOMBSTONE
INSCRIPTIONS SCRAPBOOK PART V
by Jonathan K. T. Smith
1994OBITUARY OF JUDGE HENRY W. McCORRY
(Page 41)
JACKSON SUN, March 24, 1904
JUDGE HENRY W. McCORRY DEAD
Prominent Citizen of Jackson Expired Last Night at Hot Springs, Arkansas
Judge Henry W. MCCorry is dead. He passed away at 9 o'clock last night. Death came at Hot springs, Arkansas, where he went nearly two weeks ago, hoping to benefit his declining health. Although it was known that Judge McCorry was very ill and in a serious condition, his many friends hoped to see him live for many years yet, and the news of his comparatively sudden death which reached Jackson this morning was a sad surprise and shock to his loving relatives, friends, acquaintances and the community at large.
No definite information as to the last portion of his illness was given, but as the judge had gone there some ten days ago for a severe attack of rheumatism it is thought that this attacked his heart.
The death of Judge McCorry removes one of the strongest, most active and most conspicuous characters in West Tennessee. Born at Jackson fifty-nine years ago, he went into the Confederate army, where he served with valor and distinction, receiving severe wounds.
Mr. McCorry was under General Forest in General Deberal's /sic/ division in Co. Biffnell's /sic/ regiment. He enlisted in the Confederate army in 1862 when a boy of only 17 summers, and fought like the brave lad he was until the end of the great civil war.
At the close of the war he returned to his home and decided upon the law as his profession. He took the course at Lebanon, Tenn. and soon forged to the front.
He first formed a partnership with Hon. Stoddert Caruthers in Jackson and later with Gen. A. W. Campbell, both firms being very successful legal combinations. It was with the latter firm that Mayor Hu C. Anderson of this city began the study of law. He went on the bench by appointment of Gov. Porter some time later, being made judge of the Common Law and Chancery Court and was later elected to this honorable place by a vote of the people. After serving in this office for several years most ably, Judge McCorry resigned the place.
He formed a partnership in law with Hon. C. G. Bond, which was one of the strongest and most successful law firms ever in the city. This was in the early eighties.
During Cleveland's first administration Judge McCorry was appointed United States attorney for the district of West Tennessee where his great natural and legal ability served him to advantage and in which position he made an enviable record.
For years he was not only recognized as one of the leading lawyers in his own county but also in state. He was for a long time also an active figure in Tennessee politics and was in the inner councils of the party upon all important matters. Ever since the war Judge McCorry has been prominent in shaping the policies of the Democratic party in the great old State of Tennessee. He was an alderman from the first ward in the city of Jackson is early 90s. As city councilman he was very aggressive on the important subjects of making improvements in way of graveling and sewerage. He served the city well and faithfully, just as he had served his state and country.
Judge McCorry was born in 1845, on the 25th day of March and had he lived until next Friday would have been 59 years of age. His birth occurred on the Shannon street lot at the foot of Main street where he resided up till the time of his death, but in another house which was mostly torn down when the present was erected a good many years ago.
Mayor Hu C. Anderson, who had been a life long friend of the deceased, said this morning in speaking of him, "Henry McCorry had the biggest brain of any man of my acquaintance in the State and I am well acquainted. He was a man of more natural ability than I have ever met or again expect to meet. All who came in contact with him went away, charmed with his great intellect and capacity to grasp any subject that might present itself in the course of conversation. His Irish wit was ever at his tongue's end and the brilliancy of his ideas upon all current events and his ingenious manner of explaining them could not help one from admiring him and feel impressed by the man's greatness. While not an orator, Judge Henry McCorry, I think could make as clear a presentment of a case and as strong an argument before a jury as an /any?/ lawyer I ever heard speak. These law speeches were the only kind he ever made. He would never address a social meeting, a political meeting or any other kind of public meeting if he could get around it, but he was always on hand to see that some one else did so, his side of the matter being put forward as he desired it. When Judge Henry McCorry died last night Tennessee lost one of the greatest men she ever produced."
While his wife lived Judge McCorry was something of a social leader in Jackson. He was fond of entertaining and many were the happy events and functions which occurred at his hospitable home.
At the time of Mr. McCorry's death he was a member of the law firm of McCorry, McCorry & Sneed.
In 1892 he was chairman of the State Democratic campaign committee for the State and it is believed that he organized the party better than it was ever organized under any other leadership.
Judge McCorry belonged to the Knights of Honor and Elks of this city. He was a member of the John Ingram Bivouac, United Confederate Veterans and in all of these orders was a highly valued member.
Judge McCorry leaves nine children. Mrs. E. R. Turley of Memphis; Mrs. Hinton of Athens. Ga.; Mrs. Corinne Sneed, Thomas McCorry, John McCorry, Mrs. Reuben Davis and Miss Kathleen McCorry of Jackson; Henry W. McCorry, Jr. now in the Philippines, and Mrs. J. C. Meyers of Buffalo but now visiting Memphis.
Two sisters, Miss Corinna A. McCorry and Mrs. John H. Freeman also survive him as do several grandchildren and numerous other more distant relatives.
He was accompanied to Hot Springs by his sister, Miss Corinna A. McCorry. She left there today with the remains and will reach Memphis tonight.
His son, Thomas McCorry at Hon. Stoddert Caruthers left this morning for Memphis to meet the remains in that city.
The body and the party accompanying it will probably reach Jackson over the Illinois Central at 8 o'clock in the morning. No arrangements have as yet been made for the funeral which will probably be one of the largest ever held in the city.
McCORRY Lot 301
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