Earl Brewer

 

 

 

From Clarksdale Register (Clarksdale, Miss.), P. 1, 6, Col. 3, March 11, 1942.

 

GOVERNOR EARL BREWER PASSES TUESDAY NIGHT

 

Funeral Services From Clarksdale Presbyterian Church Thursday

 

BODY WILL ARRIVE HERE LATE TODAY

 

Special Guard of Honor Arranged Under General Thos. Grayson

 

Earl Leroy Brewer, governor of Mississippi from 1912 to 1916 and only occupant of the office ever to be named to it without opposition, died early Tuesday night at the Jackson Infirmary.  He was 74.

 

The death of former Governor is the second of former chief executives of the state within the last three weeks, the other being the former Governor A.H. Longino.

 

Funeral services will be held here Thursday at 11:00 A.M. at the Presbyterian church.  The body will rest in state at the new Capitol rotunda at Jackson today with a special honor guard of the State Guard under Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Grayson.  The cortege will arrive in Clarksdale late this afternoon and the body will lie in state at the Presbyterian church.  The Rev. Charles E. Mount will conduct the services tomorrow.

 

The former governor is survived by his wife, the former Minnie Block of Water Valley; three daughters, Minnie Brewer of Jackson, Mrs. Lucius Edwards of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Mrs. Samuel Strite of Hagerstown, Md.; a brother, Dr. J.D. Brewer of Dyersburg, Tenn.,; two sisters, Mrs. Emmette Coleman of Clarksdale, and Mrs. Helen McDougal of Port Gibson, and three grandchildren, Earl Brewer Edwards II, sergeant in the Army Air Corps in New Mexico; Claudia Strite, and Sam Strite, Jr.

 

Active pallbearers are T.B. Watkins, Tom Logan, W.A. Ritchie, William Connell, H.C. Patterson, and Chauncey G. Smith.  Honorary pallbearers are all officers of the state and members of the Mississippi State Bar Association.

 

A native of Carroll county, former Gov. Brewer had been ill several weeks.  His death leaves five living ex-governors.

 

He was born at Midway in Carroll county in 1868, the son of Capt. R.R. Brewer.  He was educated in public schools and at Ole Miss, from which he was graduated in 1892.  He began the practice of law just five days after receiving his diploma and in September of that same year he formed the law firm of Brewer and Wilson which continued successfully until 1901.  His political career began in 1895 when he was elected to the Senate from the 28th District.

 

In 1902 he was named by the late Governor Longino as district attorney in the newly created Eleventh Judicial District, and moved from his home near Vaiden to Clarksdale to carry on his new duties.

 

He resigned as district attorney in 1906 to run for governor, but was not nominated.  In 1911, he announced for governor, and received the Democratic nomination without opposition and was elected without making a single public address.  He took office in 1912.

 

During Governor Brewer’s administrator he was active in obtaining the elimination of excessive speculation in cotton, reformation of child labor laws, and care of juveniles, education and tax reform.

 

After serving four years as chief executive, Mr. Brewer returned to Clarksdale to resume his legal profession with Dan and Ed Brewer under the firm name of Brewer, Brewer and Brewer and to direct his plantation interests.  At that time he built the home on John Street which is a replica of the governor’s mansion in Jackson.

 

Brilliant as his political career had been, he showed an equal brilliance in closing it when his ambitions had been fulfilled and he had justified the faith shown in him by his fellowmen by honest, efficient and faithful administration of his high office.

 

He was first president and for many years a director of the board of directors of the Mississippi Children’s Home Finding Society, member of the Presbyterian Church, Mason Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, Elk, and Woodmen of the World.

 

When the Grange and Farmers’ Alliance were active, he affiliated with them.  He also served on the State Democratic Executive Committee from 1895 to 1899.

 

He will be remembered as an orator of congenial disposition, a natural leader of men, who worked untiringly for the benefit of the people.  His striking appearance, engaging manner and attractive personality endeared him to all.

 

 

 

 

From Clarksdale Register (Clarksdale, Miss.), P. 1, 8, Col. 3, March 12, 1942.

 

Hundreds Pay Homage To Memory of Distinguished Governor Brewer at Funeral Services In This City Today; Guard of Honor For State’s Illustrious Son

 

Funeral services for former Governor Earl LeRoy Brewer, 74, who died in Jackson Tuesday evening, were attended by hundreds of sorrowing Delta residents at 11 a.m. today in the First Presbyterian church.  The Rev. C.E. Mount, pastor, officiated.  Burial was in Oakridge cemetery.  Arrangements were completed by McInnis Porter funeral home in Clarksdale.

 

Accompanied by a military escort the body of the former governor arrived in Clarksdale at 5 p.m. Wednesday.  The body lay in state at the Presbyterian church, of which Governor Brewer was an elder.  Brig. Gen. Thomas Grayson was head of a guard of honor composed of Mississippi State guardsmen.  The guard and escort remained in Clarksdale last night and participated in services today in honor of the former governor.

 

Rev. Mount paid tribute to the sterling character of the former governor when he said of him: “We are gathered here to pay tribute and respect to one whose life and efforts were not spent in vain.  The state, the church and his fellowmen are indebted to him for the service he so efficiently, so unselfishly rendered during his splendid life.”

 

“By his service to the state in the many official capacities he filled he erected a memorial in the hearts of those who came within the sphere of his benign influence.”

 

“His name is carved on the cornerstone of this church in which we are assembled to honor him.  Due to his efforts and those of men like him it was built for the glory of the God he worshipped.”

 

“His service to his fellowmen was best summed up in the words ‘He living best was loved by those by whom he best was known.’”

 

Continuing his eulogy, the Rev. Mr. Mount indicated the flag, the many exquisite floral tributes and the guard of honor, and emphasized that these were mute but eloquent testimony of the high esteem in which Mr. Brewer was held by his friends.

 

In closing, Rev. Mount quoted the words of the well-loved hymn:

            “Now the laborer’s task is o’er

            Now the battle day is past

            Now upon the Father’s shore

            Lands the voyager at last

            Father in Thy gracious keeping

            Leave we now Thy servant sleeping.”

 

Pallbearers were Binford Watkins, Tom Logan, W.A. Ritchie, William Connell, Henry Patterson, and C.G. Smith.  Honorary pallbearers were state officials and members of the local bar association.

 

The former Clarksdale resident and governor of Mississippi left thousands of friends to mourn his passing.  Services this morning were attended by many persons who traveled more than a hundred miles in order that they might pay tribute to one of the country’s most beloved officials.

 

His memory will linger with the passing of the years.  The manner and personality of the former public official made for him lasting friends and his untimely death is a tragedy felt throughout the southland.

 

 

 

 

From The Conservative (Carrollton, Carroll County), P, 1, Cols. 6, 7, Friday, March 13, 1942.

 

Ex-Governor Earl Brewer, Native of County, Passes

 

 

 

 

From Jackson Daily News, P. 1, 3, Col. 4, 5, March 11, 1942.

 

State Mourns Ex-Governor Brewer

 

ARTICLE

 

 

 

 

From: The Greenwood Commonwealth, March 11, 1942.  P. 1.

 

Gov. Earl Brewer Dies At Jackson

 

ARTICLE

 

 

 

From: The Jackson Daily News, March 12, 1942.  P.1.

 

Solemn Tribute Paid Gov. Brewer At Clarksdale

 

ARTICLE

 

 

 

From: The Greenwood Commonwealth, March 12, 1942.  P. 8.

 

Funeral Services For Gov. Brewer

 

ARTICLE

 

 

 

 

From  Carroll County, Mississippi, Cemetery Records   929.3   M69ca   B582c, by Ethel Bibus and Louise Marshall, Published by Pioneer Publishing Co., P.O. Box 408, Carrollton, Ms., 38917 – ISBN 1-885480-04-0   Copied by: Claude Hatcher, Joy Bryan, Louise Marshall & Ethel Bibus on May 18, 1984.

 

MIDWAY CEMETERY

Location: About 9 miles SW of Vaiden.  Leave Carrollton on Hwy. 35, go south.  Just before reaching overpass on Interstate 55 turn west on Hwy. 430.  Travel west about ¾ mile, turn south on paved road. Go 8 or 9 miles.  Midway Church & cemetery on right (north) side of road.

 

P. 155 -- Ratliff R. Brewer, Nov. 22, 1831Dec. 14, 1881.

 

P. King Ratliff, son of R.R. & M.E. Brewer, May 24, 1875Oct. 5, 1876