Dr. Vaiden’s Obituaries

Daily Clarion, Jackson, Miss., February 7, 1880, P.2., Col. 1.

 

Death of Dr. C.M. Vaiden

 

“A good man has fallen in Israel !  Mississippi is called to mourn the death of one of her best and most public-spirited citizens. Dr. Cowles Meade Vaiden, whose good deeds these columns have so often recorded, died, after a lingering illness, at his home in Carroll county at 2 ó clock p.m. yesterday, February 6. We have barely space to make this melancholy announcement.  On another occasion, we will endeavor to produce a tribute benefiting the lofty virtues of the lamented deceased.”

 

See the above article in The Weekly Clarion, (Jackson, Miss.), February 11, 1880, P.2, Col. 1.

 

 

 

Daily Clarion, Jackson, Miss., February 18, 1880, P.2., Col. 2.

 

In Memoriam

The Late Dr. Cowles Mead Vaiden

 

“Though the health of Dr. Vaiden had been bad for years and disease had wasted his frame, he had resisted its gradual encroachments with so much resolution and borne his afflictions with so much unfailing fortitude, that few of his friends realized that he was for a long time on the brink of the grave, and when at last his physical forces succumbed to the destroyer, they were unprepared for the melancholy announcement that his brave and gentle spirit had indeed passed through the shadow of the dark valley and entered into life and immortality beyond.  He was born in Charles City county, Virginia, on the 25th day of April, 1812, and died at his home in Carroll county, Mississippi, on the 6th of February, 1880.  He had not therefore, attained the years of his life, threescore and ten, allotted by the Psalmist.  He received his education in the county where he was born, and in his seventeenth year, seized with the desire to pave his own way through the world upon the actualities of which he had entered, he removed to North Carolina and engaged in teaching school.  At the same time he devoted himself to the study of the higher branches of education.  He afterwards studied medicine and received his diploma from the famous school in Philadelphia which has given so many successful practitioners to suffering and afflicted humanity.  He was a laborious physician, and in that profession, as in everything he undertook, he succeeded, for in his vocabulary, it may be said without exaggeration, there was no such word as fail.

 

He was married in Lenoir County, North Carolina, to Miss Elizabeth Whitfield Herring, in October, 1837.  The estimable lady who plighted her heart and hand to him in the morning march of life, and for forty-two eventful years, shared with him its joys and sorrows, was a watcher at his dying couch, and ministered to his sufferings and received his last adieu on earth to meet again in the home of the hereafter where there will be no more parting.  It was a sad scene; the separation of these two whose current of thought and feeling had run into the same channel for so many long years until they had become as one.

 

In May, 1838, Dr. Vaiden removed to Mississippi, and after a few months prospecting, he settled permanently in Carroll county, where he died at Prairie Mount [sic], February 6th, inst.  Here he engaged in practicing his profession, and also in planting and merchandising.  He soon became a man of note in the community where he lived, and though not ambitious of public station, was elected to serve his county in the State Legislature for several terms, one of which was after the war.  In every pursuit he developed the higher qualities of intellect and of manhood.  He was a born leader of men, and left his impress upon everything he touches.  He was the highest type of honor and chivalry.  He was a strict man of business; and left nothing about which doubt and misconstruction could arise, in his transactions with his fellow-men.  With A.M. West, and others whose names were not so conspicuous before the public, he was a pioneer of that great enterprise the Mississippi Central Railroad and gave his time and talents, and invested his means, for its accomplishments.  It stands as an enduring monument to the wisdom and public spirit of its founders.  He was a representative man in all works of benevolence, public charity and progress.  With characteristic tact, he realized the changes that were wrought by the war, adapted his plans to them, and achieved success and fortune in spite of every obstacle.  The climax of the monument he has erected in the hearts of his countrymen, and which is more enduring than the marble shaft that will mark the spot where sleep his mortal remains was his munificent contribution in the cause of education.  At the time of his death seventy-four young men were attending the State University with means which he had placed at their disposal for that purpose.  Who will take up the good work where he left it when summoned to the realities of another world?  If it is given to the departed to look down from the battlements above to the scenes of their earthly toils and anxieties, how eagerly will he watch the fruits of his good example.  Who will carry forward the enterprise to which he gave his heart and opened his purse?  His life-book is closed, but the memory of the generous friend, the patriotic citizen, the public benefactor will not fade away.”

 

See the above article in The Weekly Clarion (Jackson, Miss.), February 25, 1880, P.2.

Part 1     Part 2     Part 3

 

The Late Dr. C.M. Vaiden

(Source: The Comet, Jackson, MS, Saturday, February 14, 1880, Vol. III, No. 17, p. 3, col. 3)

Senator Peery* introduced the subjoined resolutions in respect to the memory of the late Dr. C.M. Vaiden, with these remarks:

     “Mr. President – In presenting these resolutions, I feel that I am discharging a duty due to the memory of one of Mississippi’s most useful citizens.  From my earliest recollections I have known Dr. Vaiden, and he has always been a man of the same progressive ideas, Christian habits, and charitable instincts that so distinguished him in his declining years.

     A man, Mr. President, whose exemplary conduct throughout life might be beneficially imitated by all the youths of this country.  I sincerely desire and feel assured that these resolutions will meet the hearty approval of the Mississippi Legislature.

     Whereas,  Dr. Coles [sic] Meade [sic] Vaiden, who was for more than forty years a useful citizen of Mississippi, departed this life at his residence in Carroll county, on the 6th day of the present month, in the 68th year of his age; and

     Whereas,  The latter years of his life were chiefly given to the cause of education in this State, and his benefactions in that behalf had culminated at the time of his death, in his main support of seventy-three young men seeking an education at our State University [ed. note: The University of Mississippi]; and

     Whereas,  This unprecedented, unequalled philanthropy in our midst had attracted to him while living, the admiration and love of thousands of our people, and entitled him to the gratitude of all the State; and

     Whereas,   Aside from the benefits arising by contributions from his private fortune, which he so freely dispensed for the education of the needy sons of Mississippi, the ennobling example of such a man is worthy to be recognized and his memory to be handed down by a public expression from the Legislature, of which he was but recently a member; therefore, be it

     Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Mississippi, That in the death of Dr. Vaiden, the State of Mississippi has lost one of the greatest philanthropists and the University its most liberal friend.

     Resolved further,  that in deploring his death, in the name of the people of the State of Mississippi, we bear willing testimony to his unselfish patriotism, and his generous and useful efforts in behalf of the uneducated children of our State.

     Resolved further, That these resolutions be spread upon the Journals of the Senate and House of Representatives, and a copy of the same, be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the family of deceased.”

See the above article in The Comet, (Jackson, Miss.), February 14, 1880.

 

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On the 33rd day of the Legislative agenda, February, 1880, the Senate met pursuant to adjournment in a night session with  Lt. Governor Sims presiding.  After a Prayer by Dr. Watkins, the Roll was called and a Quorum was declared present.  The Journal of yesterday was read and approved, after which Mr. Peery offered resolutions in regard to the death of Dr. C.M. Vaiden.  The resolutions were adopted.  (Source: The Comet, Jackson, MS, Saturday, February 14, 1880, Vol. III, No. 17, p. 3, col. 7 & 8).

* Senator William D. Peery was from District 31, and was 29 years old.  His residence address was Greenwood, Leflore County.  He was born in Montgomery County, which was actually Carroll County when he was born.  Living in a house at Edwards, MS, at the time of his service in the Legislature, Peery was a planter by trade, a Democrat, and was married.  He was a member of the Senate Printing Committee and the Senate Contingent Expenses Committee.  His religious preference was listed as Love & Friendship.  (Source: The Daily Clarion,  March 4 (p. 1) and March 5 (p. 4), 1880).

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Dr. Vaiden’s Monument

Article 1: Part 1     Part 2     Part 2

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A Philanthropist and Public Benefactor – Source: n/a

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