Obituary of D. W. Herring
(C. Avis Catalog entry #336)
(Document ID #412)
[D. W. Herring was a son of John Henry Herring by his first wife, Julia Williams. Therefore, a half-brother of Nora Herring Roberson]
ESTEEMED AND HONORED CITIZEN PASSES TO REWARD
Judge D. W. Herring, Long Prominent in Local Affairs, Laid to Rest This Afternoon
Judge D. W. Herring, prominent citizen of Jackson, and a well known member of the Tennessee Bar Association died Sunday morning, Jan. 20th at his home on East Main street following an illness of several months.
Judge Herring some months ago went to Rochester, Minn., for treatment, and all the resources of medical science were sought to alleviate his suffering, but to no avail.
The passing of Judge Herring leaves a vacancy that will not be filled in the wide circle of friends and acquaintances which he had and especially in the fraternal orders in which he took so active a part.
The funeral was held this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the residence by Rev. John T. Myers of the First Methodist church, and interment followed in Hollywood cemetery, where the many beautiful flowers that covered a wide space, were a symbol of the esteem in which Judge Herring was held in this city.
He was laid to rest with Pythian honors, the beautiful ceremony of that order being held at the grave.
The following acted as pallbearers: T. J. Murray, Sr., Claire B. Newman, S. J. Everett, W. T. Rogers, Neely Key, Dr. J. T. Herron and the entire membership of the Jackson Bar Association constituted the honorary pallbearers.
Judge Herring was born October 2, 1852 at Savannah, Hardin County, Tennessee, and began the practice of law there. He has been a prominent member of the bar in West Tennessee for about 40 years. He received his education and training _____of Hardin County, at Savannah. He received his early legal education in the office of his father, who was for many years a prominent lawyer at Savannah, Tennessee. After practicing his profession for several years at Savannah, he removed to the town of Purdy, in McNairy County, one of the most prominent and prosperous towns of West Tennessee, at the time, and continued to practice law there till 1886 when he was appointed by President Cleveland consul to represent our country to the Republic of Honduras in Central America. He continued in the work for four years and the official reports show that for the work done during his tenure of office, he was so painstaking, careful and efficient that his reports cover more than six times that of any other consul of the time. In the letter accepting his resignation, our state department, being then of a different political faith, expresses the thanks of the government in the following language, "Our State Department takes occasion to express the thanks of the Deparment for your faithful services to the government and for the many valuable and interesting reports you have prepared, and also the hope for your continued success and prosperity."
After coming out of the service of the government, he removed to Jackson where he spent the remainder of his life. He was appointed Attorney-General, being at that time the eleventh circuit, by Governor Buchannan and the records show that he did a splendid work.
In 1908 he was appointed by Governor Patterson to fill out the unexpired term of Judge Levi S. Woods and made a conscientious and painstaking judge. His charges to the grand juries covering the laws on night riding, and the use and sale of intoxicating liquors are both interesting and to be noted at this time.
In July, 1876, he married his boyhood sweetheart, Arabana Hamilton, and resided happily with her till the time of his death. He leaves the following children surviving him: Ethel, of Jackson, Mrs. Julia Barry of Clovis, New Mexico; Harry of El Paso, Texas, and Dan of New York, also the following brothers and sisters: one brother, J. H. Herring of Knoxville, one sister, Mrs. Mart Robinson, of Wichita Falls, Texas, and a step-mother, Mrs. Mattie Thompson of Cleburne, Texas.
For many years he has been very prominent in lodge affairs of the state, in the old Knights of Honor, Woodmen of the World and Knights of Pythias, and had many honors conferred upon him by these lodges. Being a fluent and easy speaker and having a rare touch of humor, caused him to be in much demand as an entertainer by the lodges that he was a member of.
He was a fluent and prolific writer of short articles on current events and his views were much read and discussed.
In the political arena he has served his party in many a hotly contested and well fought struggle, but he at all times came out as a Knight, with his shield untarnished. Bourne & Griffin in charge.