Oktibbeha County Mississippi Biographies and Biographical Sketches

Search free Oktibbeha County Mississippi biographies, biographical sketches of prominent families online.

CANNON, Colonel Biography

In 1850 Colonel Cannon was elected president of the state democratic convention which met in .lackson, and presided with dignity and grace. This same year the contest for governor between Jefferson Davis and Henry S. Foote was violently bitter. "While Colonel Cannon was a personal and true friend to Foote, he warmly supported Mr. Davis. They both were adherents to the state rights wing of the democratic party, and personally were to each other as Jonathan and David. This family at Columbus have still in their possession many confidential letters of Mr. Davis to Colonel Cannon. Mr. Davis was frequently a guest at the home of Colonel Cannon, and upon the death of the latter he remarked to a friend, “I have lost my best friend. Cannon was the purest, truest, noblest and best man I ever knew.” Such a compliment from such a source would attest the greatness of any man. Colonel Cannon left his palatial home in Oktibbeha county, which had been the garden spot of Mayhew prairie, where Quitman, Davis. Brown, Sharkey, Foote, Yearger and McRae, and a host of the great men had been entertained in such profuse elegance and hospitality, and moved to Columbus for its educational advantages. Colonel Cannon was one of the most zealous and distinguished members of the Masonic fraternity in the state, having tilled the highest positions. In 1854 he was elected grand master of the grand Masonic lodge of tin' state, and after his time had expired was strongly solicited to accept the grand mastership the second time, as his administration had met with universal commendation on account of its smooth and able rule, but he firmly declined a reelection. He was at one time also grand high priest of the grand chapter of the state. Cannon lodge, in Chickasaw county, is named in honor of him. At the time of his demise, Colonel Cannon was master of Columbus lodge No. 5 in the city of Columbus. In 1856 Colonel Cannon was one of the delegates for the state at large to the democratic national convention, which met at Cincinnati, June of that year, which nominated James Buchanan and John C. Breckinridge as the democratic standard hearers for president and vice president of the United States. In the year 1857 he was in attendance upon the University of Oxford, where he was selected to award the medals to the graduates. His speech was so replete with eloquence and good taste as to electrify the entire audience. This same year he xvas called upon by the whole state to make the gubernatorial race. His almost indifference to respond to the call, and his strict regard for principle, made him positively refuse to make the canvass. However, when the convention met at Jackson, his name was put in nomination, as was also Colonel McWillie’s. An entire day of voting, even until twelve o’clock at night, kept Colonel Cannon ahead. But Maj. Ben Bradford, a delegate from Monroe county, who personally felt friendship for Cannon, but as he wanted a certain railroad measure carried, and was aware of the fact that Cannon was opposed to it, and would veto the same if elected governor, he (Bradford) made a motion that no proxy vote should be cast, knowing that the other two delegates, Columbus Sykes and Tom Davis, were necessarily absent and had sent down their proxy by him. The members not knowing the motive that actuated Major Bradford, voted for the motion to be carried. Consequently, the next day, McWillie was nominated by one vote. So soon as it was called out, Colonel Cannon, with grace and dignity, arose and conducted Colonel McWillie to the stand, and in the most laudatory terms introduced him. Each member felt the power of such intoxicating eloquence and true magnanimity. Many of the members exclaimed aloud, “ If we had only heard Cannon speak before the ballot was cast, he would have been nominated by acclamation.” Colonels McWillie and Cannon had been friends in South Carolina before they emigrated to Mississippi, so they loved each other now. And instead of going to his home in Madison county, he (Colonel McWillie) accompanied Colonel Cannon to his home in Columbus, where he was received in confidence by every member of the household, who waited upon him in the most hospitable and luxuriant manner. Many friends were invited to meet him, and after a week’s delightful sojourn he returned home. Their friendship was cemented even closer than before, and continued until death separated them. In the close of the year 1857 Colonel Cannon, in company with his wife, and a dear friend, attended conference of the Methodist Episcopal church at Selma, Ala. This meeting with the bishop and ministers gave him great happiness. His love for his church was intense. He was one of the ruling spirits and pillars of the Methodist Episcopal church at Columbus. Consequently, when it was read out that Edwin Baldwin was sent to that station, his joy was complete, Alas! could he have lifted t He vail and seen that in three months this same sweet, sainted minister', would pronounce his funeral sermon. But would it have alarmed him? No, he was not afraid to die. As soon as he returned to his home he had a call to go to the grand lodge at Jackson. The exposure to cold while making these two trips, developed rapidly into typhoid fever which lasted over two months. During his illness his two able physicians untiringly attended upon him, alternately sitting up night after night, until the day came when his heart broken family had to tell him good bye. He expressed not a single fear, but with strong faith pointed his family and hosts of friends (who gathered to see him die) to that heavenly mansion that was prepared for him. He had a sweet word for each of his children and for his wife, and on the 15th of April, 1858, he breathed out his wellspent life in the arms of Jesus. He had been a benefactor to the poor, giving his hundred dollars where others had only given cents. His death made a void in church and state, and above all in his home, that never can be tilled. His life was an example of Christian purity and love. As the slow hearse bore his remains to the city of the dead, closed stores and bank draped in crape, and the longest procession ever seen in Columbus, attested the fact of his popularity, and the sad hearts who mourned for his loss.[Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi, Chicago, The Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1891.]