End Comes To One Of The Well Known Republican Leaders
LONG HELD PUBLIC OFFICES
Twice Elected Trustee of Maury County, Twice Appointed Postmaster
of Columbia and Twice Named as Member of County Court.
Hugh Fletcher Fariss, one of the best known citizens of Maury County, prominent in the public life for more than thirty years, died at his home on South Main Street at 5:30 o'clock Monday afternoon. Mr. Fariss has been in quite poor health for several months. Recently he began to fail rapidly and for the past four or five days no hope whatever had been entertained for his recovery.
His life held by the narrowest thread for the past two days and death was momentarily expected.
Mr. Fariss was a member of one of the oldest families in Maury County and was born in Hampshire in November, 1839, and was therefore in the seventy-fifth year of his age. When the war between the states commenced Mr. Fariss' sympathies, as well as that of the other members of the family, were Decidedly with the union and after the war was over he joined the republican party, continuing his allegiance to that organization until the hour of his death.
Few men have ever lived in the county who had a stronger hold upon the affections of people than Mr. Fariss. Regardless of political affiliations he was always popular. In 1882 he was elected trustee of the county in one of the most notable races in the county's annals. In April, 1884, he was appointed postmaster at Columbia by President Chester A. Arthur and served in that office for four years.
He resigned as trustee, but in 1888 was again elected to that office, serving for two years. He had the distinction of being the last republican ever elected to a county office in Maury County.
In July, 1897, Mr. Fariss was again appointed Postmaster by President McKinley and he served for five years. In 1906 Mr. Fariss was elected as justice of the peace for the city of Columbia and two years ago was re-elected by an overwhelming vote. As a member of the county court he was appreciated for his conservatism, for his
devotion to public interests and for his intimate knowledge of the public affairs of the county. Mr. Fariss was public spirited although generally known for his conservatism in public expenditures.
Mr. Fariss was a loyal member of the republican party and for many years was a member of the county committee, was often a delegate to the state conventions, has served on the state committee and for several terms was the chairman of the county republican committee.
He had no patience with the so-called progressive movement but voted for Taft.
Mr. Fariss was just as popular, in spite of his well known republican views and loyalty, among the democrats as he was among the members of his own party. The democrats repeatedly elected him to office, showing by their works their faith in the man. He was a man of honor and integrity. During his administration as trustee he paind county warrants at par. His official life was always clean and efficient.
Mr. Fariss was a loyal member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He was married early in life to a member of the well known and influential Brooks family of Hampshire and his wife and eight children of their union survive him. Four of their children are sons, Mora B. Fariss, who is now deputy clerk and master; Hugh Fariss and Monte Fariss, both clerks in the post office, and Charles Fariss, of Memphis. Four daughters are Mrs. Charlotte Schmid, of Kentucky; Mrs. Laura Garth of Texas; Miss Pearl Fariss of Memphis, and Miss Fletcher Fariss of this city.
The funeral service took place at 4 o'clock at the residence this afternoon and were conducted by Dr. W. T. Haggard. Interment at Rose Hill Cemetery.
The following served as active pall bearers, J. B. Brooks, W. D. Brooks, T. J. English, W. L. English, J. L. Fariss, B. Fariss and Hugh F. Scott. The honorary pall bearers were Sims Latta, T. H. Williams, A. N. Akin, J. M. Hodge, W. S. McFall, Sumner Armstrong, M.A. McBride, Theo. Lipscomb, John W. Jackson and Frank H. Smith. Carriages from Oakes & Nichols.
Note: Marker S/B "FARISS", but may be incorrectly carved as "FARRIS"
Ref: Emma (Shrum) Butler Duke birdandbear@aol.com g-g-granddaughter. Obituary sent in by Mary Bob McClain Richardson from Findagrave by Emma Butler Duke. 31 Aug 2009.
