Major Ira Root
The Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 13 February 1868, page 3
NEWPORT
DEATH OF IRA ROOT-Major Ira Root, one of the oldest members of the Newport Bar, died yesterday afternoon at four o'clock after an illness of about five months. Major Root was a member of the Convention which in 1849, framed the present Constitution of Kentucky. He also, during his life, served several terms in the Legislature from Campbell County.
At the time of his death, he was in the sixtieth year of his age.
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Cincinnati Daily Gazette, Friday, 14 February 1868, page 1
ACTION of the Newport Bar Respecting the death of Ira Root. At a meeting of the members of the Newport Bar, held yesterday, at the Court House, for the purpose of taking steps in regard to the death of Maj. Ira Root, Hon. R Tarvin Baker was called to the chair and Maj. Gus Artsman appointed Secretary.
On motion, a committee of Resolutions was appointed, consisting of F M Webster, E W Hawkins, George R Fearons, T W W DeCourcey, and J R Hallam. The committee, after a short consultation together, presented the following report, which was adopted:
WHEREAS, It has pleased the Almighty to remove from among us our esteemed brother, Ira Root, Esq. senior member of the bar, who departed this life at his residence, in this city on the afternoon of Wednesday, February 12, 1868, after a long and painful illness, borne by him with patience and Christian fortitude.
RESOLVED, that in his death the bar has lost a bright ornament and the community, a most valuable citizen, genial friend and associate, and his wife and children, a faithful and devoted husband and father.
RESOLVED, That in the fervent devotion with which the deceased, in a long professional career, discharge his duties to his clients, in the brilliant elocution with which he urged and demonstrated their claims, in the impassioned oratory with which he was accustomed to enlist the attention of Courts and excite the admiration of the bar, he has erected a monument to his own fame which will be enduring as their memory and will become a pleasing tradition of the professions while the urbanity of manner and cordiality of friendship which he was wont to manifest to his brethren of the bar, will be cherished in their hearts with affectionate and honored collection.
RESOLVED, That we deeply deplore his death and console with his family in their irreparable loss.
RESOLVED, That the members of this bar and officers of this Court, will, in a body attend his funeral when the same shall take place.
RESOLVED, That a copy of the proceedings of this meeting, embodying these resolutions be presented to the several Courts of the county with the request that they be spread upon the order books of the same, and that the Campbell Circuit Court, now in recession, be requested to order a certified copy of the same to be presented to the family of deceased.
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Cincinnati Daily Gazette, Saturday 15 February 1868, page 1
FUNERAL OF MAJOR ROOT-The funeral services of Major Ira Root, will take place today at 1 o'clock, PM, Grace M E Church.
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Louisville Daily Courier, Saturday, 15 February 1869, page 2
Major Ira Root, one of the oldest members of the Newport bar, died after an illness of about five months. Major Root was a member of the Convention which in 1849, framed the present constitution of Kentucky. He also, during his life, served several terms in the Legislature from Campbell County. At the time of his death he was in the sixtieth year of his age.
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The Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 24 February 1868, page 3
From the Louisville Journal
The following eloquent, beautiful and touching tribute to the
late Ira Root of Newport, is from one of the most accomplished and talented
ladies of the city.
DEATH OF THE HONORABLE IRA ROOT
"I have received the sad announcement of the death of this distinguished Kentuckian. He died at his residence in Newport on the 13th of February. From early youth, he identified himself with the Democratic party, and was ever a bold and fearless advocate of its principles. In 1849 he was elected a member of the convention that framed the present constitution of Kentucky. A few years later he was sent to the Legislature and in 1854 to the State Senate, where he won the love and admiration of all parties by the wise, judicious, able and statesman like manner in which he discharged his duties to his constituents. On the eve of the later rebellion he was a strong and vigilant opposer of the succession of the Southern States. *
Many of his speeches in behalf of the Union were very severe and bitter, some thought unnecessarily so, against the people of the South, and they had my unqualified disapproval, yet I felt compelled to give him credit for perfect candor and sincerity. He was one of the oldest and ablest members of the Newport bar. He was always an earnest and eloquent advocate of the wronged and the oppressed. As a speaker he had few equals in our Commonwealth. Everything that he studied he mastered. It seemed that it was no kind of knowledge with which he was not familiar. He was versed in the doctrines of the old school men and comprehended the most difficult and complicated principles of political economy as if by intuition.
His style of oratory was flowery, critical and parliamentary. He was at all times conscience of his own superiority. He never feared his opponents and was ready to meet them at all times and under all circumstances. It was no uncommon thing for him to ride thirty miles to address a political meeting. I have known him to make three political speeches in one day without displaying the least fatigue. He never wearied his audiences and was always greeted with enthusiastic applause. He despised vanity and egotism and scorned to make use of sophistry. There was nothing mean or little or hypocritical about him. He endeavored to reconcile all diversities of human nature. He never promised anything that he did not believe he could perform.
If he undertook anything he was almost sure to succeed. He was prompt, faithful and punctual in all of his business transactions. He was kind and charitable and was sensitive and scrupulous in regard to his honor. He prized about all earthly things a pure and untarnished name and ever wrapped the mantle of virtue around him. He was wholly unselfish. He seemed to move through life caring only for the prosperity and happiness of others.
He was ambitious and aimed at the highest standard of excellence but wished only to attain it only by the noblest and honorable means. He was brave, generous, contentious and chivalric. He could not refuse an appeal from the suffering and was ever magnificent in his hospitality. He place the poor on an equal footing with the proud and wealthy and thought the sternest heart capable of tender and loving sympathies. He was rarely deceived by appearances and swift to praise men by their principles and intentions. He, like all other good and pure men, had his enemies, but his enemies were only those who knew little of him. A close acquaintance with him would divest his greatest antagonist of all doubts and suspicions as to his high morality. He was as innocent as a little child and if he erred in anything great or small, it was a fault of judgment not of the heart. He would have rather died than do a contemptible or mean act.
Very few men possessed a finer personal appearance or a more pleasing graceful and elegant manner. Nature set her stamp of nobility upon his brow and in all his features. He was a Christian gentleman and at the time of his death, a member of the Newport Methodist Church. His loss will be deeply felt by the entire community in which he lived and the vacant chair of his bereaved family circle will be forever draped in the saddest mourning. Many warm and loving hearts are yearning now for a beloved father, mine with the rest. But we see a bright and glowing star across the shining shore, where we know his shining spirit is basking in eternal quiet. And if our prayers can be heard, and our supplications ever reach Gods starry throne, we shall meet him there, and our spirits again will dwell together, free from the dark clouds of earthly disappointments and misunderstood deeds and feelings."
Louisville Ky. 15 February 1868, A M G
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Cincinnati Daily Gazette, Saturday, 15 February 1868, page 1
FUNERAL OF MAJOR ROOT-The funeral services of Major Ira Root will take place today at 1 o'clock P.M. at the Grace M E Church.
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*Root was elected in 1844 as a State Representative from Campbell County for the first of several terms. He ran as a Democrat.