William Meek Furr (1840-1906)
Private, Company E, 19th Mississippi Infantry; enlisted
Oxford, MS, August 19, 1861 (age 20); listed sick in hospital in Lynchburg, VA,
November 30 - December 31, 1862; detailed Confederate Army Pioneer Corps April
10, 1863; captured Germanna Ford, VA, April 26, 1863; confined Old Capitol
Prison, DC, May 1, 1863; exchanged City Point, VA, May 10, 1863; admitted
hospital in Richmond, VA, November 14, 1863 with "febri
intermittens"; returned to company January 14, 1864; surrendered
Appomattox Courthouse, VA, April 9, 1865.
A SAD CHRISTMAS
W.M. Furr, a Leading Citizen of this County, Suddenly
Expires While His Home is Being Reduced to Ashes
Toccopola was the scene of an awful and distressing double
calamity on Saturday night December 23, plunging the entire community in grief
-- a sorrow shared by friends far and near, Pontotoc being conspicuous among
the number of sympathizers.
On the date above mentioned, Mr. Wm. M. Furr's residence, a
large two-story frame building, was discovered by one of the family to be on
fire, having started from a fire-place in an up-stairs bedroom. When found, the fire had gained such headway
that it was impossible to save the dwelling, although heroic effort was made. In spite of the cruel, greedy flames,
considerable of the furniture and general contents were carried out. Calmly and collectedly, Mr. Furr had given
instructions to the workers and had himself assisted
in the removing of the household effects without any visible signs of fatigue
or exhaustion. Suddenly, while helping to unlock a bedstead, he fell dead in
the arms of a son who had just remarked, "It is getting too hot; we had
better get out." It is not known
whether death was due to excitement, distress, rupture of a blood vessel, or
heart failure -- it might easily be attributed to any of these causes. The shock was great and almost beyond
comprehension, making the material loss made by the fire sink
into insignificance. Either misfortune
wuld [sic] have been almost unbearable but two coming simultaneously, is crushing
and the very thought of which strikes horror to the hearts of even those who
are bound only by ties of friendship.
God alone knows the anguish of wife, children and other loved ones. To each one, The Sentinel goes our in
tenderest sympathy.
William M. Furr was born in
For many years a consistent and zealous member of the
Methodist church, he was serving as superintendent of that Sunday school at the
time of his death. He was also a loyal
Mason and loved the beautiful principles taught by that ancient fraternity.
As a Confederate soldier, his career is an honorable one, a
credit to his family and to his country for which he fought. Enlisting August 1861 in Company
"E" 19th Miss. Regt.,
Always interested in churches and schools, and realizing
what they meant to the advancement and betterment of humanity, Mr. Furr was a
liberal contributor to their establishment and support. [All 11 of his sons and daughters attended
college!] He was a successful financier and for twenty-five years was a leading
merchant in his town, doing a large, profitable business, and leaving a good
estate. Since the Merchants &
Farmers Bank was first established here, he has been one of the directors and
his clear judgment and quick intuition will be greatly missed.
He was married to a Miss Pickens when quite a young man, the
noble life partner of his joys and sorrows surviving. Eleven children blessed this union, ten of
whom are left to mourn the loss of a good and wise father, who did his whole
duty to them, inculcating right principles and giving each the advantage of an
education. Two sons were off at college
when the tragedy occurred, Marvin at
Potomac Sentinel (