The Livingston Journal page 3 Livingston Alabama Fri. Jan. 28th, 1881
In Memoriam
James A. Abrahams was born in Buckingham County Virginia Nov. 12th 1804 and died in Livingston Alabama, Jan. 6, 1881, being in his 77th year.
Deceased left his native state in early life and settled in the state of Georgia where he married in 1832. He lived in Georgia for several years at Newnan and afterward at Macon. Removing from that state he came to Livingston in the fall of 1835 where he continued to reside until his death. Before and during the war he was engaged in the mercantile business. In 1867 he was appointed Judge of the Probate for Sumter, and in 1868 he was re-appointed to the same office, In 1874 he was elected to the same office and had vacated it but for a few months before his death.
Judge Abrahams was a man of strong and positive character and when he had once made up his mind he was unflinching and unyielding in his views. This was evinced by his course during the war; being an Old Line Whig, and devotedly attached to the Union, he refused to acknowledge the expediency or wisdom of secession, and maintained and declared his sentiments when others of less fixedness of purpose and flexibility of character would have yielded to popular opinion and bent before the storm. He was consistent and the term "turn-coat" could never be applied to him; whatever may have been his faults, or errors in judgement. There is one thing very certain- you always knew where to find him.
Judge Abrahams was a man of strong and active mental faculties and his strength of mind and character were evinced by the system and order in all that he did. While he was a judge of Probate his office was noted for neatness and dispatch of business. He was also possessed of a kindly heart: as the devoted husband and affectionate father; devoted attention and love of his family in his last illness demonstrated. His sympathies were easily aroused, and those who have watched him in the trial of causes, have frequently seen his eyes fill with tears, and heard his voice falter as he gave his views upon the case being tried. He was strong in his attachment to his friends and being of a positive character he was also strong in his resentments, But the cooling hand of time had dispelled all ill-feeling, and he had the most kindly feelings for all; whatever wrong, if any, had been done him, he had forgiven and died at peace with his fellow-man. On the day before his death he sent for Rev. Robt. Caldwell to whom he had become warmly attached, and at his own request was baptised and received into communion of the Presbysterian Church. After this solemn service he arranged his worldly affairs, and a few hours afterward breathed his last as peacefully and quietly as an infant falling to sleep on its mothers breast. Judge Abrahams retained his mental faculties to the last; there was no decay of the mind and he went down not into darkness and gloom of dotage, but like a unclouded sun at the close of a Summer day, he sank peacefully and quietly to rest. All the ties that bound him to earth have been sundered, but only to be reunited, we hope, in a better clime, where neither death nor decay come. Peace be to his ashes.
A. Friend