Hon. John W Yoe, mayor of West Knoxville, died at his residence on Clinch Avenue at 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon. He health began to fail more than a year ago.

He appeared as attorney for the City of Knoxville in the celebrated case of the Knoxville, Cumberland Gap and Louisville road, to which he gave much time and hard work.

After the session of the supreme court held a year ago he began to show signs of a serious breaking down of his physical powers. His disease primarily was nervous prostration, super induced by overwork and complicated with heart, kidney and bowel troubles. Last winter he spent a month in Florida hoping that the change and rest would assist nature to recuperate and bring restoration of health. With the coming of the hot summer weather, he went to the country among friends, hoping to derive benefit from the pure country atmosphere but the change did not prove beneficial.

Not more than two weeks ago he returned to his West Knoxville home greatly prostrated and the gravity of his condition aroused the apprehension of his family and friends. He was confined to his room and bed where everything that the skill of physicians and the most careful and tender nursing of a devoted wife and family proved of no avail and death came as above stated.

Col. John W Yoe, was in his 53^rd year of age. He was born in Grainger County where he received in his boyhood a common school education. He also attended one year at Emory and Henry College, Virginia. He read law with Judge James T Shields.

While yet a young man having scarcely attained his majority, the war broke and he enlisted in the Confederate Army. At the close of the war he was serving in the command of Gen. W Y C Hannum, in the state of North Carolina.

He returned home and soon afterwards began the practice of law. He had an office at Mossy Creek for a number of years and enjoyed a lucrative practice. About thirteen years ago he removed to Knoxville and formed a partnership in the practice with Mr. Cornelius C Lucky. The partnership was afterwards dissolved since which time he has had an office alone.

When the municipal corporation of West Knoxville was established more than four years ago, Col. Yoe was prevailed upon to accept the office of mayor which he held continuously up to the date of his death. He was elected three times, twice without opposition.  In 1882, he was elected to represent Knox County in the lower branch of the state legislature. . .

His bereaved widow and family will have the sympathies of the entire community. Besides the widow, he leaves four daughters and one son to mourn a loss the full extent of which they alone can feel and know… Funeral services will be held at the residence, No.508 Clinch avenue at 4 o’clock this afternoon. Interment in Old Gray Cemetery.

Knoxville Daily Journal – Monday, September 9, 1895

Transcribed by Robert McGinnis and used by permission.