News and Record from Greensboro, North Carolina • Page 40

23 DAILY rNDTJSl'SIAIi NEWS, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20. 1908 Prominent Men oj Early Tim (Continued From Page 27.) i v. bled in Richmond, at the beginning of the Civil war. Prior to that time, in 1848, he was called to preside over the great national Whig conven- ty, we are largely indebted for the present system of internal improvements i this state. It was during this session of the legislature that the bill for th Carolina Railrnn I tion.

which met that year in numuci pliia, and which nominat inated General presidency, and yinl.ari- Taylor fir thi nrcsidencv. ana fnr Vi.Vrcsident of II II i 1 1 1 111. i ,1... ww i inibii. the United States.

In 1858, he was again -t nHly and assiduously for the passag elected to the legislature of the state, of the bill, and contributed by his ef-in which session he took a leading part forts largely to secure its passage. II in the enactment of many important Jjss been said of Mr. Gilmer that he wai measures for the good of the state. A jovial, learned and astute man," and Governor llorebead was one of the that these traits wer loveliest characters tJie writer the greatest advantage to t)h town of Iincolnton, N. in tie year, 1835.

After leaving school he studied law and was admitted to the bar. He was a man of strong mind, of brilliant intellect, and an eloquent and forceful speaker. His rise in the profession of his choice was rapid, and he soon found himself at the head, and a leader of the bar of the state. He was very successful in the trial of causes, and his distm-, euished ability soon brought him into a Full and lucrative practice. In the year 1874 he received the noun-; nation for the office of judge of the Su-! perior Courts of his, the Sixth Judicial strict, and was duly elected.

He pre- sided over the courts of the state with, great ability. Soon after he left bench, by resignation, in the year 1881, Jiide Schenck removed to Greensboro andengaged in the practice of the law; here; and about the same time he be-1 came the regular counsel and attorney of the Southern Railway Company, which position he held with great satis- fnetinn a.nd credit to himself until his i I illllli SENATOR LEE 2 mm- ipf is I i i 1 GEORGE T. awl oonfeientious Jiseliu dntv found its cmu-1 iininti of pub.ie aiui ne saiiK to his st. i and erected a hunting lodge upon it, 'There iinvc been jir-iiler. lint few more and spent a good deal of time there juvl i.

men in all our tween his courts in the entertainineiit of his many fiieuds. Then- are many i ne O'ck was kind and courteous in traditions connected with this lodge, his 'relations. iit'e, 'upright and and many hilarious times been i o.i-.i in hi dealings, and fair and had within it.H courts, notldii, however, in nil Lis rulings from the to the discreiljof the owner or the par-lunch. He lei'l i wife and allies or who were entertained Winston-Salem, where he lived in great; ing and ability. At the bar he was an elegance for many years.

Mr. Shepperd in equity and a iraster was a lawyer of fine ability and learn- of the art of cin-s-oxaiiiiiiatinn. ing, and attended the court of Guilford' Murphy U'liilne a resident of Creens-and other counties, but was not regular 1 boro about llie year for a s'lori in his attendance by reason -of the fact period, and resided on whaS is n. v. that he was in Congress a great portion South Kim street, in the house sin.

of his time from the year 1827 to 18.il, known as the David (Iretter hovse, when he declined a reelection. He gave where the McAdoo House now shi r.N. nearly thirty years of almost continual1 '-Judge Murphy was a great friend to service to the people. The writer of education and si a-, well as this sketch had the pleasure' while a 'j internal improvement, and gave his voice' school boy of know ing Mr. Shepperd and influence in that behalf durincliis and heard him deliver a number of whole life.

He believed the state ought speeches during the last few years of to take schools under-its. protection and his candidacy for Congress. He has a care and control, lie rendered a great very distinct recollection Vif Mr. Shep-! -service to the university of the state in perd being present at the home of-Rob- securing for it an interest in a larje ert S. Gilmer, in Guilford county body of land in l'ast Tennessee, and in 1846, during a canvass by the county gave much time and labor to the candidates for the legislature and other He had a.

great de-ire to write the his- large and int. -t ing family of children, other -relatives, to luoiini bis sud den and iniexpeeted derth His remains iii the graveyard of the First I'resbx teria i church. -in this held for a number of years. Ho never city. returned to his native state and died in THOMAS RIIFFIn" SENIOR that distant territory, to which there THOMAb KU UH, bh-mUK.

was at tlm(. tinw. no r.lilroivls running The Hon. Thomas liulliit. Senior, ns he ttnd in the unsettled condition of the in-ndvocHte as well as judge of the! habitants of that far off country and the Superior and of the Supreme courts of i intervening territory traveling alone was this state, early displayed wonderful very hazardous, so "he never retiiriiert to ability and achieved the greatest siic cess.

He was a Virginian by birth, and was graduated at Princeton College in Xew Jersey, He obtained his licen.se in 'tho year 1808, having first studied under a very reputable lawyer in and afterwards completed his legttl ednca- iiion miner me oisiinguisneu juuge, a. ij. Murphy, of tins state. He made his home in Hillsboro and represented that town in the legislature of the state for several He was then elected judge of the Superior courts in 181, on resignation of IJuii- but resigned his- office in years thereafter, and returned to the casting vote of the Hon. Calvil Graves, the speaker of that.

body. Mr, iraves, tne speaker of t.hot hnj Gilmer, in the Spnnfo knj secrtring of the passage of that measure, xiiere was much important legisla. in which J5 addition to the statutorv the rights of married women was like-wise effected by this legislature. Tin statute contained in the acts of 1848, Si forward, in section 2007 of the revisal of North Carolina of l0a, affords ample protection to married women in respect to their property rights upon marriage. Prior to the act, all the property, real and personal, a woman had at hel marriage became her husband and was subject to his control and alienation and was liable to be sold under execution for tpayitynt of her husband's debts after judgment.

This act provided that the maiden lands of wives, married subsequent to its passage, should not lie liable to execution against the husband; and that he, the husband. slionM power to sell his wife's real property without her voluntary consent, attested upon her privy examination, by constituted authority, separate and apart from her husband. If the legislature at that session Imd done nothing more than pass the charter of the North Carolina Railroad, and the act in favor of married women, it would entitle the members of that great body to the everlasting gratitude of all the women of th state. In the year 1856, Mr. Gilmer was tho nominee of the Whig party for governor of the state, in opposition to Governor Bragg, who was running for election for a second term.

Governor Bragg was also an able and experienced counsellor, with a large majority of Democratio voters in the state over the Mr. Gilmer was known as a leading-lawyer in his section, and was conspicuous both for mental power and social position, and the' most decided partixan of his party in the state. But the country was in a great state of excitement. was the Democratic nominee for the presidency. Free suffrage was agitating parties in the state and had lieen for eight years past; a feeling of unrest and uncertainty prevailed all over the country; the slavery question was agitating the nation; there was a large Democratic ''majority elected to both 'horses in the general assembly of the state, and the noble standard-bearer I of the Whigs in the state was defeated.

The next year, however, Mr. Gilmer was nominated for representative in Con gress in the Fifth, or Greensboro dis- i trict, and was elected by a large vote, He continued' in Congress until the war came on. It is well known that Presi- i Lincoln soon after his election of- fered -Mr," Gilmer seat in his cabinet. But it was Mr. Gilmer, although a strong Union man at first, was opposed to secession, as long as there) was any hope of saving the Union.

He was elected to the Confederate Congress at Richmond, and stood by the south throughout the war. He was one of the purest, ablest and best of men and patriots. He died at his home; after a protracted illness, on the 4th of Mayy 1808. He was a man who made many fri(' was deplored as a public calamity. He left an only son, loan Alexander Gilmer, who was graduated nt the -University of North Carolina, and came to the bar before the death of his father, but soon' after obtaining his license volunteered in the late war and rose to the position of colonel ot the Twenty-seventh regiment, and was severely wounded at the battle of Bristo Station, which disabled him from further service in.

the army. After peace was restored he became a judge of the Superior Court of the state and served in the legislature for several sessions. He was a man of fine manners, pieasant disposition, ana was exceedingly popular with the people. He died before lie reached his prime. His death' occurred on the 17th day of 'March, 1892.

ALFRED E. HANNER. Alfred E. Hanner, a netive of Guilford county, studied law and came to the bar about the year 1825. His father, John Hanner, had held the office of county court clerk of the county of Guilford for a number of years by appointment under the law contained in the statute of 1800.

(Revisal, Chapter 2.) This statute was superceded, however, by the act of 1832, which changed the tenure of the former act from a life term to a term of four years upon an election by a majority of the lawful or qualified free white voters of the county. Or- At May term, 1832, the said county court being in session, and forty-three justices of the peace of the county being pesent, it was, upon investigation by the court, found as a fact by a rote of said court that Mr. John Hanner was then incompetent mentally to transact the business of the office of clerk of said court, and thereupon it was ordered that an election be held at once to fill the said office; whereupon Alfred E. Hanner then and there having received a majority of the votes of the justices present was declared elected clerk of the said court, who at, once gave the bond as required by lav and took the neces sary oatn, ana proceeded wiia tuo Business, of the court. At August term, 1833, of said court, fifteen justices beinff present, upon mo tion made to tbat effect, the court ap- pointed George O.

Mendenhall an attor nev of said court, clerk prb to re cord, the orders of the court made, or to be made in' relation to the subject matter of aualifvinir Watson W. Wood- bum as clerk of said court, upon the certificate of the sheriff of the county of his having been duly elected to fill said office at the August election 'in 1833. Thereupon Alfred E. Hanner, by his attorney, William A. Graham, objected to said proceeding, claiming said office under his election at the May term, 1632,.

for the full terra of your year from said election and further protest knew. In the goodness of his heart he 1 1 1 II 'J male Seminary, in Greensboro, a way back lesiauiisueu a scnooi, iiie r.uji-i in the forties or littles, tor inc niyner education of young women; and erected beautiful four-story brick building in West Market street, on the lovely knoll about the sjiot on which Governor Scales i afterwards built his residence, which he occupied during the time he lived in GreeiiRboro. worth street was so named to perpetimte the recollection of this great private beneficence of this noble man. Governor Morehead never forgot any of the many lovely pupils of his school! but would often inquire, "How is Mary, and so and so?" meaning one 'or more of the young women who matric-i ulitted in his school, Governor Morehead left several daughters, all of whom pnssrased the lovely anil affectionate disposition and which distinguished their father in ft high degree. 1 cannot omit to state that Governor 'Morehead was sc-j lected by his state as one of the com-j missioners to the pence congress in Washington City, in ISliO, to show; the I confidence his state had in his great I ability, wisdom and statesmanship.

After the war 'lie devoted Innisell, his 'I! i i i i .1 nine and inienis, in ii.oKing ancr aiei promoting his private affairs and inanu-! facturingjnteresls. On the failure of ins uea It'll isoii lie made a visit to inc Rock-Bridge Alum Springs, in Virginia, where he remained for some time using the waters of that famous spring, but without success, and ufter lingering for ismiwi film flu rvi 1 nil AllfTllst. luii tsiui Hiu ltnmnht. tn Greensboro for Taken all in all, li ernor was one of the greatest men this state has produced. THOMAS "SETTLE.

The Hon. Thomas Settled was born in Rockingham county, in the year ,1701, He entered public life in 1810 as a member of the state legislature, and in 1817 and again in 181!) he was elected a member of Congress in the district including liockinghain county. After his fours years' term in Congress he was again elected for three successive terms in the state legislature from Roeingham county, to-wit: the years 1820. 1827, and again in 182S. During ull this time, when not actively engaged in his public duties, Mr.

Settle devoted himself to the practice of law in the courts of Rockingham, Guilford and other counties. His great ability and his eloquence as an advocate brought him a large hare of the business of these sev- eral counties, during his continuance at the bar. In early life he married-Miss Graves, a sister ot Hon. lalvin Uraves, of Caswell county, a lovely and most estimable lady. In 1832 he was elected a judge of the Superior- Court of the state to till the place made vacant by the election of Hon.

David L. Swuiui ns governor of the state. He. held the position of judge for a number of years. It is said, "he embodied much that was most to be admired in the character of a Xorth Carolina gentleman of the old school.

As a judge, he was learned in the of cases before him. and was strictly impartial in his rulings. His son, Thomas Settle, and his grandson of the same name, became attorneys at law, and both of them practiced their profession in Guilford county, where they resided at one time. They both held a number of public positions. The son.

Thomas Settle, besides representing Rockingham county in early life in the state legislature, before he made his residence in Greensboro, was elected a judge of the Supreme Court of North Carolina, and held that position for several years and until he received the appointment of Minister tc Peru, lie subsequently received from President Grant the. appointment of judge to the United States court for the District of Florida, winch position be held until, the time of his death in 1888. The grandson, while living in Guilford county, was twice elected as a repre sentative in the United States Congress from the Fifth Congressional district of the state, The father. Ron and grandson were men of talent and ability and of fine personal appearance, and popular manners. They were eloquent and forci ble speakers and were all iieloved by their political and personal friends, and admired by all for their power on the hustings and before public assembly's.

JOHN A. GILMER. Hon. John A. Gilmer, a native of Guilford county, was born, Xovember 4, 1805, and after completing his education and teaching school for three years in South Carolina, he began the study of law under Judge Archibald D.

Murphy, and obtained his license, to practice in the year 1832. Mr. Gilmer was a ripe scholar, and, being a man of strong mental capacity, he ruse rapidly in the profession, and commanded a large practice from the beginning. He ranked with the very best talent at the bar" in his section of the. state and marched to the front rank, Mr.

Gilmer was greatly beloved by the people, and his amiability, honesty and candor enabled him to make fast friends, and to hold their confidence. But notwithstanding his irreat popu larity, he did not enter tTie political arena until 1846, at which time he con- umteit to become a candidat for the state Senate. He was elected, of course, ami a nieutuer or mat great body and was reelected for three or more successive terms, in the same body, hav t. nnnr. vr ing for his colleagues, Judge William N.

H. Smith, Hon. Kenneth Raynor, Hon. Calvin Graves, Judge Robert B. Gilliam, William S.

Asbe, James C. Dobbin, William H. Washington and Walter L. Steele, all brilliant beginners in political life, and all destined to distinction. To the wisdom and patriotism of the legislature of 1848, rcoraposed of such men as named above, associated with Mr.

Gilmer, the senator from Guilford conn- the He extended his circuit and the seventieth year of practice as attorney ii'to a number of age. His family afterwards reiuov-counties of the state, including Guilford, ed to Rockingham county. He was pre-and snent fortv-llirce weeks in the vear pared for college' at the celebrated school health became such as to require him to retire from practice. On coming to Greensboro to live in the. vear 1882, Judge Schenck became greatly interested in the "spot'V of ground, where, on Thursday, March Id.

1781, the battle of Guilford Courthouse was fought between the British army under Lord Cornwallis and the American troops under the command of Gen. Na. thaniel Greene. Judge SchenckV first impulse was to secure, by purchase, the several tracts of land or ground on and over which the battle was fought. To enable him to do this and to secure tnu "spot" from passing into other hands, or into oblivion, he at once purchased about forty-two acres, paying for the same a considerable sum of money, and afterward purchased other portions of the surrounding lands.

These grounds were afterward conveyed by Judge Schenck to the Guilford Battleground Company. which is an incorporated company, duly chartered by the state legislature, and on May 6, 1887, was and Judge Schenck was elected president, which position he held until his death. All praise and honor is due Judge Schenck for rescuing the grounds and for reviving and perpetuating the history of the battle and of the victory won by our troops in the struggle, as well as the result following from it, and upon the favorable issue of the contest, in which the Americans won a splendid victory which sent Lord Cornwallis with the remnant of his army to its surrender to General Washington at Yorktown, about the first of November, 1781. Judge Schenck, after organizing the Guilford Battleground Company, soon restored the grounds, which had been neglected and had grown up with bushes and weeds, to a high degree of culti-j vation, and erected suitable houses thereon for the keeper, and provided fa cilities for tha accommodation ot the large crowds of people who throng the place on the days of the annual celebrations, which are held for the entertain ment of our people, as well as of Strang' fudge Schenck has written a valuable history of the battle, giving an account of the fight and the incidents attending it. which occurred on March 15, 1781, making a beautiful volume of nearly live hundred pages, of the most interest mi" matter which can be bought and ought to be found in every house in the state and read by every man, woman ami child in tho land.

Judge Schenck was great as a man, and as a lawyer and a judire, but he is still greater as the historian of the battle of Guilford Courthouse. He devoted much time, la bor and research in the endeavor to bring to light, and to get before the world a true history of the battle, and of the armies engaged in it, and of the incidents attending the most important battle of the Revolutionary war. The naaie of Judge Schenck will never cease to be a synonm for patriotism as long as this is a sovereign state. Governor Holt in his address, has said that the revolution began at Alamance and was ended practically at Guilford Courthouse. Judge Schenck was fortunate in early life in having taken to himself as wife Miss Wilfong, Captain Wilfong's granddaughter, who stilt survives him and is worthy of filling the place at the side of such a man and patriot.

His devotion to his wife led to the christening of the beautiful Lake Wilfong which adorns the grounds of the park on the eastern side. The honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was worthily bestowed upon Judge Schenck. After a long and active life, Judge Schenck's remains now rest in Greene Hill cemetery. His death occurred on May ZA, 1902. HON.

AUGUSTINE H. SHEPPERD. Hon. Augustine H. Shepperd was born in SuiTy county, which was a very large county and had been formed from Rowan in the year 1770.

Stokes county was formed from Surry a few years later, in the year 1789, and Mr. Shep-perd's lot fell to him in Stokes. Mr. Shepperd entered public, life in the year 1822, when he was elected to the House of Commons in that year. He was continued by annual elections until 1826, giving him a terra of five years.

In 1827 he was elected to the Congress of the United States and served until 1839. He was defeated in 1840 by Hon. John Hill, Mr. Shepperd was elected in 1842 over Mr. Hill and served until 1843, and wa elected again in 1847 and served until 1861, when he declined reelection.

He was a lawyer by profession and did such practice aa he could attend to when not in actual service in Congress. Mr. Shepperd was a great favorite with the people, and very popular. He was a man of line address and popular manners, and was a great electioneer and was never defeated except in one election, by John Hill. He was careful to cultivate the acquaintance of all the young men and boys in his district, and often addressed them at their school commencements and on other occasions.

He was a shrewd politician and was looking ahead for rotes. Mr. Shepperd married Miss Turner, of Washington 'City, and raised a family of children. He was an educated man and an attractive, fluent and eloquent speaker, 'and retained Tiis popularity until hit de.ith. He moved to his fine home on the hill one' mile 'east of Salem, now in the court, sometimes attending two of Dr.

David Caldwell, near Greensboro, courts in one week. He was very sue--j this county, and was graduated at cessful in Winning his suits and was tliejiniversity of tho in the year I much sought ufter as counsel in many; 1817. He studied law with Judge Mur-I important cases, pliy and obtained his license in June, On the resignation of Judge Badger, 1821 he represented Rocking-J in Ruliin again accepted county in the general assembly, in -1 WINSTON. near Deep River, on which he planted I a vineyard and built a ock wall around Herein. Mr.

cott removed to Texas mauv years ago, where he was elected a judge of the courts of that state, which be his native state. Ho left 'several Chil dren in this state, some of whom will bo remembered by some of our people here. James G. Scott, who studied law with Hon. John A.

Gilmer, Dr. Edward Scott and Miss Bettie Scott, who frequently visited Greensboro, were children of Judge Scott. James (1. Scott removed to Onslow county, which he afterwards represented several times in tho legislature of the state. He is now dead.

JOHN M. MOREHEAD. Governor John M. Morehead was born Virginia on July 4, 1700, and was con- i sequent ly, at the time of his death, in Hanged. In 1840 Governor Morehead received the nomination for governor of the state to fill the office on the expiration of Gov.

Edward B. Dudley's second term. His onnonent was Hon. Romulus Saunders. It was the first time the state was ever canvassed by candidates for lie office of governor.

It was a joint eanvass and hug been so conducted ever since uy candidates lor the sa line office in the state. It was one or the most brilliant campaigns ever had in the state, prior to that time. Morehead was elected by a handsome majority. He was elected for the succeeding term over Hon. Louis D.

Henry, of Wake county. He did not return to the practice of the law after the expiration of his term of office. Governor Morehead was elected the first president of the Xorth Carolina Railroad Company, which position he held until his death, rendering service to the State of North Carolina and to internal improvement in the state. About that time he accepted the appointment to the office of justice of the jieace of Guilford county, and became the presiding justice of the County Court of Guilford. county, which office he filled with great ability for several years.

It was while be was on the special court tbat he, by, his. Influence, located the county home at its present situation- and superintended building of the present home for the poor. On June he was elected by the state convention -as. a' representative In the Confederate Congress which assent- i S. OVERMAN.

tory of the state, but misfortune ov.r- took hint and his health became impaired, so that he failed in its He had great ideals, and lived in advance of the aae. His death occurred in Hillsboro on -February 1, 1832. WILLIAM NORWOOD. Hon William Xorwood, a native; of Grange county, was born in 17li7 and practiced his profession in Guilford as early as about 1811. as well ns in Orange and perhaps other counties, quite a fair practice.

He frequently represented his county in the state legislature, and during bis last term, in the year 1820, be' was' elected n-judge of the Superior Courts of the state, and held the. office until when he; rcsigucuL He died about the year 1840. He was a sound jurist and a most excellent. 'man. 1 do not think he resumed practice again in Guilford county after the bench.

lie was distinguished for.l i learning in the law, and for his natience and firmness in the trial of cases, both at bar and on the bench. He'. tnicd at Lincoln Superior Court in the' yvar the celebrated case of Hoke -vs. Henderson, which is reported in 4 IVv. Reports, page 1, which will interest the younger, members of the profession, lie was sustained in his ruling by the Sn-prenie Court, to which the case was Judge Xorwood was the father of JoVm Xorwood, of Hillsboro, a attorney at law, who made Ms home in his town of Hillsboro all his life, and continued in the practice for many years in Guilford as well as other counties.

ylr; was a plensant speaker, a most kind and amiable gentleman, and was greatly beloved by his brethren. He practiced in the courts of Guilford county for a number of years in his early life, but in his later" years he confined his practice chiefly to his own counties of Orange and Alamance. J0HN M. DICK. Hon.

John M. Dick was born in the year 1701. in Guilford county, and w.is admitted to practice in the courts of the state. His residence was in the City of Greensboro. He married Miss Williamson, of Caswell county.

Judge Hide accumulated a large estate, consisting of land and negroes. He had a Iftnre family of children, all of whom are now dead, but left descendants who are among our best and most estimable citizens. In 1819 he was elected to the state Sennte, and was returned again in 1821), 1830 and 1831. The dockets of the courts show that he had a large practice while at the bar in the courts of Guilford county. On the death of Judge Seawell in October, 1835, Mr.

Dick was in the game year elected to fill his place on the Superior Court bench, a position which he continued to hold until his donth, giving a long term of arduous Service to his state, at a time when there were no railroads and the judges traveled from court to court in private conveyances, climbing the mountains in the western parts of the state and exposed to the malaria and fevers in the eastern sec' tion during the hot weather. Dick, on the fourth Monday' in September, 1861, opened his last court, in Winston in Bertie county, and though "ailing." said his biographer, "the faith-ful and upright old man cleared off his court docket and went as a visitor with Abraham Riddick, the cleric of t'he court, to his beautiful country seat, Manneys Neck, hoping thereby, to recover his. illness. en, October. 18,, 18.61.

far from his home and family, his long appointment of judge of the Superior me House, Ins father having removed Court. I'pon litis change it was said front Virginia to Xorth Carolina several by a great historian, the greatest years before. lawyer in the state's history (Badger) Mr. Morehead married Miss Ann Klwa made ay for the greatest intelligence, Lindsay, and soon after removed to Guilford county, where he lived the re- It was said that Judge Ruflin had no mninder of his life, lie represented superior or rival at the bar. As a 'lawyer I Guilford county in the legislature in be was employed in all important cases; 1820 and 1.827.

There were many great in his circuit." He declined an election men in the legislature in the sessk-n ot to: the' Senate of the States, de- 1827; or, at any rate, many of ihoi'i elaring he had 'rather go down to poster- develox'd into great men, as did Gov-ity as a law yer than as a politician. i ernor He was greatly devoted He as elected a judge of the Supreme I to the profession of law, and' while he Court in 182!) and four years later be-1 was eminent in the practice in the civil came the chief justici. of that court. He courts he waV especially great and snc-was tw ice elected to the Court cessftil in the criminal courts, and Lis bench and twice resigned from it. I lis practice covered a number of counties, second emt last resignation-was in 18.V2..I lie was the acknowledged lender in the Ho was to bo the finest practitioner courts in which be practiced, lie was in the state at tho time be accepted I retain, in nearly all the murder cases a place on the lench in 182').

His rep- in lu. part of the state where he fis a jurist is well known in all ed, and never had a defendant, 'for whom the civilized countries, and has not been I he appeared, convicted of murder or places, and that all the students at the Rev. Dr. Ely W. Caruthers' school, the Alamance Academy, had a holiday and heard Mr.

Shepperd and the other candidates for the legislature and the coun ty offices deliver their speeches. Mr. Shepperd was in his prime and made a great many friends among the young pcoplo and students. He vas.a highly honorable and worthy gentleman, and desiTed to do his country and his constituents all the good that was in his power, hence he wanted to know personally the people whom he had so lonz and patriotically served as their mem ber in the Congress of the united States. He manifested a desire to help nil the people, to give them the benefit of a good government and just laws for their am aim guidance.

He had represented the people of his district, including, as it did, the county of Guilford, for a period covering twenty-four years. It was natural that he should take pleasure in knowing the children, of his friends and supporters through all these years. 1 have no record of the time of Mr. Shepperd's death, though he has been dead for a great many years. CHAPTER SECOND.

After the removal of Judge MeXairy to Xashville, in the year 1788, his brother, James McXuiry, was the only resident lawyer in Guilford county. He continued in the regular pursuit of his proiession, year after year, until late in life, retaining a large clientage and practicing with great success. Alter the county-seat was establish ed at Greensboro, and a Superior. Court provided by law for Guilford county, for the trial of civil and criminal cases to be held by a judge learned in the law, quite a number of able and highly accomplished members of the bar from other counties, attracted thereby, be came attendants npon the several courts of the county, r.mlfor.l became a part of the Fourth judicial circuit, having supe- nor jurisdiction, lotli civil and crnmunl, and was presided over bv a judge at each term. It is the purpose of the writer to give.

as far as he can, the names of the several attorneys who practiced in the courts of Guilford county, whether resi-1 dept or nonresident, with brief sketches of each, so far as his information will enable hi in to do. ARCHIBALD D. MURPHY. Among the early attornevs who at tended the courts of (iuilford county was Hon. Archibald D.

Murphy, who was born in Caswell county in the year liii; and was educated at the University of this state, where he was graduated in 1709 with high honors at the age of twenty-two. Mr. Murphy was admitted to the bar in 1802, and located in Hillsboro, rising rapidly to the position of a recognized leader of the most brilliant bar in the state. He was soon after chosen to represent Orange county in the legislature, being elected eeven years successively, from 1812 to 1818 inclusive. He made a fine record in the state Senate for ability, eloquence and a liberal public spirit, and took a high stand as a debater in that body, composed, as it was, of the ablest men in the state.

He began to attend the courts of Guilford county just prior to 1811, and continued to practice in this and other counties until he was elected judge of the superior courts of law and equity in 1818, which office he resigned in 1820, after a brilliant career as a judge. He was a very kiodel of a lawyer-cool, sagacious and Vborious. and united a fine literary taste great legal learn- :1 ffy t-V: excelled in any. Jieiore ins tienin Judge' Hudin retired to private life in his old home in Hillsboro. He passed quietly away iii his eighty-third on January 15, 1870.

JOHN SCOTT. I Hon. John Scott was a native of this i state. He studied law and obtained his license to practice and attended th courts of his own county (Orange) and of Guilford county, for several years. As Was not unusual with lawyers, Mr.

Scott early became a candidate for legislative honor and represented the borough of Hillsboro, in Orange county, in the legislature of the state in 1818, 1810, 1820, and again in 1824. 1823, 1820 land 1827, and at the last session of the assembly of 1827, he was elected to the office- of solicitor-general of the state in the Fourth Judicial circuit, which included Orange, Guilford and a number of other counties. This was a very high and important trust, and was rilled by Mr. Scott with great credit and honor to himself and with good to the public! The office of borough representative applied only to Hillsboro and a few other towns in the state, but was abolished by the convention of 1835 and no longer exists in the state anywhere. Mr.

Scott, began the practice of his profession hi Guilford county in the year 1814 and continued to attend the courts of this ad other counties until he left the state. While attending the courts of the district, as solicitor, he became the purchaser of a tract of land in the mountain district of Randolph county,.