South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-08-01
SATURDAY., AUGUST u, 1885.

favorable circumstances. The refine
nents ofpolished scholarship had hard.
ly been introduced into Tennessee at
that early day. But of the more prac.
teal and useful branches of education,
such as qualified him for the discharge
OF the immediate duties of life, be &C.
quired the utmost that the schools Of
that say afforded. He was instructed
in the ancient languages by the Rev,
Samuel Casfick and MIR. afterwards
Jutge) Roane gentlemen OF no mean
proficiency in scholarship. To these
attsinments he afterwards added o
course Of mathematics, under Profess
or Patterson, of Philadelphia, whittier
he had gone for that purpose. In 1875,
he left Philadelphia for Lancaster, Pa.
where he entered the office OF James
Hopkins, an eminent lawyer, under
whose superintendent he devoted him.
self with great ardor to the study of the
lay. Having completed the usual
preparatory course he returned in
1896 to Knoxville, where he commen.
ced the practice of his profession.-
Such, in brief, is the early history Of
Hugh L. White.
Tits not the province ofthe present
! writer to follow him step by step,
through the stages of his early educa-
tion--to trace through each successive
year, the gradual developments Of
early genius, and to discover in youth.
fal achievements the germs, of coming
greatness. This task, though 10 itself
highly useful and interesting, must be
left to the affectionate biographer Of
other times, when the occasion which
has called forth this article shall have
passed away ; and when the wild rival
ries Of party shall find no interest or
pleasure in detracting from wellearn.
ed honors, or in withholding the need
OF gratitude aud admiration from the
virtues and worth OF those who have
gone before. Suffice tito say, (though
his elter distinguished course renders
i! almost unnecessary to be said, that
the period of his youth was character,
lied by habits of laborious study, which
ss;as anissd With powers of intellect
naturally strong and elastic, rendered
him conspicuous for his attainmenls in
all circles with which he was associa-
ted. If, as Dr.. Reed says, unceasing
application be genius, few men in our
country would stand higher ia the in
tellecsual world than Hugh L. White.
Though mol subscribing to the senti.
ment IN its fullest extenl,we agree with
it so far as to admit, that intense APP
pllcation is generally sure test Of &C.
Mus, and that they are seldom disuni-
ted-and the achievements of Judge
White have furnished another instance
to establish the truth of the remark.
This bold and fearless graphing with
difficulties of whatever nature--tnis de.
termination to do in the best manner
possible whatever he undertook, has
ever been one OF The most distinguish.
ing features of his character. With
such character he entered, in 1896
upon the practice of his profession, with
prospects peculiarly suspicious for one
Of his years. Ever punctual in all his
engagements, & faithful to all his trusts
he soon acquired standing for indus
try, enterprise, high.minded honesty
and mental ability, which early mark
ed him out as man to whom the pub
lie interest might safely be entrusted
J This confidence, SO early acquired ,anC
always conferred without solicitation
was never in a single instance with
drawn-a noble tribute to exalted worth
OF which few statesmen can boast
And the present enviable position ii
which he stands to the People Of thii
great Nation, proves that this conf
dence was never injudlciously bes!ow
ed.
For the FIVE succeeding years Judg'
White devoted himself unremiilingl
to the duties of bis profession, and rap
idly rose TO high and honorable dis
tinction at the Bar. The science o
Jurisprudence was his especial study
aud with such zeal and ability did h,
enter into the investigation, that ht
was selected at the early age Of %
from a body Of able and experienced
lawyers, TO fill the office of Judge o
the Superior Court-at that time the
highest Judicial tElbuna! in the State
This seat he held till 1907, when he
resigned.
As a lawyer, Judge White was one O
the most distinguished in the early his,
tory of Tennessee. Nor was the bar o
Tennessee. at that time, wanting in mer