Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-11-16
THE LATE HENRY N. SCALES.
EuIogy by Henry Graft, Esq.

From the Holly Springs Reporter OF
the 6th inst. we learn that on Tuesday,
October 6, 1868, the members Of the Bar
Of TaDicR cDu0ty, ia attendance upon
the Circuit Court, met to consider the
death Of Henry NJ. Scales, Esq, late 8
member of said Bar and the Hon. VIM.
L. Harris was called to the Chair, and 7.
J. Woodson, Esq, was appointed Score
tary.
On motion, a committee OF three, con-
posed OF Henry Graft, Thos. w. White
and 7. j. WoOdsOn, was appointed by
the chairman, and instructed to report
appropriate resolutions TO an adjourned
meeting to be held on Wednesday morn
ing.
On Wednesday morning, October q,
1858, the meeting having been again con
vsned by the chairman, the committee
reported IN appropriate preamble with
resolutions attached, which were pre-
scented 10 the Circuit Court by Mr.. Henry
Craft, who asked that they be spread
upon the minutes, which was according
~ done.
GA presenting the resolutions, Mr. Graft
spoke FeeIingiy OF the worth and virtues
of the deceased. CHANGING briefly over
his life, Mr.. G.. said THAT be vas born
in Orange county, Virginia, and early in
life removed with his parents 90 Marshal,
county, Mississippi, where ne receives
the Instruction necessary 20 rs him for
college. Having completed bis collegiate
course at the University al Oxford ,-duT-
ing which be formed many warm per-
sonsl friendships, which continued ia al
ter iife-he read Law with the Hon A
If. Clayton, and returning TO the Uni
versity, graduated also in the Law De-
partment /; after which he commenced
the practice at HsrBsndO, Mississippi, il
partnership with Col. t. W, White and
e.: James p Chalmers, which contin-
ued until the wal ecnmeced.
"HsviDg enlisted with them In theold
9th Mississippi regiment, he went cut
among the first TROOPS that were raised
in the State. AS . soldier, white ever
among the foremost il the discharge OF
duty, and by his cheerful, kindly dispose
ton and good natuTet huInOr, eadeerlng
himself TO his comrades and enilvening
the tedium and bsrdships OF soldier life,
ne was still mindful of his duties IS q
Christian. and the bible which he ear
risd with him through the war is still
treasured ny his wife. Returning at the
close of the war, eheeriully and earnestly
to peaceful pursuits, ne lived with his
mother aud family 10 Marshall until jan
usry, 1857, when he opened en- Office and
resumed the practice Of his profession ~
this county, having meantime married
during the year 1866. Here, as the fre-
quent appearances Of his name upon the
docket OF this oourt atte5ts, he was build
ing up q practise that evidenced g most
gratifying success; and established for
himself a character for strict probity and
attentive industry IL business that won
him the esteem and confidence of the
entire community. The 6 resident
members Of this bar remember well his
unYarying kindness and polite attentions
to them while in attendance upon the
sessions OF this court.
"In August lass, while on q visit of
coincidence with bis wife to her sister, in
De Soto, upon an occasion CT mourning,
he met his death by S casualty as sud
den and unlocked for as it was distress
ing in It's consequences,
HE has bsen cut down in his youth,
when full Of life and health and prom
ise-fuil Of hope and expsctstion-with a
Young and loving wife by his side, and 3
Child Just learning to lisp bis name; with
plans developing into success, and
worldly competence and comfort coming
to crown his labors and his thrift
Without warning, without dread by
one Of those strange casualties, some
times SO trivial, sometimes so fatal, the
death-biow fell, SO sudden and so quick
as aimost to bsfis comprehension Of its
reality.
Gust one year ago he stood in this very
place, to speak, with great feeling and
beauty, OF nj then recent death Of MS
friend, Col. Day, who hsd also been =
resident member Of this Bar.
"His face and voice were very familiar
here, and We are constantly reminded OF
him as his nssne TsouTs upon the docket,
and be does not coma % answer to it.
He IL gone TO ill another of those new
made graves, whose tenants tut lately
stood with us before courts and juflesS
and whose voices nov seem to utter, out
of the darkness CT the great unknown,
he solemn" Be ye also ready" O1e
by one, the names are transferred from
the sttoroey's roll Of our courts 20 the
tombstone, and to the long and ever
lengthening catalogue Of the departed.
For each one Of US, the Inevitable hour
more or less slowly approaches, but, oh
how surely, and-hoWever much delay
ed-how fast! Whose name shall next
be entered, in soTrowipg resolutions, up
on these minutes? Al the next term OF
this court, perhaps, the question will be
answered. Come when the summons
may-whether meeting us at the verge
OF the grave to which We have been
dragged by wasting sickness and suffer
ing, or startling US in the midst of high
health and the eager pursuit of Ii.e's
lsbors and pleasures, may it 6nd us, as
il found Henry Scales, prepared. Conn
ing so, it matters little when or where it
may meet Us, for while it Is q summons
to darkness and the grave, Faith whis-
pers that thus coming, it is also a suH-
mons to immortal realms, where intel
lect may expatiate in endless develop