The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-01-16

Judge Ferguson Is In some respects tn
most remarkable man in the State. In
tellectually, he towers among us like Sau
among the Isracltes. He Is q production
Of the wilds Of the southwest part of TIT
State, Of Logan or Boone, or some OF tn
adjacent counties. Its said that he grew
up to mans ,estateSalmost wholly I'm
tutored and unlettered ;,that lie studied
law on tho shocmaker's bench withon
the previous discipline and development
of even rudimentary education; thu
thus crudely prepared lie made his way
in the profession US with the stroke Of {
battle.axe IN the hands of u giant; TINT II
the Virginia Constitutional Convention .
| 1850 there were few men who could cop
with him; that Notwithstanding the ir
regularities Of his life he always, com
nanded attention and exercised great IL
fldence on the deliberations Of that body
This, and much more, Is told Of him.
Tho strange feature Of his history, how
ever, Is, that attGrltlie adjournment of tht
Virginia Convention, In which lie had
won so much reputation, be should return
homo, and In Gshort time leave the Stat
for parts unknown, forsaking family AMI
friends, and for ten long years give no &C.
count ofhimself whatsoever. Andto TIL!
day that strange hiatus in his career re
mains q mystery, as !. am informed un
known 10 any person In this State. Peo
pie will tell You that he went off among
the Mormons and became q functionary ID
their church. Others say that he was ID
California, and others again that lie lived
incog. in New York. But nobody knows
anything for certain, either Of his where
abouts or whatabouts during all the time
ofhis absence. All that Is known Is, thai
he disappeared from the State tor teh
years, and that at tho end Of that time lie
suddenly and mysteriously reappeared
among Ills oldfriends and neighbors, and
settled down once more In their midst Il
the practice Of law. And, rs showing The
native power Of the man, II is worthy 70
remark that he was hardly warm in hls
old place before he, contrived to secure on
election 10 tho House of Delegates, and
turned up in that body, at the session q
1864, as the Republican member for Cabell
county. Once there, he became not only
o leader, but an oracle. virtually had
control .of. the legislation oilthe State fora
while. And he retains part Of that con
troll TO this day, Tor he has had the code In
his possession for nearly two yearss under
on appointment 70 indeSis a1d still 1t 70,
mains an unfinished task in his hands, and
o sealed book To the people.
Since bis return 10 this State ho laS
been twice a. Republican and, twice .
Democrat, all in the space Of seven or
eight years. He Is, now on his second
heat as d Democrat, having been elected
to.the Legislature on that ticket last iall,
In 1868 he gave out that he was going 10
quit politics and follow thelaw exclusive.
Ily. And tobe removed as far rs possible
from temptation, be wanted Governor
Boreman 10 appoint him d Judge ii place
Of Judge Hindman, impeached and re
moved by the Legislature in that year
This tho Governor would not doi (Blithbt
to be headed of In that Kind 81 style he
went home, and at the ensuing election
became candldAteln his own bailiwiCA
for Judge, and was elected, and after sery'
Ing 0 year or two, appetently1tb conquer
q status and show that lie could DO .
Judge when be wanted TO, he resigned
and returned again N the more ,cpngenla
arena ofpoliliCs. y I And there he u how
on the Democratic side Of tho House, Of
ter having been more bitterly abused hJ
thr Democratic press than any manlE