Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-03-06


throb. The dazzling and unmatched
intellect which has so long been the
b0as, and pide Of our community
is shr0Uded in death. Hon. EDWIN
NJ. NERGER breathed out his great
aud generous soul yesterday at five
O'Clock pm, at his residence in thisI
city and the sad news Of the death OF a
citizen 50 long prominent, 80 gifted, i,
so genial, popular, aBd beloved, i
caused mgnv hearts 10 chant his dirgeI
and 90 b' sad with one common psngl
ofgrief aud anguish. For two months
the public mind has been familiar
with Judge Yergsr's hopeless coudi
tion. His disease bsfled science 4
skill was p0werless TO cure; the deli
cate. assldu0us attentions OF wife,
children, friends, availed not, and heI
slowly, silently, yet sadly sunk, and
yesterday
'L.Ee s. shadow thrown
SoEIv sud sUas-ly fTam passing cloud,
D5l.l I'll upon ai4'
When "a light of such surprising
splendor has forever faded from the
armament, darkenod by its extinc|
ti0n, we feel that something more
than an ordinary announcement Isl
reguireI; and gratitude for the kind
ness of q friend in the hour of need +,
aud admiration for the genius Of the
man, prompts us to mingle our poor
tribute with the funeral offerings
which others VIII give to the memory
o. the deceased.
Edwin NJ Nerger was born inI
Lsbsuon, Wilson county, tennessee,
on the 4th ol January, 1919. He had, /
Therefore, lived Just two months andI
one day i'm the tifty-third year Of his
age. The parents of Judge GergerE
acquired no distinction but either
one OF both must have possessed
an unusual amount of hiddenI
genius, for all of their sons posi-
ssssed extraordinary talent ands
nave she'd luster upon the legal
urUfess.oa of Tennessee aud NIissis-
sippi. Without being a regular grad
uzta, Hon. f. NJ. Yerger acquired al
good English education. He com-s
meuced his career in life without
means, and first engaged as a clerk ins
the p0st0fice at Nashville. In lS40,s
herem0ved TO NiCksburg, Mississippi 7
and commenced the study Of law UNI
der the direction of his oldest brother, s
Judge Shall Yerger, who was thens
one Of the most distinguished law
yers of the State. Ills quick, reten-f
tive memory enabled him to prOcures
license iu a few months, and, after a.
short practice in Mississippi, he rel
moved 20 Springfield, Illinois. But
he Teit isolated, and an attachment fort
the old home which the new one.
could not subdue, and ia 1913 hes
returned 90 Tennessee and at once
located in Memphis, where d briliants
career awaited him. With a com.
msulilg person and a handsome face.
due voice, uonciliatOry address, indus
try, ambition and self-reIiance, he
speedily climbed to the acme of prob
fsssi0ual distinction. His first speechE
was made at Raleigh, and consisted OF
olIyJen minutes duration, and he wass
so much dissatisfied with his first Ell
fort that he retired and bF0oded ins
slduess aud despair over his ailure.H
he, however, rallied during the week.
and redeemed himself by making az
speech, which at once placed him ons
tie Tgg1 20 q success surpassings
his most saBguine expectations. +
Clients multiplied, and in a short
time He WIS at The head OF thes
West Tennessee bar. Judge YergerS
never became euam0red OF political
life, like most of the young men off
that day, who were possessed of in-s
teIlectu8I powers. But i'm 1854 he Wass
nominated as a candidate for Congressk
IA opposition to Hon. +. p. Stanton. E
Judge NerEor reluctantly consented +
t. make The race. The two parties
were nearly balanced In the district, +
(which, with the talents and the pOpu-s
8arity OF the candidates, made thes
contest one of unusual interest. Judged
Yerger was defeated by only one8
vote. This experiment satisfied HING
that hls great talent was not adapt-Is
ed l1 the political arena, and he again s
tUr1ei his attention to the law, thief
principles OF which noble science hee
had mastered. Indeed, i. NJ. Nerger
wa o natural lawyer. He knew8
everybody sud everything; never E
seemed to read, and yet was always
thoroughly prepared in his cases, andE
showed that he was a lawyer by in
tuition. lie had knowledge Of theH
law, and his clear, vigorous judgment#
enabled him to apply it success
fully. Nor did he rely upon thisIs
alone, for he was always armed with i
authority, the latest authority whichiS
ruled the principle, and most perspic-
uOusly illustrated it. His manner off
augmentation was logical, with0ute
the stiff, cold fOrmslity Of scholasti-
cism. Indeed, he was a natural 3
lOgiciau. Before the Court be had
great power Of condensation
and never weakened hisI
cause by repetition or profuse
elaboration. His manner was always
collected and cool; his style chaste,
without any great beauty or orna
meut, bat always exceedingly cogentl
and lucid, and when the subject seem II
ed most complicated, the acutenessE
of his analytical mind seemed to Un-
ravel and lay bare the true features off
the case, with an ease and power thatIs
rsquired scarce an effort. His con
cIusions were always deducted fromIf
arguments clearly logical. His mind
=vss indeed remarkable for Its larges
-sUscitv. No man was ever blessed E
Bv his Creator with faculties Of a
higher order. The name and fame OF
such a man cannot perish. TheE
bright orb has sank from the view
of the community in fullness and
beauty; but il Will continue to pour
upon lhe horizon a posthumOus glory,
that will tell of the splendOr and
greatness of the luminary that has