The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-01
CHARLESTON.
Personal Sketches OF Prominent
Men-Prof, w. X. Pendleton-Cel.
]. NJ. Jackson-Henry Mason Mat
thews, ESQ.

great deal of debate, and good deal OF
real work has been done. The Legs
lature has been holding night sessions
and is rapidly disposing Of the large
amount of business which has accumu-
lated. In the absence Of anything Of
special interest, think l cannot do
better than to give you sketch OF men
and things as they seem to me, and will
begin with
HON. W. K. PRNpLEToS, OF BROOKE.
This gentleman was born in Louisa
county Virginia, in September, 1917,
and is consequently fity-four years
old. He graduated at the University
of Virginia. receiving the degrees OF
A. NJ. and LII. D., and was licensed
to practice law, but in lS4l he aban.
doned the law and accepted a Professor
ship in Bethany College. Since then
he has filled in succession various
chairs, and in 1866 was appointed Pres
dent Of the College, which position he
now holds. He has never held any
political position until now, and for this
he was nominated by both parties in
his district. He is about five feet ten
inches high, and at once the hadsomest
and most courteous gentleman in the
body. His mind is naturally logical, and
stored with vast fund OF information
gathered in lifetime Of study and re-
search. His demeanor is always court
eous, his manners affable, and his good
temper unfailing. His voice, in it's
ordinary tones, is full, round and mu-
steal, but when, owing to excitement OF
debate, he attempts to raise 1t, 1t seems
to scatter and become shrll and thin.
This, l suppose, comes from his having
been accustomed to speak in his lecture
room, and having habituated himself to
the tone Of voice best suited for that
purpose. His speeches are the finest
specimens Of pure English have ever
he I'D, and while his arguments are
clear and decisive, he has brilliant
fancy and a cultivated Imagination,
which furnish him with apropos illus
trations with which to enforce his
logic.
JAMES Il. JACKSON, OF WOOD.
This gentleman is so well known as
to make it seem a work of superoroga'
ton to do more than mention him. lie
ia now in the prime and vigor of man
hood, and is almost, physically, a per-
feet man, standing at his desk, nearly
or quite six feet in height with a chest
and shoulders which would be a model
for a sculptor, with magnificent tawny
beard floating down over his breast. he
is a man TO attract attention IN any
assembly. He is lawyer OF fine
natural abilities, cultivated and i'm
proved by study and experience, and as
practitioner has few, il any, superlors
in the State. In politics, he is a Dem
ocrat, born and bred. and stood by his
faith in the darkest hours Of tyranny
and prescription. Since the war he
has taken an active part in politics, and
was a member of the Legislature in
1870 and 1871, and last fall got away
from his competitor, Ex-Governor
Stevenson, by a handsome majority,
after stubborn and holly contested
fight. Socially he is a most companion
able gentleman, but upon the rostrum
or at the bar, woe to the unlucky wight
who so far forgets himself as to provoke
reply | never shall forget what
occurred at the Federal Court at Clarks-
burg in 1870. when the Grand Jury re-
fused to indict the rascally registrars.
On that occasion Jackson was mag
nificent. His voice loud and clear as
the blast Of a trumpet rang ont, and
the whole man seemed to dilate and
expand while he poured forth torrent
OF denunciation upon those who were
irving to subyert the laws to shield the
petty instruments of persecution, such
as have never heard equalled. Like
all men of sanguine temperament, he is
impetuous, bold and generous, and
whatever he does, he does with his
whole heart. In debate, he is forcible,
earnest and logical, rather than classical,
elegant or persuasive. lie makes no
pretentiops to oratory, preferrlng to
deal with stubborn facts and strong
arguments; yet, when excited by debate,
have known him to be truly eloquent.
One remarkable fact, which | had
nearly forgotten to mention, is that
during the session of the Convention,
while he has been one OF the hardest
workers, he has been one OF the most
quiet members-never speaking unless
he had something OF Importance to say
and then saying IL in his terse, vigorous
way. This is highly creditable to him,
from the fact that there are few better
debsters in the body. and if his example
in this particular was followed by
others much more progress wou!d be
made in the work before them.
HENRY MASON MATTHEWS, OF GREENBEIER.
This gentleman was born in the
county he now represents. In 1899. He
graduated with the degree Of Master OF
Arts at the University OF Virginia IN
1916, and afterwards attended the law
school there, and also that Of Judge
Brocken brough, at Lexington. He then
attended at Lewisburg, where he was
practising his profession when the war
begun. He entered the Confederate
Army in 1861, and served throughout
the war, first with Generals Loring and
jackson, then at Norfolk. From
thence he was transferred to the army
of Tennessee under Johnson's command
and afterwards under Hood. He also
served at Vicksburg during the seige.
In the fall Of 1865, having returned
home, he was elected to the State Sen
ate from the Greenbrier district, but
was refused admission because of his
inability to take the iron-clad oath.
Since that time he has never been a
candidate for any position until last
fall, when he was elected to the position
La nopv holds