The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-05-27
n, ~ ,f w,,,onshby Newton.


at Lee Hall, in the county of Wcstmorelano.
His father bore the same name, was geh.'c.
man Of high standing, and represented 'hat
county for several years in the house Oh
n.,er.tcs His mother, at the time OF her
marriage with Mr.. NEWTON, was the WHO"
Of RICHARD LEE, commonly called Esquire
LEE. of Lee Hall, near relation of RICHARD
Henry LEE, and Of General HENRY LEE, OF
Stratford. Mrs. NEwroN's maiden name was
SALLY PoYTnREss. She was daughter OF
PETER PoYTHREss, Esq, Of Branches.er,
Prince George, near Petersburg, and grand
daughter of RICHARD BLAND, of Jordan's
Point, in that county, one of the earliest
and greatest indicators Of the rights OF the
Colonies.
At an early age Mr.. NEWTON was gent TO
school OF Elizabcthtown, n. j., unaef tue
care of the lste distinguished DR.. JOHN Au'
orsrUs SMITH, then living in New York, bis
brotbcr.in.law, who married hr. MENTIONS
half. sister, LErTIcE LEE. On his raurn TO
Virginia, Mr.. NEWTON was sent 10 " llliam
and Mary College, of which DR.. SMITH had
in the mean while been made president,
where he was graduated, and then COM
menced the practice Of law.
In1S25, Mr.. NEWTON was elected TO the
House of Delegates, aud married Miss ELlz-
ABETu Holt, of Williamsburg. She d'ed
within Il year, leaving son who did mol
long survive her. He continued to serve III
the House of Delegates several years, ana III
1929 was married 10 MARY STEVENSON
BRocKEsBRouGu, daughter of the late hon.
WILLIAM BRockENBxouu, Of the Court OF
Appeals. A large family was the fruit OF
this marriage. After serving for several
wears more in tie House OF Delegates be re-
tired from public life and devoted himself to
the cultivation and Improvement of his large
landed estate. In this pursuit he literally
showed the wisdom Of the remark that :" be
that makes three blades of grass to grow
where only one grew before, was worth the
whole race of politicians put together" The
writer well knows that when he first saw II,
in 1927, the region roundabout Dir. NEW
TONS birth.plac and residence was one of
the most impoverished and wretchedly
cultivated in Virginia. He lived TO
see. at the tune Of the breaking out
of the late war, in the place OF thls
poor neglected, and unsightly district,
farms neatly enclosed, highly improved, and
producing crops Of wheat corn, ana clover
that would almost vie with those OF the
most favored regions of the State. 1t is but
Justice to say that this charming change was
due TO the efforts and example Of Dir. NEW
ron. Agriculture was his constant theme
With pen and speech-and above these, in
INV earied and industrious practical example
nd generous assistance to all worthy fol-
overs in bis march Of improvement he led
he way.
In 1913 the Wing party nominated Mr..
NEWTON for Congress. BE was elected over
is competitor, the Hon. Il. NJ. #. HUNTER.
he course of Mr. NEWTON, and especially
is efforts in favor of the annexation Of
'exas, are a part Of the history of those
avs. At the election in 1915 he was de-
lated by Mr.. HUNTER, and when the latter
;as elected to the Senate of the United
tates be was again defeated by the present
ienaral p. L. T. BEALE. From that time
IL the war he remained at bone, enthusi-
s,ically employed in his layorite pursuit of
lrmer, and contributor, from his varied
sading and enlightened experience, to agri-
lltural papers. He was among the found
rs of the State Society, and rose to be its
To the great body of farmers
nd planters of Virginia his name is familiar
) a household word; and we need say no
lore than this on this subject.
Mr.. NEWTON was ever a true State-rights
Ian. Every fpculty of his was ardently de-
oted to TIE interests Of the South; and
hen tba hour came for men to rise up in
eie1ce OF her rights and interests, he
brew the whole weight of bis talents ana
nergics into the scales, and staked his all
non the issue. His patriotic zeal was
warmly seconded by his wife, lady who |
deserves to rank with noblest Roman ma
rons. She gave her not unwilling sons to
he army, and employed herself in the most
ctiye labors to provide comforts and 1000
md clothing for their gallant comrades. Her
,allant sons sought no bomb-proof places"
With sabre or musket in hand they were
aver at "the front" WILLIAM BROKEN
TROUGH NEWTON sealed with his life's blood
his devotion to his country; WILLoUaHBY
NEWTON, Jr., lost leg at the great battle OF
JOHN Is. NEWTON, broken
down as private in the Fortieth Virginia
regiment, still continued to serve as its sur
geon.
The dark day of ruin came at last. Our
heroic struggle over, nothing was left US
save hundred battle-felds crowded with
the graves of our heroes. Princely fortunes
were swept away, and their former owners
sat among the ruins. Thank God many of
them live to show us examples of undis-
mayed courage and digni6ed resignation. Of
MIR. NEWTON it may we'll be said "impauduna
1ertent ruine." He maintained in his dis.
abled condition all that cheerful spirit, calm
philosophy and ardent desire to be useful in
his day and generation, which has charac-
terized him through bis life Ruined in tenn
poral goods bearing the weight of three
score years and ten--afflicted for near two
years with distressing disease-he sat sur
rounded by his wife and children, and chill
dren's children, cheerful, happy, and re-
signed. Thus this good and well-known
citizen passed away.