The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-04-28
for Tm CLARtoNl
THE LATE WILLIAM VANNERsON

tOru. ai tIt tiWU Ni ll. death. .... ..
years of ala DE studied ue. ar. ..
admitted t1 Oh, hari DOB 1910. md r .
following year removed to tu.Ir.
: Ohio, and commenced Tro.-....nr.
&, reor destined ,a continue uun.,ur.
for nearly sixty years Ia I-l. H
moved frou Cincinnati ID Nat.h.I. F.
this state. and resumed tlo pr.H.. 4.
, law lie was soon after appor.,
/, iulge and vas ior .cyJm sessions
elected member Of the House uf D.
reseutauyss ia the Legislature Of Mi-.s
sipPi, occupying the honorable po-.a..
OF Speaker Of tlat body. He remove.
from Natchez IN ls4O, 60 FrauAm
county, and engaged ID planting. attend
ing M the same time to his professional
duties. Tn 1874 he removed to MONT
colo. where be- remained permanently
/ ull the close of his life. ln lsUS Doc
was appointed by General Ord, Probate
Judge of Lawrence county, the duties
of which office he discharged with the
ability and paius-tak.ng puuculiousue-
that ever distinguished him. On thc
reconstruction ot the State. DE was app
pointed by Governor Alcorn, Clerk u.
the Chancery Court which position hc
held as long as his physical iuGrm.des
permitted.
In politics, an incorporating Wh.E
when that party di-huuici, he hell m.t
10 It's memory, and would take n1 other
name. He was Union man. opposed
to the secession OF the State but whom
war came his sympathcs were with lbu
south, and although he had from the
first, with almost prophetic Judgment
torctOld the result, hC SAW With sorrow
her banner 90 down iu darkness and
blood. AT the recent special election i.r
senator b. came i'm carriage t6 tU.
polls, and cast hi- last vote for hi- oIJ-
time Wing friend, Judge Hurst llc
was three times married. bat lcit no ch.I.
drcn. his first wife being Mrs Allen.
whose lite was saddeued by the death ut
her son I'm a duel with Col MoClmg
Iii, second wife was Mrs. Puruo,l, OF
Natchoz, and ne last, Mrs Eliza IoIlcy,
the cstlmuble lady who survives him.
The life of Judge Nanucr-on was long
and somewhat eygntiul, lie was thu
Oldest member Of the bar, and The hst
of that generation OF ablo lawyers, come
meDcing Its career coeyal with thc history
pf the State ms "a member OF The Union.
lie had lived under all the Presidents.
lie remembered well the great trial 900
Richmond, of Aaron Burr, with Marshall
IN the Bench, and the splcndors of Writ
genius Illuminating the scene. His lilo
Vas lengtheaod cut far beyond the three
score years and ten allotted by the Psalm
Il TO man. Though nm octogcuarIuu boo
years. he never seemed 10 lose The viyUc-
~ and checrtuuoss OF youth, and Dee
always persisteutly refused 10 admit thut
ne was am old man. Almost 90 the last
lc entertained the pleasing illusion chat
ne would regain his former strength OF
mind and body, resume Ibis title of 'Na-
,oleon Of the Bar and on horseback
.ide the circuit as of old, the proud leader
# the Jolly legal squad. Although ho
eft his native State early iu life, bis
leart always turned back to The Old Do
ninion, and he felt great pride In the
act thnt lac first saw the light on her
oil, and he sought no higher designation
# honor than that Of a Virginia Gentle
nan, &" one of the olden time, and mo-
'rince Of royal blood ever bore his tito
With more lofty dignity, blended with
more Of the " small sweet CourtcsiCs of
ite.' Many persons supposed him 90 bo
much older than he really was, owing,
TO the singular fact that bis
.air became perfectly white M an unusu-
lly early period of life. Two genera
ions saw him at the bar in full mental
nd physical yigor, with his long, flow
~, luxuriant hair, white as ncw-iallcu
now.
A lawyer no stain ever rested ou
is reputation lie was safe, careful and
lethodical. Familiar with AN the differ
Mt branches OF the law, his forte was
efore the jury in criminal cases-therr
e. was at home, eloquent and successful.
olitc and courtly i'm manners, but ready
,r fight ii necessary, with an mex
austible fund Of jokes, humOr aud Jai-
JHci, he often, even in bad cases, carried
ne Jury with him. His cOtcmpoUTics
/ he Natchcz bar were men Of power
nd distinction, some of whom achieved
ational regulations. III the zenith of
Professional triumph were Griffith,
hiclds. Walker, Prcnts-, Quimm
ovid. Montgomery. Winchester, Adams
nj McMurran The lawyers De- found
tending the Vice Chauccry and Circuit
ourt- at Monticello, bad not, perhaps
.e same populations az the Western bar,
n in intellect, and even learning, some
them were probably fully equal 10
cir more eminent brothers on the banks
the Mississippi. Ia the Vice Chan
ny Court presided that accomplished
ri.t James NJ. Smiley. AT the bar
NJ the giftcl w. Il. Harris and his
other, Robert Harris, who, after Civ
y brilliant promise Of success, died iu
e morning of life; 4. =. Swift, j.. O..
avton. ID. w. Hurst, IL. Cassidy, +. j..
code. j. Il. Lamkin, Ben. King, Il.
afford. j. T.. McNuir, w. a. Stone, B.
Buckley, II. i. johnson, and others.
18th such competitors, success required
ore than ordinary ability, and among
rm the subject Of this sketch took "a
Oh position, and was always found ia
e thiekest Of the legal conflict.
The writer first met Judge Nannersou
.arly thirty years ago. Then past the
ual meridian Of life, he was still tall,
ect and handsome, and, owing 90 bis
lendid health and robust constitution,
emed, and in fact was, in the very
ime and vigor Of manhood. lie was
Mason, and attended the Lodge till his
ct refused 10 carry him longer 10 IT'S
,ors. lie was a membcr Of the Episc0-
i church. and a firm believer in the
eat plan Of salvation taught by our
,viour. During his last illness he re-
lived the kindest attention from his wife
d sisters-in-law, and Mary, his old
mily servant, who amid all the changes
1 =