South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-08-20

! toPPoHcnIS, IL WIS only Inc more reason
why he should have business and be ell
couragcd. lie was testing the question,
whether young men can succeed under
such trying circumstances. lie believed
they could. lie was determined to make
the trial anyhow. BY courage and in
dependence in the maintainancc and as
scrtion Of his political principles. amid
such storm Of opposition as then ragged
hereby fidelity to every trust, and his
indcfatigablc perseverance in the dis
! charge Of every professional duty and ob-
ligation-by strict integrity and manly
! bearing under all circumstances, he soon
gained and to the end Of his life retain
ed the confidence Of the business men
OF this section. 1t was not many years
until he stood in the front ranks at the
Bar, with q lucrative practice, in this
and the adjoining counties.
Judge Allen had from his youth up, 4
dctestation Of everything like trucking
or fawning to men Of power or influence.
| Under no circumstances, could he ever,
| be induced to
| "Cruok the pregnant hinges Of the knee
! That thrift might follow f.wning."
! lie believed those who fawn around
wealth and power, though they float high
| for season, must eventually fall. This
is true. The fall comes just rs aoon as
they dare to think and act indepcm-
dently. The people this country love
and admire man Of courage, energy
and honor. When one such obtains
their confidence, he retains 1t so long Us
lie deserves it. Judge Allen had fixed,
, maturcd notions about politics, religion,
law, &c, and in his heart believed he WAS
right; no power on earth could therefore
swcrve him thercfrom, until convinced
by reason and argument Of his error
lie was not one Of those who sought to
cram his views down the throats OF 9th.
crS, whether agreeable to them or not,
but. on all proper occasions he would
! maintain them with respectful, courteous
argument. During my acquaintance with
him, which was very intimate for some
years. though have seen him placed
in some exceedingly trying emcrgcn-
cies, never have | seen linn forget the
gentleman. lie was gentleman, in the
strictest sense OF the term. have heard
| some say he was cold, stern, proud and
naughty. Attmcs, he did seem so. But
he was not. Never was 4 man so little
understood in this respect. One had to
| know him we'll, it is true, before this feel
ing about him could be overcome. lie
was really rs warm and tcndcr-hcartcd
| q man rs | ever knew. TO those whom
lie trusted and confdcd in, lie was like n
little child, as have said. he was con.
! rtor,t nt"1rnt, cren walking alon,S lii"
streets he was quite frequently studying
some question Of law. lie was perfect
ly devoted to the study Of the law. His
mind was on the subject most all the
time. When in one Of these moods he
would scarcely notice his best friend
for the simple reason he did not know
he was about. lie has often talked to
me about This, and expressed wish that
he could rid hmsclrof it. This was the
reason, and the only reason, that gave
him the appearance Of being cold. stern
and proud, for he was in truth. the reverse
Notwithstanding the majority Of those
in the county who differed from him
politically was 50 great, lie was several
times elected to the Office OF Prosecuting
Attorney; and i'll the year 1860, lie was
elected Judge Of the Circuit composed Of
the counties Of Warren. Page. Shcnan-
doah, Rockingham, Highland. Pcndicton
and Hardy, over the then incumbent,
judge kcnncy and Giles Cook. Esq, both
able men. lie did not hold many terms
OF court before the war commenced but
enough TO satisfy the people that they
had the right man in tho light place. In
the late civil war, Judge Allen cspouscd
the cause Of The South with his whole
heart. lie was confident in the final
triumph Of the South so much so that
he invested largely Of his hard earned
means in the Bonds Of the Conredcracy.
The fate Of the South is we'll known to
us all. She fought nobly, bravcly. but
was forced to yield to the ovcrpowcring
and overwhelming resources orthc North
The great and glorious old common
wealth Of Virginia, the mother Of States
AMI OF Statesmen, was cut in twain. and
two States Instead Of one made Of her
In the young state Of West Va. in which,
Judge Aliens lot was cast. those who
were successful in the terrible war had
entire control. The laws they enacted
and enforced are too fresh in the minds
Of our people TO require more than an
ttlhSioh w lnCW- 'NUlllCC IL 10 SAY Iu1t
at the close Of the war Judge Allen.
found himself broli Ell in fortune. with q
large and dependent family to support
and he. by the laws Of his State. disrran-
chiscd and dcbarrcd from taking any
part i'll the government. and from max
ing living in the only way lie was ca
pablo Of. Under this mountain Of trou.
bic, difficulty and wrong. enough to crush
the spirits Of most mcu so situated. he
bore himself with tho same Roman man
Illness lie did in his early life. whom bat.
Ting against the waves and storms OF
local and political prejudice. Such mcu
cannot lie kept under; like truth crush.
cl to earth they will "risc again. -
Thougl, it was hard to bear. humlia,ing
and mortiiying TO him. lie determined to
work rs best lie could. until relief should
come. and lift from him and others sim.
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