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

1
Well might any young man be proud
Of such 4 testimonial as this from SO
good and exemplary nan as this Mr..
Lodor is said to have been. Who is it
that knew Judge Allen, during his long
and useful career here. that would not at
nny period Of it, have given him slni-
lar testimonial to his genuine worth and
merit as he was in the beginning Of life,
so he was all through it and to the end,
faithful to every trust and "pcrscycr-
ing in the discharge Of every duty"
In 1881, lie joined the Presbyterian
Church, and to the day Of his death he
lived true and consistent Christian.-
lie was not one Of your noisy, preten.
tious Christians, but an humble, modest
follower of Him who taught blessed
are the meek" -
From Feb, 1858. H., eb., 1856, the
Williams, Esq, who then resided In
Woodstock. When Mr.. Williams left
Woodstock and went to live in Winches.
ter, he earnestly and cordially invited
his student to accompany him and finish
his studies with him. but the Judge con-
cluded to remain at home where he could,
ns he often said to the writer, be with
and talk TO his father. lie accordingly
entered the Office OF Green Is. Samuels,
afterwards Judge Of the Circuit Court
and member Of the Court Of Appeals Of
Virginia. After finishing his course OF
studics, lie applied for his license, to OBJ
tain which, rs the law then was, he was
required to get the certificate Of three
Judges. His license is signed by Dan'l
Smith, then Judge Of the Circuit Of which
this County formed n part, Richard
Parker and John Scott, and is dated the
l1th Of Feb, 1886. Very soon after
obtaining his license, Judge Allen took
mp his residence in this place. lie Was
then about 23 years Of age. A year or
so before this, and whilst law student.
he was summoned rs one Of the jurors
in the u. S. Court which met ut Clarks-
burg, in the county OF Harrison. On his
way to attend this Court, lie passed
through this place, and rs he frequently
said to the writer, fell in love with it ut
first sight. lie then made up his mind
to locate here as soon as he was ready to
commence the practice. When he had
finished his studies, obtained his license
and WAS ready to begin the great battle
OF life, the great struggle between the
two great party leaders OF that day,
Henry Clay and Andrew jackson, was
beginning to rage with great fury. These
two men, Mt the head OF two great par
ties, were fighting for the mastery in
shaping the governmental policy of the
| Union. The questions at issue were tho
u. =. Banie-the tariT-tEe distribution
OF the proceeds Of the pnblic lands-in-
tcrnal improvements, and like questions
OF policy. In the year 1885, this terri
ble struggle commenced in good earnest
and raged for ten years, with almost I'M
abatcd fury. There was really more
party prejudice and bitter feeling in those
times than has ever been in this country
since or before. When We. Of to-day,
look back upon that fierce struggle,
through which our country then passed,
and read the exaggerated defamation,
the fcrocious ordinations, the bustling
activities and the pcrvasivc organization
ofparty, we cannot help smiling rs We re-
fleet that all this machinery and excite
! mcnt were occasoned by = contest over
such small questions in comparison with
those that have loomed up since. This
intense, bitter feeling pcrvadcd all parts
OF The country. In no section, however,
WAS it more intense and bitter than in
Hardy. Ninc-tenths OF the people Of the
county were Wings, and devoted follow
crs and friends of the great Wing leader.
Henry Clay. They loved him and hated
jackson. They not only hated jackson.
but they had sort Of contempt for his
| friends. They looked upon the great
Democratic leader and his friends rs cn-
cmics Of the country. Judge Allen was
! a jackson Democrat. lie believed in
old Hickory and his principles, and was
as dcvotedly attached to him as the
Wings were to Clay. lie knew the in
tcnsity ofthc feeling here then-hc knew
also that if he pitched his tent here he
must At once encounter at the Bar such
distinguished and influential gentlemen
MS tho late William Seymour, Esq, who
was a native Of the county and almost
worshippcd 10y the people, whose family
and connections were wealthy and innu-
cntial and ready to stand up to and by
| him in any aud all emcrgcncics-Philip
+; Williams, Esq, man Of great influence
and power ut the Bar-Grccn Il. Sam
ucls-A. W. .McDonuld-P. i. STREET and
/ other well-known ablo mon. Putting
these two things together, it would have
deferred most young men from locating
here. even though they had also wealthy
family influence torcly upon. 1t had
no other effect upon him than to make
him more determined. lie had neither
wealth nor family influence to rely Upon.
lie was apocr young gnan-truly. indeed.
n stranger i'll strange land. But lie
hal that in him whicl, enables a man TO
SAY. there is no such word rs fail.-cour-
age. honor. energy and brain. llc open
cd his Office. and 50 conducted himsclf
under these trying circumstances. that
ho soon had friends and business.
IIo was very prompt and attentive to his
! busincss-could always bc found in Ills
Office. when not elsewhere engaged in hu-
c;noes 1.or y,ors Ip had no 1cic,,rc