The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-10-22
Death Of Hon. Charles W. Rapior, Of Mobile
(Mobsle Register. October ~


With feelings of profound sorrow We have
to record the death of Charles w. Rspier, the
good man, the patriotic citizen, the learned
ad vocate, the pure judge.
This sad termination of life of honor and
virtue was not unexpected as, for several
months past, Judge Rspier has been slowly
sink ing under paint III and incurable disease,
to the sufferings of which he submitted with
the tranquility of the philosopher aud with
the gentle ubmission ef the Christian. Judge
Rspier was born in 1918, near Bardstown, Ky
menced the study of law in the celebrated
Iransy lvania University, of LeXingt ton, where
IL was the good fortune of the writer of these
lines TO know him On the same benches from
which Robertson, Marshall aud Wooley sent 30
many able jurists and Legislators all over tho
West and South.
Graduating in 1s4l, he early in 1912 settled
in Mobile, W here his sterling worth as a man,
his lore as jurist, and nus stern and elevated
sense of professional dignity SOON built ri for
him a profitable and honorable practice; for he
never would lend the aid of his talent to au
worthy or dishonest cause
Though stranger, the great and good people
of Mobile, ever ready to welcome, from what
ever cline. those who prove themselves worthy
of their esteem, selected him as Judge of their
Circuit, and for ghteen years he h0nored the
ermne So Justly cast on him, by his AGILITY, his
ntesrity and bis learning.
Faithful to the South, even unto the last we
can still remember his slender, to;teripg form
bent under the weight of musket, when the
enemy's cohorts had invaded our hearths and
every one of her true sous selected exile sooner
than submission, so long as last gllmmering
hope remained for the Southern Cross.
When all was lost he returned, and again the
people raised him to that seat he had SO Ion z
and so credi ably filed, and which be retained
until the rude hand of military satrap swept
out this, the last emblem OF our STATE indie
pendence.
From that time Judge Rapier resumed the
successful practice of his profession, where he
soon rebuilt his broken fortune, and, for seve-
raj years, happy husband and fond father,
he cultivated, within the circle of his family
and few select friends, bis taste for legal and
literary pursuits.
When his earthly career was near it's end
fortified by the sweet consultations of the reli-
glou of his fathers, be died in the blessed state
of celestial hope and terrestrial forgiveness.
Judge Rapier leaves a widow and two orphan
boys, who if even they should have no other
portion OF Inheritance, may proudly enter the
world under the prestige of name honored by
all who ever knew him.
Referring to the funeral, which took place on
the 18th, the Register, of the 18th, says:
The funeral of this distinguished gentleman
aud honored citizen took place yesterday even
ing at o'clock, from his late residence on Con-
ception street, and was attended by q very large
concourse of friends, whom the deceased had
gathered around him during his long and useful
life, besides a very large represen tation of the
Mobile bar. The procession moved from the
house to the Cathedral, which had already be-
come filled with the sorrowing friends of the
deceased to pay their last sad remembrance to
him whom they 80 warmly cherished. Father
Ryan preached the neral sermon, commenting
upon the life of the deceased, and paying him
justly deserved eulogy by simply referring to
his long life of usefulness and goodness. The
Catholic Cemetery, where was laid all that was
mortal of the unassuming, genial Judge, C. w.
Rapier: The following were the pail bearers {:
Capt Fin1egan, Judge Dargan, Geo. n. Stew
art, G. Y. Overall, Major ST. Paul, Thos. Henry,
John Reed, Jno Lyons, J. Kirkbride, and Peter
Hamilton.