The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-12-25
Rema rks Of Hon. samuel Price I'm u.
y. senate on Death of Mr.. Caper-


adjoining counties, practiced law in the
same courts, were members OF the same
Legislatures and the same conventions,
and generally had the same interests TO
represent Our acquaintance extended
back to his early manhood, when he first
commenced his professional and entered
upon his public career.
he was the son of Hugh Csperton, esq
a gentleman Of fascinating address and
popular manners, of great compass and
energy OF mind, and who, by hi; energy
and sound judgment, had amassed q large
fortune, which ne left unimpsred and uu-
embarrassed TO his children. He WAS re-
peatedly called on by the citizens Of his
county to represent them in the popular
branch of the State Legislature; and he
always served them to their entire salts
faction. He was also elected 10 Congress
from his district at critical period in
our history and rendered service Satstac-
tory to his district.
Allen Taylor Caperton, the subject OF
our remarks to-day, WAS born on the 2lst
day of November, 1910, in the town of
West Virginia and departed this life on
tae 10Th day of July, 1876. He in
heritei his fathers popularity and
large estate He received the rudi.
ments of an English cducatlon at the
village school OF his native town. At
that time there being no schools of a
high grade in that immediate neighbor-
hood. he was sent TO the academy at
Huntsville, Alabama, where he re.
manned two and half years. He was
then sent to the Lewisburgh Academy,
which was presided over by that his
to9ic character Rev. DR. John Neil
benny, the pioneer preacher in the Pres
byterian church, veneration for whose
person and character Mr.. Caperton
cherished during the remainder of his
life.
IL carly manhood, (the date have
not obtaincd) Mr.. Csperton became q
student at Yale College, where he re-
manned four years and until he was
graduated. Upon his return to Virginia
he went to the University of that State,
whore he was also graduated. He finally
finished ms education ~ General latter
wards judge Baldwin's law school in
Staunton, Virginia, and Immediately
thereafter commenced the practice OF
his profession.
lie WAS married IN the twentv-second
wear O. his sge to Miss Harriet Echols, u
lady of great intellectual, social, and
moral worth, whose acquaintance he
made while student at Tale College,
and who remains his survivor.
Mr.. Caperton filled many offices Of
trust and importance.
Tho first office that he filled WAS 3
state dictatorship in the James river and
kunawha company, US successor to mis-
,4ther, who had held that office and re-
.tonod. This, though not lucrative
uhice, having neither salary nor per-
quisities, was deemed one of great State
Importance, as il was then expected that
hv this improvement the waters Of the
Chesapeake would be connected with the
waters of the Mississippi through the
state OF Virginia.
In April, 1871, he became candidate
for the State legislature, and was elected
10 represent his native county in the
House OF Delegates.
In April, 1874, he was elected to the
State Senate from the counties Of Mon
RE. Giles, Montgomery, Floyd, Green
hrier and Mercer. Daring this term,
which was one of four years, lc mad the
misfortune to lose his vencra, father
He filled no political or civil Of 80 from
that time until 1850. He was tn" executor
uf MS fathers will, which devo!ved upon
him 2 large mass of business which, with
y large and increasing professional bust
ness, gave him full employment without
being involved in the mazeS of politics.
In August. 1850, a convention being
called to amend the State constitution,
his telOw-ctiZcns of Monroe, Giles,
Tazowrll, and Mercer counties called on
him to become one of their representa-
tives, 10 which call he responded affirm.
atively and was elected. In this conven-
ton he took prominent part, the great
question before that body being the basis
OF representation IN the two houses of
the Legislature, one party assuming that
the white population should be the basis,
and the other that the population and
taxation combined should be the basis.
He, in common with his western friends,
advocated the white basis. The question
was finally settled by q committee of
compromise of which he was member.
He was twice upon the wing electoral
ticket rs elector, but failed TO secure his
election because his party was in the
minority in the State at both elections.
In 1859 he was induced to become
again q candidate for the house of dele
yates, with view of pushing on the
great central improvement which is now
known as the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
road. He was elected and served two
sessions. 1t would scarcely be necessary
for me to say that he was one of the lead
ing members of that body, if not the very
leader.
While he was thus serving in the
house of delegates, he, in 1861, was
elected delegate 10 the State convention
known rs the Secession convention. He
entered that convention with determi-
nation to save the Union if he could; but
when President Lincoln called for
money and troops to subjugate the south,
he did not think the Union could be pre-
served and voted for the separation.
In 1862, Hon. William Ballard Pres
ton, one of the Senators in the cOnfeda-
rate congress having departed this life,
Mr.. Caperton was elected to fill the
In 1875 he was elected by the Legisla-
ture of West Virginia Senator in this
body, which he remained to the time OF
his death.
This is his public history, the princi-
pal part of which is known to your hum
bic speaker.
| said in the outset that he inherited
his fathers popularity and large estate,
winch assertion l again repeat with the
addition that he added greatly to both.
BY the rehearsal which l have given OF
the chronology of his public lite it will
he seen that his popularity grew with
his growth and strengthened
with his strength; that his last days were
his most popular days; and he added
to his fortune as well as to his popularity,
and died possessed of large estate.