The Van Buren press., 1876-07-11

style as speaker, was rich, copious and
flowing. In person he was of the ordin.
ary height, good head and face, and rather
heavily formed. His voice and manner
indicated great energy, decision and force
OF character He was evidently gifted
man and had lie lived, would most likely
have attained to the highest honors of the
State. l also, met here, James Woodson
Bates. an older brother of the late Ed.
ward Bates Of st. Louis. He had been
educated partly at Yale and partly at
Princeton, where he.graduated. He was
bred to the bar and was the first Delegate
in Congress from the Territory Of Arkan.
sas. He was q gentleman Of polished
manners and highly cultivated mind;
wrote with case and elegance; the best
scholar in the Territory, and his CONVEX
satienal powers were unequalled.
William Cummins was also practicing
lawyer in Crawford county. He had At
that time attained to distinction at the
i,sa4sp ss Q0aN ats6a 4 sQAd laYEer
and able ddvocate. In nnperson hewas
below the ordinary size and height, and
not of very prepoposing appearance, but
good heat, pleasing manners and great
ingenuity as an advocate, secured to him
a good practice.
Absolom Fowler, was also lawyer,
who attended our courts He was then
rising rapidly into notice, and afterwards
became eminent in the profession. He
was of fine person and stately carriage;
a man of marked character and decided
ability: of firm convictions and determ-
ined purposes and unyiealdlng in support
of what he believed the right.
David Walker, was also at that time, q
practitioner at our bar. He was young
in the profession, but Of great promise
and soon attained handsome practice.
He has since become eminent in the pro-
fession and attained to its bonors. ne
is man Of extraordinary energy and
perseverance, of high order of talents,
and as judge, able, learned and incor'
ruptible.
It is impossible for me to overlook
Albert Pike. who little later commenc'
ed practice in our Courts and as lawyer
has since acquired National reputation.
He rose rapidly to distinction and soon
moved in the highest walks of the pro-
fession. He was, and is, laborious stu
dent, yet fond of leisure and amusements
and the convivialities oi life generally
, A man of literary tastes and of more ex
tensive and varied learning than any mar
e who has ever lived in the State and viii
capacity of doing more business, pro
e fessionally, in given time and doing !.
g well. than any man ever knew. Thi!
remarkable man is so we'll known that
shall add nothing further touching ~
qualities of mind or his professional abill
d ty.
d at that day, was Benjamin johnson, To
J. father of Hon. Robert w. johnson. Il
i. was an able Judge and an upright mar
It who would have refiected credit on tn
,, judiciary of any ofthe older States fth
n Union. Z
le But must hasten to close. Befor
at doing this, however, would observ,
" that among prominent early settlers il
v Crawford county are to be mentione
RS Maj. Benjamin Moore, who settled o
IN Big Creek, near the Arkansas river, an
q, Capt. John Rogers, one OF the first eel
q. tiers at Ft Smith. To the former, an
D. his estimable family, l was endebted fo
ir many courtisies and kindnesses when
ID was stranger in strange land, of whio
ID | have pleasant rccolecJions, sometime
D saddened with thoughts of the long, Ion
10 ago. And to Capt. Rogers, of Fl Smitl
RS was also indebted for his early kline
70 ness to me, and for his ever constar
le friendship, which remained unbrokc
,r while he lived.
t. Having now completed this hasty an
il. imperfect review OF the early history {
d, this part of the state, would here stat
ii that although the original Crawfor
tc County as it stood more than half Ger
as tury ago, has been shorn Of the create
to part OF its territory, it still ranks as or
ry Of the first counties in the state. Tn poil
ly of soil and other advantages, as we'll {
We in the character of our population,
as compares favorably with any of then
nd and since the completion of the long d.
We ferred Little Rock and Fort Smith raj
&C. road we have right 10 look forward I
,e. a new start, and rapid progress in IL
x. race of Improvement And in conclusic
x let me express the hope that when Il
of orator of the 4th of July 1916 shall star
N. here in the midst of posterity to spe'
,rs Of the progress Of events in our count
~ state and whole country during the ne:
ne one hundred years, may he he find o.
as mighty Republic Of Confcdated Stat
Ii. still united, great and powerful. and tt
n liberties>ef the people preserved in tao
es. A-.-~~.---
-, ~, Rwe wis to return our thanks !
~ Mr.. Chas. E. fsham, our foreman, Il
ly the able and satisfactory manner he h
an oondncted the Dreas during our absen