Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-12-02
Bar Meeting.

At a meeting of the Bar of
Fayetteville at the clerk anC
Masters office on Nov. 29, 1880
the following proceedings were
had. On motion of Col. j. d
Tillman, Col. ID. w. Holman was
made chairman, who stated that
they had met for the purpose of
paying the last sad tribute to the
memory of Capt.D. W. Clark, one
of our former Chancery Court
Clerks and an honored and re-
spected member of the Fayette-
vile Bar. w. B. Lamb was re-
quested to act as Secretary.
On motion, Coils. j. D. Tillman
and Joe @. Cal.rigan were APP
pointed a committee to draft
suitable resolutions.
Appropriate and touching re.
marks were made by Col. ID. w.
Holman, Capts. G. w. Higgins
and j. w. Newman.
The committee to draft reso-
lutious reported the following,
which were unanimously adopted
The death of Davis w. Clark, though not
unexpected. has filed this community, and
especially the members of the Bar, with
the most sincere sorrow; truly does it seem
we have lost one of our family. AS an Of
tfcer Of the Chaneery Court, our deceased
brother was q most wonderful man. He
sTas appointed clerk and master by the
Hon. John p Steele in the year 1863. and
held the Office until he felt that failing
health dictated that he should begin 70
wind up his worldly affairs, declining re-
appointment from Chancellor Marks in 1871
While he held the office thousands Of dol
lars, perhaps hundreds Of thousands, pass
ed through his hands. He was never too
busy to pay an attorney his fee, sn officer
his cost or parties to the suits any moneys
which were due them. To all he was al
ways courteous and polite. Ills powers Of
memory were wonderful, and information
received from him in reference TO his Office
and the causes pending in his court, was
almost as certain rs the records OF his court.
With hundreds Of causes pending in the
Chancery Court at one time, he was able 70
state from memory the amount Of money in
ca oh case, and often how much was due
each of the parties in the case, the dates
of different DEGREES or orders and the pages
of the dockets upon which they were entered
So familiar was he with thousands Of pages
of minutes and great bundles of files of
papers, that the member Of the Bar consul
ted him on the street, in his office, or at his
house for the facts of old records, as they
would consult Story or Kent for principles
of law. About one year ago he turned
over to his successor all the moneys, whirh
then remained in his hands, and the notes
he held as special commissioner, and fur
nished list of all the judgments which
had been taken Iii his name as special
commissioner The members of the Bar,
all with whom he had business relations,
and the community at lsrge are unanimous
in the opinion that no more honest and ca
Fable man ever serv, d the public in official
position. One so universally respected, so
honest in his dealings, so courteous in his
bearing, could not have been anything but
a model husband, father, son and brother.
Resolved, Therefore, that we deeply de-
plore the loss of our brother, who had made
himself so useful to our profession and the
community in which he lived. and we ten
der his family our coincidence in their deep
affection"
On motion, it was then order
ed that some member of the Bar,
be appointed to present the pre-
amble and resolutions to the diff
ferrnt courts of this county,with
a request that they be entered
on the minutes. The Chairman
j. w. Newman to
present them to the Chancery
Court, j. B. Lamb to the Cir
cult Court and r. L. Bright to
the County Court.
The meeting then adjourned.
d. w. HOLMAN,
Chairman.
w. B. LAMB, Sec.