Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-12-15
Hon. Matthew P. Desdy Re-visits st
Clairsviile After an Absence Of
!. Thirty-tyo Years.

Oregon, paid our town visit last week.
remaining from Wednesday evening un-
/ til Saturday rnsrning at the National
Hotel. The visit of the Judge to St.
Clairsville was an episode of an especial
| ly interesting character, not only to him.
self but to many who recollected young
man bearing bis name who lived in this
place for few years Immediately prior
to 1S4p.
During his stay here, for the most
part. the Judge was occupied in gresting
the friends Of ether days, and in looking
around over town noting the changes.
On Thursday with his lady he visited
the court room-the scene of his early
triumphs-when Judge Okey took a re-
cess Of few minutes, in recognition of
his presence.
Although not q native of Belmont
county, he removed with his parents here
in early life, settling in the neighbor-
hood of Barnesville. His father was
native of the Emerald Isle and like many
of his countrymen who came to America
he was in humble circumstances. Ma
thew early learned to depend upon his
OWE exertions, and in boyhood went to
GAINESVILLE to learn the blacksmithing
trade with John Kelly. Afterwards he
concluded that he would abandon smith
| ing aud turn his attention to the study
of the law. He came to st. Clairsville
and entered the Office Of James Weir,
where-he remained for awhile, when
ne entered the Office of VIM. Kennon, ST.,
and completed his studies and was ad-
mitted to the bar. During the gold ex-
citeInent of 1s49, in company with Cllf-
ford Arick, Adam johnson and two 9TH
ters. he started to seek his fortune in the
Golden State. Proceeding as far as
Leayenworth the party ,disbanded, each
taking his own way. The steps of Deady
led him TO join transportation train
for Oregon, where he arrived in the fall
of 1s49. During the following winter
he taught school. In 1850 he was elected
member of the Territorial legislature,
lower House. In 81 he was elected to
the Council or upper House and was
President of that body. In '53 he. was
appointed by President Pierce Judge of
the Supreme Court of the Territory; and
in 81 was reappointed by buchanan. In
80 Oregon was admitted into the Union
ane he was elected one of the Supreme
Judges of the State, and at the same
time was appointed by the President
United States District Judge for Ore
gon. which latter place he accepted and
has since occupied with great credit to
of the, legislature, he prepared the civil
and criminal code and compiled the laws
of the State, and in IA again compiled
the laws. He is ex-officio Judge of the
q. S. Circuit Court. He is man Of
fine literary attainments, and is Presi-
dent Of the board of regents Of the State
University of Oregon.
The Judge is about sixty years of age,
has a fine physique, and is Of command
ing presence. Mrs. Deady, who accom-
panies the Judge, is lady of culture
and refinement, and was not long in
winning the good opinions of those who
met her.
1t becoming known that he would pro-
long his stay until Saturday morning, on
the evening previous, an informal recep-
tion was given the Judge at the parlors
of the National. The St. Clairsville
Cornet Band, rendered some fine music,
and large number of the Judges old
acquaintances, and many new ones. gave
themselves the pleasure Of paying their
respects. The greetings were most cor
dial and heartfelt. During the evening
Judge K. E. Chambers interrupted for
time the hand-shakiDg, by, formally
welcoming the distinguished guest. as
follows: =, = - 2 - 7.,f -
LADIES AND GENrLEMEs-A generation ago
there was with us and of us, a young man, in
the vigor of manhood, who, moved by those
noble impulses which always lead to success
and victory, began his journey toward the set
ting sun. Eagerly he traverfed the fertile fields,
the arid plains, and bowling wildernessses of
the western world, until at last he rested under
the shadows of the great mountains in the val
ley of the beautiful Willamette. In the years
agone, from then until now. how many have
been he changesl What volumes have been
added to the worlds history What joys, and
what sorrows, what pleasing anticipations, and
what painful misgivings, what sad disappeint-
ments, and what joyous triumphs since then!
The youths of day have grown to royal man
hood; those who were then unborn have be-
come the princes among men-and many, then
in the prime of manhood, have passed away!
The wildernesses, in which that young man
found resting place, by the hand of the stur-
dy pioneer, has been made to bloom and bios
som as the rose. Continents have been linked
together with chains of lightning, nations bound
with iron bands, and the world has moved with
giant strides, onward, Ito a glorious consum-
matonl The march of intellect has been with
lightning speed, and the arts and sciences have
developed progress-in this half century
even greater than in any thousand years Of the
svr:a's history; and now, peace, with all its
blessings, dwells in all our tordersi What,
among all these yicissitudes of life, these pleas
ing contemplatiens,- my friends, should delight
US more, than the contemplation of the fact,
that our friead, now with US, has not stood
still In the world 'ssmarch--but, with "Excel
sior" for bis motto,l has moved onward and
upward, until the garland Of well-earned VIC
tory tests upon his brow and, that, with steady
and vell-directed steps he should have, well
nigh, reached the acme. of human ambition.
And what should delight us more than that he
should come again, from the scene of his honor
aud triumph, with his charming companion, to
extend a,cordial greeting to friends of former
DAYS. He comes to us full of years and hon
ors,' and it is meet that we should congregats
and honor him whom the world has honored.
My friends, your delight will be, to hear
from him who once was with us and Of US, and
that your pleasure be not longer delayed, |
now have the great pleasure to. formally intro
duce to you Hon. Matthew P. Deady, United
States Judge, of the far-away State of Oregon.
(. at the conclusion of the fitting words of
welcome by Judge Chambers, Judge Deadly
responded eloquently in the following words,
which were frequently interrupted by ap-
piause,. = '.
LADIES ANb GENTLEMEN, OLD FRIENDS AND NEW
Friends, AND PARTICULARLY THE OLD FRIENDS:
This is not an occasion for speech-making
Besides, speech-making is not my vocation. l
have been so long on the Bench that have
forgotten the art, if ever knew it. But if l
were an orator, could not express the pleas
ure which this friendly demonstration gives me.
Years ago, as my friend Judge Chambers has
SO eloqaently told you-nearly. the limit of an
average generation, left this historic town, so
long the capital of the picturesque hills, con-
stituting the county Of Belmont, for the far-of,
and then almost unknown shore Of the Pacific
J L 4