The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-04-14

CIEARLEa IIANrNinNn


CHARLES HAMMOND.
a Sketch Of the Life, Career and Charm
terofaNOtetl Native or RroSke Count
West VR.-ARcene that Occurred nj n
Court House In This city when IIa M,
Recorder.
Written by Cx.IudsC q, L. Cnnuor, for the Intel
genCcr.
A thoughtful lad Of five summers on,
stood by a spring in q dense forest, whlC
was pouring bountifally It's cool, limp
waters through spout of hickory.barI
and looking sud, he exclaimed: "what
pity tosee all that good water run to waste
What rejecting mind is not troubled b
the same thought when noticing that IL
useful lives and noble deeds OF our al
cestors arc flowing rapidly into Oblivion
influenced by this consideration we has
been led to believe that neither time nc
labor would be misspent in the nttcmpt I
reproduce some of those characteristic
and to briefly refer to some of those Il
bos which identify Charles Hammon
as one Of the minds whose iutcgrlt
OF purpose and achievement Of great end
have impressed themselves upon the page
OF our history.
His father, George Hammond, immi
grated to what is now Brooke county il
this State, III the year 1885, and settled OIL
the waters OF Buffalo creek, about iiv
miles east oil Wellsburg. lie was II maj
oil education md some culture, and pos
sessed a rGtentive memory and MI andre
ciatiye taste. lie would frequently recitl
whole plays Of Shakespeare, and he hat
committed to memory Young's Nigh
Thoughts, and manS other poems, ii,
was man Of uncommon mental force
and physical endurance. He was tall ant
Spare his carriage was erect and imposing
lie had firm, practical Judgement, unconl
promising prejudiccs, and strong, sounG
memory. Tic was Thoughtful reader anG
good talker.
His strong, bold views concerning mer
and things, he impressed indelibly and
distinctly upon the young and susceptible
mind and heart Of his son-Ckarles
Hence the strong convictions which char
acteriZed the latter, and TO which lie was
always true, and which explains TIM
strange anomaly in hiscliOractcr which led
him regularly to observe the sacred Gus
tofTrot family prayer, but yet moved tc
indignation would find expression in the
utterance Of full, round Saxon oaths with
emphasis.
Atan early age he exhibited q remarkable
aptitude for writing and composing lam,
poems and rude verses, in which with the
keen edge OF satire and ridicule lie would
panc'ufe the yanities or prick tile follies Of
neighbors aud aCquaintanccs. These in.
dulGences secured for him ire0gen, severe
castigations ut the hand Of his father. the
elect OF which WAS 10 teach him CANTON,
but not to blunt his satire. Caution AS 10
the manner in which lac he published his
verses, but IN reference Representatives, ex-
asperating because felicitously descriptive,
neither logging in early life, nor threats
and abuse in after life could teach him dis
Cretion,
His studious habits, together with his
love OF composition and books, led his fl.
Their to determine that he should follow the
profession OF law. Accordingly he waseu.
tered as student in the law office Of Phil.
Up D0ddridge, a man OF genius and ability,
and one Of the first lawyers Of bis day,
Here be studied not only law, but devoted
a portion OF his time also 10 the study of
political economy and the philosophy of
history, in which, us well as in the study
OF the law, no made rapid progress. He
also now welded his pen in the discussion
OF local and general questions, but he ut
tracted but little attention rs Il writer until
the year 1893, when he took up the gauge
of battle in behalf of Gov. St. Clair,
then Governor Of the Northwestern
territory under the ordinance OF
1851. The advocates for the es.
Enlistment OF an independent State
in the eastern division OF the territory coin.
mrnced q violent attack on the character
and public life Of the Governor That DC.
complished officer was assailed with great
bitterness, and had become literally the
victim OF persecution, Mr. Hammond, who
at that time had no personal acquaintance
with him, but knew him as he knew other
distinguished men, who had been long in
public service, commenced series Of ar.
tIcte in the Se'OtO Gazette, in which he de-
Tended the Governor with great spirit and
talent, overpowcred his assuilants and
drove them from the field. These articles
were published over an assumed name, but
the geniusandspirit which they manifested
attracted general notice, and led to jpquir
les which resulted in the discovery TIM,
they were from the pen OF Young Ham.
mond, He was admitted to the bar in the
year 1903, and Immediately opened an
Office in Wellsburg, Va. Judge Buruet, a
man OF culture and eminenCe in the line Of
his profession, was one OF the committee
appointed by the court, ut the time in sess.
ion at Marietta, Ohio, for the purpose Of
examining young Hammond as to his legal
qualifications and ability. So thorough
and complete did he prove himself to be in
the mastery Of the principles OF his pro,
lesion that Tor years afterwarl this able
and distinguished jurist WIS want TO men.
ton with great satisfaction the readiness
and thoroughness with which the young
law student had responded to the search.
ing enquiries put to him by the examining
committee.
Then, us now, the establishment OF a
practice was the work OF time and pa.
liencc. But his leisure was not unem.
pEoyed. He pursued his favorite studies
in politics and history. AS he depended
Tor his success mainly on his individual
labors he suffered no false pride to prevent
him from pursuing NIL legitimate means
in order to secure his daily bread, and
therefore he posted books and settled nc
counts Tor themerchents Of the village that
he might obtain the means OF support.
Shortly after his admission to the bar he
removed to Wheeling, then small village
containing population OF some four Or
five hundred, where he remained until the
year 1910. In October OF the same year he
entered into matrimonial alliance with
Miss Sarah Tillinghast, OF Wetlsburg The
development of Wheeling us municipal.
ty began in 1906, in which year il was in.
corporated as a town, and Mr.. Hammond
WINS appointed the first Recorder. During
the period Of his residence in Wheeling
an incident occurred illustrative Of the
fairness and honesty OF his character in
| thR LiUlnSt ON,Vrnn ,oTOO,nn5NIln Cav,