Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-07-11

the memory of Moses Walton, adopted
by the members of the bar and officers
of the courts of Shenandoah county, to
the county court, with the following
remarks:
MAY 1T PLEASE THE COURT
OILY
six months ago resolutions OF respect
to the memory of Judge Bird, were
spread on the records OF this court, and
now we are called upon to mourn the
death of Moses Walton, who was at the
time of his decease the Oldest and m ost
distinguished resident member OF this
bar. As citizens of O community we
are slow 10 realize how rapidly those
with whom we live as neighbors and
friends and acquaintance pass away.
AS one after another is summoned ITO
Join the innumerable caravan that
moves to tie pale realms OF shade,
the places made vacant in the column
of the living are as rapidly filled, and
in the whirl of life We barely halt TO
lno,e the change. Bnt when the circle
is limited TO a small number intimately
engaged in tho same pursuit, then 1t Is
that we are deeply impressed by the
death OF an associate, and each one OF
us Is cast down and humbled by the
realization of his own frailty and NOR
,ality. Seventeen years ago | came to
Shenandoah county stranger to this
people. l brought from friend 10
Stanton a letter Of introduction to
Moses Walton, and few days after
nv arrival here, at its April Term, 1866,
7 was admitted, on his motion, to pra3-
tice in the circuit court. The resident
members of The bar practicine here at
that time were Mark Bird, Moses Wal
ton. David II. Walton, James H.
Williams, W. w. Bird, J. L. Mckay,
and George w. Murphy. Philip VIII
! liams of Winchester, j. w. +. Allen
of Moore6eld, and John &. Woodson
: of Uarrlsonburg, were also regular
praclitioners in The circuit court o.
shenandoah. and they too were here al
the term to which have alluded. And
of all of them James II. Williams now
alope survives. The others have re-
snondeJ TO the summons Of the IN
exorable bailff. Three went In tn
springtime of lie, two had reached the
psalmist's limit when the summons
! came for them, tie others responded III
the prime aud yigor Of matured man
r hood. ard all, save one, died VIII
e harness on. But whether the summoni
t comes in the morning, or at noon O.
eveu,ide, a successful lie Is not TO b
2 measured by its number OF days, bu
2 nv IFS achievement in the field OF dniy
The soldier who falls ~ilh bis face Il
the front in the morning OF The conliic
j wins an eptaph not less enduring thai
: his comrade who struggles on through
the heat and burden Of the midday
t strife to fall at the day'sclose. At hes
j "our days are swifter than the weaver
5 shuttle" How important then tina
= the record of the life we live should b
I such as to entitle US, when completed
c and summed up, 10 the plaudlt I'VE
done good aud faithful servant" An
5 if ever a mans life work did earn ina
plaudit, Moses Walton was entitled
receive !, Wien the end came and hi
! record was closed. 1t was as practlcln
attorney TIA. ve, his associates here
knew him best. He devoted himse
almost exclusively to hi, profession
i and had but little # any, ambition ou'
Il side Of the law.
lie was born III Shenandoah count
on the oath day Of January lS26. III
Waltons, and on his mothers SIDE lh
10 Harrisons. were of that sturdy Scotc
} IRISH stock from which so many marke
u men have splung in the Valley OF Viz
glnia. He was educated at Dlckenso
college Pennsl lyania, aud at!er leavlu
olleoe read law in the Office Of Gree
r. Samuels who was Afterwards judi
- of the Virginia court Of Appeals. II
then attended the law school OF JUG
Lucas P. Thompson IN Staunlon. Ii
was always a close and dlligent student
When he was admitted to tie bar il
. IS4S he soon gained the confidence
V the people OF Shenandoah county, wit
4 whom he cast his lOt-a conGdeac
Il that continued TO gov during the re
malnder Of his life. AT the very be
ginning of his career his seriousness, b
. strict morality, his ability and onerg
=. in his profession, his studiOus hahi
k and iucorruplible integrity, and his e.
alle6 christian character, all consplre
d 10 attract attention to him as a man
, whom the most important intcres
d could lie in.iusted with safely, and
e was rot long before lie became i'm
e mersed in professional business. J.
e Allen of Hardy county formed copAl
nershp With him in 1852 which lasto
until 1860, when NJ. Allen was elevate
to the bench. Moses Walton aud hi
brother David II. Walton then formt
cOpartnership which was dissolved b
= the death Of the latter 10 1876, an
=, from 1876 until the deith of Nose
i. Walton his son was associated sit
. him in the practice Of Law. For thirt
II years the records OF the courts Of Shet
, andoah county shOE That first ALE
4 and Walton, and ,hCLWalon 4 Waite
o were counsel in every important ca;
placed upon their dOckets. But it VIZ
l.. 81.