Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1883-01-05
Death OF an Aged and Prominent

late residence, near this town, on Friday
last, in the eighty-sixth year of his age,
we are again reminded that death is an
enemy as impartial as it is universal The
great life purpose, the grandest mission in
the service of humanity, the rarcst personal
virtues, vast acquisitions in learning, in
wealth, in the means of happiness and use
fulness, deeply cherished hopes, and the
most noble endeavors turn not aside this
great enemy of the race. 1t but utters the
decree, "dust 10 dust, ashes to ashes" and
moves on in its work
The life and public services of Col. An
derson occupy large space and cover
long period in the history and progress of
our county--indeed, he has been regarded
as one Of the pioneers, and for many year
was prominent in professional and public
matters. He was a man who was much
before the public and held many important
trusts. He passed through the ordeal we'll
in every way, for he not only performed the
duties of each place with ability and fidelity,
but with such zeal, devotion and honor that
he escaped wholly the breath of calumny.
Modest and retiring in his disposition, he
was nevertheless true at all times to his
convictions. Conservative in all his notions,
he was never moved by popular passion or
prejudice, and through all of his official and
and private life he never deviated from the
path Of strict integrity, and the highest
aulnpV that hn prnpnnnnaA 10
character is the universal judgment of all
who knew him, that he lived and died an
honest man. -Ato
Col. Anderson made no effort at display,
but was an ardent seeker after truth, al
ways going TO the bottom and fully com
pretending in all its details every subject
upon which he was called to act. He was
a close and logical reasoner, profound
thinker, and was never satisfied with a super
fetal knowledge of anything. He approach
ed conclusions by = regular and systematcal
course of study and analytical reasoning,
and when he reached conclusion it was To
him as clear and satisfactory as if suscepti-
BILE OF mathematical demonstration lie was
always a hard student He read many books
and the hest of books His mind was well
stored with the knowledge derived from the
experience Of others. He wrote well, and
few men welded the pen with clearer and
greater force. His strength resulted from
the fact that he never attempted to write on
any subject until he had weighed and di-
gested it well in his own mind. He was o
ripe scholar, a man Of learning in his pro-
fession, and possessed Of broad, compre-
hensive understanding. His gentlemanly
bearing won for him friends in every circle
AS citizen he was generous, honorable
and dignifed. AS friend he was candid,
sincere and disinterested. As a husband
and father he was gentle, tender and affec-
tionate, and in all the relations Of life he
was modest, courteous and truthful. He was
conscientious in his convictions and firm in
principles. Tolerant always OF the opinions
of others on all subjects, the advocate of re-
ligious federation, and In all things fully up
to the progressive age in which he lived, for
himself he demanded, as a christian man, the
right 70 worship God according to his own
conscience, and in the exercise Of that right
he sought his spiritual advice and guide in
the church that represented the faith OF his
ancestors.
Col. Anderson was born and reared in
Rockville He passed through collegiate
course at Princeton, New Jersey, with dis
tinction, and at its termination commenced
the study of law with Sthc late Augustus
fancy, brother OF the late Chief Justice \
fancy of the Supreme Court completing,
however, his studies with the late William
Writ, WHO Ut that time was Attorney Gen
eral Of the United States. Upon his
admission to the Bar, he returned TO his
native town and formed partnership with
the late Benjamin Forest, Esq, who was one
of The most brilliant legal lights of Mary
land. When Col. Anderson commenced the
practices Of the law Judges Chase, Ridgeleyi
and Charles Kilgour were on the Bench
and Adreon Rideout, of Annapolis, was At
torney General OF the State, and subsequent
ly Gen. Boyle, also from Annapolis Brice
Selby, Esq, was Clerk and Solomon Hol-
land was Register of Wills. Among the
members of the Bar at that period were
Messrs Bon Forest Paddock Magrpder, C,l
John Cook, Col. John A. Carter, J,s. Brad.
ley, johnson HELEN, John. A. r. Kilgour,
Rich'd J. Bowie, afterwards Chief Justice.)
Among the visiting attorneys were General
Jones, of Washington Thomas Swami, Of
Alexandria, farther Of Gov Swami, and
HELEN Cox, VIM. Redin, Francis s. Key
and the late Judge Dunlop, Of Washington.
Among the prominent citizens then were
Messrs Honary Martin, Jesse Leech, Col.
Beall, Henry Harding, Thomas Perry Will.
son, John Braddock, Benz Curran, Richard
X. Watts, Vim. O'Neal, Col. Vinson, DIR.
John Wootton, DIR. Ohio Wilson and Sam'l
4. Stonesteet, then a youth in the Clerks
Office, who afterwards became Chief Clerk.
There were then three public houses, the
old Methodist Parsonage was occupied by
VIM. Sands as proprietor. The residence
now occupied by N. ID. Ofutt, ESQ, was
under the charge of Ira and John Campbell,
and subsequently Abraham Dawson. The
old Washington Hotel, where the Town
Hall now stands, was under the manage
ment of Jenero s. Fare, Frenchman. 1t
was at the former where handsome lunch
was prepared for Gen. Lafayette, when on
his way TO Washington, as tlic guest Of the
nation, that a committee from the county and
town consisting of Daniel Collins, who was
for many years Crier of the Court, Peter
Devine, Richard Waters and Col. Anderson
having been appointed u meet tho distin
guished patriot at Carksburg and escort
him thiihcr. IL was also at this same house
where, in 1897, mock dinner was held, at
which Col Anderson figured, description
of which, under the pen Of Col. John A.
Garter, awakened considerable interest and
excitement with the leading public men of