Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-11-07
Death of Hon. C. J..FauIkuer..


Charles james Faulkner. one Of the best
known and most respected cihzcns Of West
Virginia, died ut Boydrille, his residence
in the suburbs of harrisburg. His death
was not unexpected, as he has been in
bad health for several months. About
two weeks ago he began to grow worse,
and his children were summoned to his
bedside. They remained with him until
| his death.
The Remains Of Mr.. Faulkner were i'll
TERED In the family cemetery on Monday.
The funeral was one of the largest that
has ever occurred in Berkeley county.
Rev. +. NJ. Woods, Of the Presbyterian
Church, conducted the services, which
were of the most impressive character and
continued for two hours. The Masonic
order also held appropriate services. The
! pall-bcarers were j. l.. w. Baker, Isaiah
Buck, Decatur Hedges, Philip Showers,
Blackburn Hughes and C. 2. Aatthai on
the part OF the Masonic fraternity. and
Col. j. Q. A. Nadenbousch, A.. j. Thomas,
NJ. 5. Grantham, William Kilmer, j. w.
Thatcher, Jacob Miller, j. n. Abel, &.
w. Doll, G. NJ. Schaffer and Caspar
Stump. A large number Of persons from
other States, and from Jefferson and Nor
GAN counties, attended the funeral, and
united with the people of Berkeley i'll
showing their respect for the deceased, in
whose death West Virginia loses one of
her most patriotic ant honored citizens.
We extract from the Baltimore Sun the
following excellent sketch of Mr.. Faux
ncr's life:
Mr.. Faulkner was born in Berkeley
county, Va, February, 1905, and WAS,
therefore, in the 7ath year of his age. lie
received collegiate education, and came
to the bar in Martinsburg in 1929. lie was
member of the Virginia Legislature of
lS3l-32, in which body he took leading
part, though one Of the youngest mem
bcrs, thus early displaying that Industry
which ever afterwards characterized him
i'm public life and ia the pursuit OF his
J profession. Soon after his service in the
House of Delegates, Mr.. Faulkner was
appointed commissioner to report upon
the boundary between Virginia and Ma
ryland, duty which lie discharged intel
ligently aud promptly. In 1911 he was
elected to the Senate of Virginia, and In
1915 was again elected to the House of
Delegates. In 1850 he was elected MEM
a. oil 70, rntyisn "a
constitution of the State. Up to this time
Mr.. Faulkner had been Il decided Wing III
politics, and in 1851 he was elected as the
Union candidate for Congress over the
Hon. Henry Bedingcr, the Democratic
nominee. Upon the nomination of Gen.
Scott for President by the Wings in 1852
Mr.. Faulkner left that party with the
Hon. 4. III. Stephens, of Georgia, and
others, and allied himself with the Demo-
Gratis, by which party lie was returned to
Congress in 1853, 1855 and 1897. In iSo9
lie was Il candidate for reelection, but
was defeated by the Hon. ~. X. Boteler,
Whig, that being the third contest be-
tween these gentlemen for Il scat i'll the
House. In each contest they made Il
Joint canvass, and their debates always
excited great interest, both being elo-
oucnt speakers and skilled debatcrs. Dur
ing his service il. Congress Mr.. Faulkner
was OH several leading committees, and
was chairman of the military committee.
He was the author Of the bill which was
b,,( -, hst lti n H.
for the military uperintendcncy in the
national aimorics. After his defeat for
Congress, Mr.. Faulkner was appointed
United States minister to France by Pres
idcnt Buchanan, and served lis country
with great credit until the breaking out
of the war, when he resigned and return
cd home. Whilst in Washington, closing
his affairs, he was arrested and held as L
hostage for the return of Ill. 5, Magraw,
of Pennsylvania, then prisoner in Rich
mond. Mr.. Faulkner WIS released from
Font Warren in December, 1861, anu eX-
changed for Congressman Ely, OF New
York, who was captured at the first battle
OF Manassas. Proceeding to Gen. Stone
wall Jackson's headquarters, he was
made chief of staff of that distinguished
officer, with whom he served Until the
death of Jackson. lie Is credited with
having written the admirable official re-
ports of Jackson's campaigns of 1862. At
the close of the war Mr.. Faulkner engaged
actively in the practice of his profession,
and for years had the largest and most
lucrative practice of any lawyer in West
Virginia. In 1872 he was again elected
to Congress, and displayed his usual in
dustry in the discharge of his public du-
ties. In 1880 he was a candidate for the
Democratic nomination for Governor of
West Virginia, and was defeated by Gov.
Jackson by close vote. Since then he
had not sought political position, and had
to a large extent withdrawn from the
practice of the law, but still retaining an
interest in political affairs, and ardently
, desiring the success of the Democratic
party. "Boydville," Mr.. Faulkner's res
idencc, in the suburbs of Martnsburg, is
one of the most beautiful homes in the
Valley of Virginia, and attached to the
lovely grounds is Il farm of 100 acres OF
land unsurpassed for fertility.
Mr.. Faulkncr's wife was daughter of
! General Elisha Boyd. He also has
/ large family of children, among them the
Hon. Z. Boyd Faulkner, leading lawyer
and politician; Judge Charles James
Faulkner, of the judicial circuit composed
of the counties of Berkeley, Jefferson and
N,ro,n. Nrs rhos - RocOck Mrs Joel