Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-05-20
EX-GOVERNOR HENRY M. MATHEWS.

EX-GOVERNOR HENRY NJ. MATHEWS.
RESOLUTIONS OF THE BENCH AND BAR OF
GREENBRTER, TOUCHING THE DEATH OF
| EX-GOVERNOR HENRY NJ. MATHEWS.
AT meeting of the Bench and Bar of
dreenbrier fcounty, W. Va, held at the
Court house on the list day of May, 1884,
Judge Homer A. Holt was called to the
CHAIR and Thos. H. Dennis appointed Sec
rotary. On motion the Chair appointed
ohm W. Harris, R. F. Dennis, J. W. Da-
Wis, j. M. McWhorter, and VIM. P Ruck-
Ell, committee to prepare and report ap-
proprlate resolutions expressive of the
sense OF the meeting. At subsequent
meeting held on the 3rd day of May, 1884,
the committee reported the following pre-
amble and resolutions
Ex-Governor HENRY M. MATHEWS died
at his residence in Lewisburg, April 2Sth,
1884, at II o'clock, p. m.
The Bar of Greenbrier county, of which
ne was an honored member, testify that
this dispensation of God has brought to
them, personally, grief as severe as the
loss is irreparable. 1t becomes friendship
TO be as simple in its tribute to the dead as
his modesty while living would have sane
toned, and to let the acts of his now ended
life speak the praise due to it's more than
ordinary incidents.
Henry Mason Mathews was born March
2Sth, 1884, in Greenbrier county, Va. He
was the son of Mason Mathews, long use
tul and prominent citizen of Greenbrier
His boyhood was pure, Ingenious, aud dN-
fiful. He attended the Lewisburg Acade-
my until fully prepared to enter College
thsn he matriculated at the University of
Virginia and received from that institution,
in 1856, the degree of Master of Arts. AT
ter leaving the University he entered the
then celebrated Law School of Judge John
w. Brockenbrough, at Lexington, Va. He
graduated at that school in 1857, immedi- |
ately began the practice of his profession
in his native county, and became member |
Of this Bar. On the Gath day of October, !
1857, he was united in marriage with Lucy |
Clayton Fry, daughter of the late Judge |
Joseph L. Fry, and granddaughter of the
late Rev. John McElhenny, D. D.
Upon the establishment of Allegheny Col |
lege he was elected Professor of History |
and Literature in that institution, and was
engaged In the discharge of his duties |
there when Virginia called upon her sons
to defend her rights and honor. Not one
OF her sons responded to her call more
cheerfully than he. Laying aside his scho-
lastic pursuits he entered the military SER
vice Of his native State; he was assigned to
the army of the Southwest, and distinguish
ed himself On many hard-fought field,
serving the latter part of the war upon the
staff of Major-General Carter Stevenson.
When peace again visited the land he re-
turned to his home and entered upon the
practice of his profession. Very soon the
people calledsupon him to serve them in the
Senate of West Virginia. He was elected
to that body almost without opposition,
but, not being able to take the oath re-
quired, was not permitted to qualify. He
represented Greenbrier county in the State
Constitutional Convention of 1872, and con-
tributed much toward framing our present
State Constitution. The same year he was
elected Attorney General of the State, and
discharged the duties of that office so eff
GENTLY that in 1876 the people, by an un-
precedented majority, advanced him to the
Governorship. As Governor of the State
of West Virginia he exhibited rare admin
1strative ability, and By, his steady and EARL
est devotion to his duties earned the ap-
proval OF all good citizens So great was
the estimate of his political admirers of his
ability and fitness for high public trusts
that twice he was presented by them to the
Legislature as candidate for United States
Senator. In the many public contests in
which he was engaged he ever had large,
devoted and influential following.
AS a member of this Bar he was ever
courteous and considerate-toa all he was a
model OF polished and an upright gentle
man. As speaker he was clear, cOnvinc-
chaste-T-an orator with but few
equals.
The members of this Bar bear this sim
pie testimony to the life and exalted SER
vice OF their able, learned and beloved
brother, and tender to his widow and chill
dren and mourning friends their hearts
sympathy in the common calamity of his
loss.
Be it, therefore, Resolued, That in the
midst Of the severe calamity which has be-
fallen us in the death of our brother we, the
Bar OF Greenbrier county, are consoled by
the reflection that one of our number was
enabled to render such distinguished SER
vice to the public, and that the example he
has left behind, while it belongs to the
whole State, is in a peculiar manner the
heritage of this Bar.
Resolred, That it is our duty as it is our
privilege to render the foregoing last, sim
pie, but just tribute to his memory, and to
bear testimony to his distinguished ability
and learning as a lawyer and worth as
man.
Resolred, That copy of the foregoing
resolutions be communicated to the widow
and family of the deceased, that the Cir
cult and County Courts of this county be
requested to spread the same upon their re-
cords, and that copy be furnished the
Greenbrier Independent for publication.
JOHN W. HARRIS.
r. F. DENNIS,
j. NJ. MCWHoRTER,
J. w. DAVIS,
VIM. P. FUCKER.
On motion, the report was unanimously
adopted. The meeting then adjourned
81. A. HOLT, Chairman.
THos. H. DENNIS, Sec'y.