Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-20
TRIBUTE OF THE BAR.
EulOgies Pronounced Upon the Death
of Hon. John o. FerriIl-ResOlutiOns
of Respect

of Hon. John o. Reconsideration
of Respect.
The members of the Chatham county
bar met in the Superior Court room yes
terday afternoon for the purpose of pass
ing resolutions Of respect to the memory
Of the late Hon. John Q. Ferrill. The at
tendance was large and the chamber was
appropriately draped in mourning.
Upon motion Of Col. William Garrard
the hour for the assembling Of the bar to
attend the funeral was liked at $3.50
O'Clock.
Hon. R. E. Lester, Chairman Of the CON-
mittee appointed TO draft resolutions,
arose, and with few predatory remarks
eulogistic of the deceased. read the fol
lowing:
The announcement of the sad and sudden
death on the 18th instant of the Hon. John o.
Ferrill, the Ordinary Of Chatham county, and
an esteemed and valued member OF this bar.
has touched cord of tender feeling and of
profound regret in his native city, and in the
hearts of his professional brethren. The in
tegrity and ability with which he conducted
his responsible Office, and his intellectual
prominence and professional standing merits
from this bar earnest and emphatic recOgni-
tiOn of the great loss which the community
and the profession have sustained.
The deceased was born in the city of Savan-
nah on the 25th day of April. 1886. He en-
loyed the advantages of an excellent educa-
ton. and completed a successful course of
study At the University of Virginia.
In January, 1888, he was admitted to the
par IN Savannah, and at once entered upon
the active and successful practice Of his pro-
lesslon. He soon displayed professional ability
and achieved professional reputation.
The advent of the war interrupted his legal
career. He entered the Confederate service
ana toward the end of the struggle was at
taehed TO the command of the late Gen.
Henry {. Wayne, with the rank of Major.
I pom the cessation of hOstilities he resumed
the practice of his profession in Savannah
HIS course was marked by ability, by the
highest standard of professional integrity and
bE unVaTyiug courtesy and consideration for
others.
In recognition OF his merits and usefulness
he was elected an Alderman Of the city of Sa-
vannah in 1871. He displayed zeal and indie
pendenee IN this Office. and many of the beau
ties of our parks and squares are due to his
efforts.
In the year 1873 he was elected Ordinary for
Chatham county, and he continued to hold
this high and responsible office up to the time
OF his death. His administration was marked
by great ability. His court was thoroughly
organized and equipped Perfect system and
order were introduced and prevailed
Ills ability and knowledge as a lawyer en-
abied him not only to conduct his Office with
regularity and skin, but to act as the adviser
ana friend OF many persons of feeble resources
who, IN the most narrowing exigencies of life. ]
required counsel and aid. To such he was
ever charitable and kind; he listened to their
plants and gave them the benefit OF his adj
wee. The organization and conduct of his
once ana honor to his head; the charity and
k,nun,.. ~. =" dispensed paid enduring tribute
70 his heart
In 1871 he was elected "a member of til.
Board OF Education for the city of Savannah /
and the county of Chatham He displayed I
great interest in the education of our YOUTH ]
ana ne continued an earnest aud efficient
member OF the Board up to the time of has
death.
lie was an active and useful member OF the
Georgia Historical Society, and was earnestly
engaged at the time Of his decease as one of
the committee Of that body to organize the
Ielfair Academy of Arts and Sciences, under
the VIII of the late Miss Margaret Telfair.
brother. and his death viii create a sad void
IN that widowed home, which he made it the
undertaking effort Cf his life to sustain and
render happy.
Be a therefore Resolged 5y the ls.. 5es.s Of the
Bar OF SRCdRnQh;
l, That in the death Of John O. Ferru this
community has lost valued and efficient
pubic officer and a worthy citizen.
,. That the bar has been deprived of an able
and most useful member, and will hold his
memory in warm regard
3. IRat our profound sympathy Is extended
to the bereayed family, and that copy Of
these proceedings be sent to the mother OF the
deceased.
I. That the courts be requested to cause
these proceedings to be entered upon their
minutes and that they be published in the
two daily papers Of the city.
RUFUS +. LESTER,
JOHN III. GUERARD
-. A. DENMARK,
W. w. MACKALL. JR.,
GEORGE A. MERCER.
Committee.
After the reading Of the resolutions.
ffOl | octar ho 81
j. X. Saussy, Esq, seconded the motion
in fitting eulOgy. 1t is not simply
matter OF form, he said, that the bar is
brought together. There was so much
about the deceased that we call hOmOg-
neous, there are so many present of the
same age, with the associations OF youth
binding them together, that made the as
sembiage Of peculiar kind. The de-
ceased was no stranger to any one, the
intimate Of many. He was gentleman
in every sense of the word. The neatness
OF his person cOrrespOnded to the
gentleness and suaYity OF the man. He
was strong friend, and preserved the re-
latiOns coming from long association. but
as Judge he was impartial. Before him
the plaintiff and defendant. tie propOund-
er and the caYeatOr, stood upou equal
ground. He rendered his decisions abso-
lutely free from bias. In concluding he
said: 'When the hand Of fate shall strike
me down, hope that eulOgy as truthful
as these resolutions may be said of me-"
Gen. Henry r. Jackson, with voice
trembling from emotion, was the next to
follow. He could recall nothing to de-
tract from or nothing to sully the charac-
ter of the true, obliging, brave, courteous
gentleman in respect to whose memory
the bar had assembled. To him the death
was personal loss. He would long miss
his kindly smile.
Col. Mercer spoke of Mr.. FerrilPs inter-
est in popular education. He knew of no
one more thoroughly devoted to the edu-
cation of youth. He had found him one
OF his most useful cO-workers on the
County Board of Education. He estab-
lished himself at once a most earnest
member of that board. But there were
private qualities best known in private
circles that will always endear his memo
~. He was devoted son and brother.
The children who were recipients of his
kindness and generosity would live long
enough to do him honor.
Hon. z. w. Meldrim said that it had /
fallen to his lot TO know the deceased as I
neighbOr and friend for many years. The /
most beautiful trait in his character con- /
sisted in his love for little children. Some 1
writer had said, Il love God and little /
children" The speaker knew Of no more /
beautiful trait Of character than that sim /
pie love, and this the deceased possessed in !
an eminent degree. We may pass reso- /
lutions, but the little children gone before |.
him will sing the sweetest songs and offer /
up the sweetest inYocations to that throne !
to which our brother is summoned.
Judge Harden said that in the tuIIness /
Of the heart the lips were silent. As /
youths, men, he and the de- /
ceased had been friends. His virules 4
were known to all, and if there are any 1
TO whom they were not known they would 1
be known. Then most striking fact was
hat as the deceased did his duty so firmly, /
80 unsweryingly, he must have had enc
mics, but his standing in this community I
shamed them into silence. He was an
honorable gentleman and an honest man.
Capt Robert Falligant was the last
speaker upon the adoption of the resolu-
ions. The remarks of the gentlemen
Who had preceded him had shown in
What high esteem the deceased was held.
He was Of manly bearing and
rue lawyer, No man can be
good man and true lawyer without
icing a noble gentleman. There was one
clement, the sweetest of all, IN his char
Icter which was cOnspicuOus-his char
ty. Divine lips had said: And now
Ibideth faith, hope and charity, these
hree, but the greatest Of these is charity
Of .fI