The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-12-03
TRIBgTE TO TIE MEMORY OF

The members OF the Morrlst0wn
bar met at the Court house in Nor
rlstown Nov. II, 1884, at l o'clock,
p. m, in accordance to the former
order of adjournment, and, on mo-
ton of Hon. James G. Rose, Judge
NJ b. ID. Lane was called toSthe
chair. The committee heretofore
appointed, charged with the duty
of reporting to this meeting suitable
resolutions, etc, touching the death
of the Hon. Robert Mcfarland,
submitted their report, which was
in the words and figures following,
to. wit:
Robert Mcfarland was born April
155 1882, at Springvale in Hamblen
county, Tenn. o
IS He was the SON of Col Robert
Mcfarland by his second wife,
whose maiden name was Mary A
Scott.
He was grandson of Robert Nc
FaFland who was native of North
Carolina, but who migrated to East
Tennessee about the year 1888, and
to the same farm on which the sub
ject of this sketch was born. So
that Judge Mcfarland, by birth
and ancestry, was pre- eminently an
East Tennessean.
His grandfather, Robert McFar-
land, was a soldier and officer on the
side of the colonies in the war of the
revolution, among other services
bearing distinguished part in the
battle of Kings mountain.
His father, Col. Robert McFar-
land, was a soldier and officer in the
war with Great Britain in 1912-15,
bearing an honorable and distin-
guished part in more than one en-
gagement in that war.
Many men yet live in Hanblen
and adjoining counties who remem-
Der Col Robert Mcfarland as a cit
izen of the highest integrity and of
spotless character. He died in 1874,
leaving his family in comparative
poverty-the subject of this sketch
being then boy of IL years.
The mother of Judge Mcfarland
was a woman of rare intelligence,
and very devoted to her children;
and by her energy and by her pre-
cept did very much to form the dis /
character of her father
less boy
At about the age of 10, through
the efforts of his mother and his
older brother Hon. VIM. McFar-
land), Robert was matriculated at
Tusculum College in Greene eoun-
ty, Tenn, where he remained one
or two sessions, after which for a
time he was under the tuition of
Rev. Mr.. Morey at Greenoville,
Tenn, for several terms. In this
manner he obtained fair but by
no means finished education.
He studied law at GreenevilIe,
Tenn, in the Office of his brother
n-law Hen. r.. M. Barton, and was /
to the bar, at that place,
% 1856. - .a-s..s 1858 ~ a
In May, 1859, he was married to
Miss Jennie Baker, a daughter of
q. B. Baker, of tGreeneville. ov
In 1860 he removed to cambridge,
Tenn, and continued the practice
If his profession there as a partner
If Col, Montgomery Thornburg.
He was so engaged at the break Z
ng out of the late war between the
states in 1861. f $3.50" -
Early in the war, conceiving his
luty, and allegiance to be due to
lis native State which had seeded
rom the Union, he joined tie Cons
ederate army, and was elected Ma
Dr. Of the 31st Tenn. Infantry, in
which capacity he served with that
egiment until the close of the war r
n 1865. IT,. "a ....'.-... ---.5
In all its hard fought engage> t.
lents and trying services, Major
1cFarland was ever at his post,
almly, with rare coslness, and un-d .
inching courage, filling at all times
he full measure of an American
older. .-.g --g- ---- ~, .-s---,l7 !
Owing to a state of affairs in East i
'ennessee at the time, not pleasant ]
ow to contemplate, Judge McFar-
Ind did not for some time resume
he practice Of law; but in 1866 or I
867, be formed partnership with ]
ol. j. AZ. Thornburg, a son of his =
,rmer partner -1ei i,-sa-4 a s
In 1868 he was non1;nated as a c
lndidate for Chancellor in the Il
astern ChGpcery District, but ow- s
e 10 the prevalence of party poll "
cs, he was beaten in the race by
,me 800 votes. - r... ]
In 1871, the Hon. Il. A. r. Nelson f
aving resigned his seat on the Su- 4
RENE bench of the State Mai. Me- 7
arland was appointed by Governor c
rown to fill his place. falH .
At the next regular election he q
as elected by the people of the Y
ate, which position, by subsequent !,
ection, he held during the remain !
II of his life. h1a a4.is g Aa = :
1t is presenting the truth but :,
mely to say that Judge McFar- :,
nds judicial labors were frem the 4
to the end of his career, y
'e-eminently satisfactory to the bar .,
ID to the people. In his hands the
ale of justice rested in delicate h.
uipoise, and when the right seem p
to require the beam to turn the 81
e way or the other, there was no ~
station in causing it so to turn. =
All our later reports bear abun>
Mt evidence of the painstaking la
RS of the best years of his life.
lille his published opinions may To