Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1884-03-20
CHARLES MANLY STEDMAN.
A SKETCH OF HIS LIE AND
CHARACTER.
An Able Lawyer---A Capable Bu<iness
Mana Generous Gentleman-A Man
of the People.
From, the Raletqh REGISTER.

From, the Raleigh Register.
We are not minded, i'll the under
taking which We have set about to ex-
ecute, to make a biography, but only
a sketch, and in no sense full sketch
even, but rather a meagre epitome of
life and character of which it may
be truly said, without eXaggeration,
that they have been signalized by
meritorious acts and illustrations which
Justify rank among the representa-
tive lives of North Carolina, and enti-
tie his name, of whose life and charac-
ter we are about to write, to record
in the annals of her distinguished
SONS.
Charles NJ Stedman, now a prac-
ticing lawyer in the city of Whining
ton, was born in the county of Chat
ham in 1871.
AT an early age his father sent him
to be taught in English and the clas-
sizes at preparatory school kept by
the Rev. Daniel McGilvary, man
who has since devoted his life to spread
the gospel in the lands that sit in
darkness, and whose career as mis-
sionary has adorned the pages of
Christian enterprise
About the year 1852, Mr.. Stedman,
Sr.. removed with his family to Fay
etteville, and young Stedman passed
his boyhood in that ancient and cele-
brated town among the classic scenes
of Cross Creek, historic by the legend
| that there Flora Mcdonald, fresh
from the romantic and heroic exploit
| which associated her name with the
Prince and Pretender, fixed her home;
q stately and venerable town, conspic-
uous in the history of the State as the
home of a cultivated and moral peo-
pie, who ranked with the best in the
elements of benign hospitality, asso
ciated with business enterprise and
honesty and patriotism. 1t was here,
among such people, thus adyanta-
geously placed, that young Stedman
passed his youth, still fitting himself
for college at the Donaldson Academy
under the tuition of the Revs. George
McNeill and Daniel johnson.
In 1857, at sixteen years of age, he
entered at the University in a class
composed of such associates as Ed
ridge Wright, Thomas L. Allen, J
Turner Morehead, r. S. Clark, all
men of talent, and proceeding through
the regular term of four years he
graduated in the memorable year
1861, being admitted to deliver his
senior speech and receive his diploma
though he did not attend Commence
ment. Exercises.
1t is often said, and to some extent
may be true, that college distinction
furnishes no sure index of the forth
coming man. But it is bad to teach
and worse to learn, to slight the merit
marks at college.
Certainly for all the testimonial Ii
worth Stedman won it. During the
whole four years he achieved the first
distinction in all the branches of study
and department., gaining the esteem O
the faculty and blessing the hearts o
parents and friends by an early sue
cess in honorable exertion, taking
rank as scholar with Pettigrew anC
Ransom. What there was to be done
well, he did it; and this he has fol
lowed up, as the avenues of actor
have grown wider and more compre
hensive.
* x X X x
AS the last gun fired at Appomatox
where the survivors of a lost cause Oh
| ly less immortal than their comrade
who had laid down their lives in it
defence, in that they had not passet
through the gates of fame to immor
tality, our Stedman-now advanced
for merit to be Major of the 44th Reg
iment of North Carolina Volunteer
was present, and from beginning t.
close his is the register, common
enough, but no less glorious, of
brave, self-sacrifcing, faithful soldie
and patriot, ever present where dut,
required him to be, and always doinI
what duty exacted.
At the close of the war Major Sted
man returned to what was left of hom
the common lot Of all his fellows
ruin and poverty. But he was mad
of too stern stuff for idleness and wani
In 1865 he set up a school at Pitts
boro, wherein he taught the "youn
idea how to shoot" not muskets, bu
nouns, verbs and adjectives, and righ
there in this laborous and responsible
occupation he began series of sue
cesses that fall only short of the re
mantle in their actuality. While thu
engaged. he renewed the study of La,
under the late Robert Strange an
Hon. John Manning-which he ha
begun at Chapel Hill under Juds
Battle and S. F. Phillips in 1870, bu
which had been interrupted by tn
war; and in 1866 he obtained his
cense to practice in the courts of th
State. In the same year he marie
Miss Kate Wright. a daughter of tn
late Joshua G. Wright, of Whining
ton, of family associated with tn
early struggles of the colonies, MOI
than one of which had filled the chic
offices of Government, and which i
common with the families of the Cap
f Fear had furnished illustrious repr,
sentatives to the Confederate cause.
In 1867 Major Stedman removed
Wilmington, o poor boy, one may sa.
with a peagre purse and no herald
! help his way, with no friend an
scarce even an acquaintance. III
future then depended only on an a