Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1885-10-29
RoYsToN.
sketch Of h Life of = Former East Ten
nessean.


nessean.
The editor Of the Little Rock. Ark,
Republican,, has been publishing a series
Of sketches Of prominent men Of that
State. In a recent number Of the Repub-
lean we find a lengthy review of the life
Of Gen. Grandson d. Royston. from
which we make the following excerpts:
Gen. Royston-who earned the title
in serving on the staff of Thos. S. Drew,
one Of the Arkansas Governors Of ante
bellum days, with the rank Of Brigadier-
| General Of Militia-was born in Carter
county. Tenn, December o. 1909, and
consequently is now near 70 years of age.
In 1881 he was admitted to the bar. and
Immediately removed from Jonesboro,
Tenn, to Fayetteville, Washington coun-
ty, Ark, and entered upon the practice
Of law and school teaching in conjunction
teaching school all the week and prac-
ticing law before Justices Of the Peace on
Saturday. But this was not kept up
long. In 1882 he removed to Washing
ton, Hampstead county, and entered &C.
lively into the practice of the law, and
has resided and practiced there ever
since-flling meantime, at intervals,
many public stations Of high trust and
honor; all of which he highly honored.
"In 1885 he was elected Representative
of Hampstead county, In the first Arkan.
sas Legislature. At the second session OF
this Legislature, which convened Nov. o,
1887, Gen. Royston was elected Speaker
of the House, Dec. O, 1887, under the
following extraordinary circumstances,
characteristic OF the times. Early in the
session there sprang up a difficulty be-
tween the Speaker, John Wilson, first
Speaker Of the first Legislature, and John
j. Anthony, a member Of the House. A
bill had come in from the Senate fixing a
premium on wolf scalps, when several
members jocularly offered amendments;
such as that the counties should pay, the
State should pay, that the County Judge
should certify to the g%enuineness Of the
scalps, etc. John j. Anthony offered as
an amendment that the President of tht
State Bank should certify to the genuine
ness of the scalps. The Speaker, being
President of the Bank, construed this al
an affront. personal TO himself; and, aftel
a few words Of alteration between hin
and. the offending member, he left til,
chair, advanced upon Anthony, and il
the struggle that ensued stabbed him
Anthony Immediately expired upon tn
floor of the House. Wilson was expelled
from the Chair and the House, and Gen
Royston was elected Speaker in hi
place."
!, "In 1861 he was elected a member o
the first Confederate Congress at Rich
G mond, and served two years.
when the war came on Gen. Roystol
had 200, 900 acres Of land, one hundre'
slaves, 800, 900 at interest. He has nov
: one plantation, 1000 acres in the tracI
K and 1000 acres of wild land; city propcrt
in Little Rock, and q comfortable res
O dence in Washington, Arkansas"
Though beyond his three-score an
ten, Gen. Royston is remarkably we
preserved, and is still actively engage
in his practice as a lawyer. He has don
~ more to build up his town and promo,
the interests of his county than any otht
one man, and his participation in I'll
discussion of the measures agitated
Arkansas for the last fifty years has give
y him o reputation moi confined to h
~ State"