The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-09-30

dignity commanded the profound ad-
mi1ation and respect of his compeers.
His far-reaching mind and keen fore
sight grasped and would have devel-
oped schemes for the internal i'm
provement of his State, which, with
the slow march of other minds of less
impul.ive genius, were yet fifty years
adown the future Deep was his learn
ing, wide his range of thought, keen
and incisive his intellect, and while
others gradually developed an idea or
plan, Minerva like, it sprang to life,
perfect and complete in his superb
mind. Far down the coming years
swept his impetuous thoughts, out of
range of those slower moving ones
that could not keep step with the
strides of his genius. To-day the
things he planned and argued as pos
sible, and of immense value to the de-
velopment and internal Improvements
of the State, are realities. Then they
were regarded as the wild dreams of a
visionary. Judge Murphy was at least,
half a century in advance Of his gen.
Grafton. AT the time of his death he
was engaged in preparing history of
North Carolina, and it is source of
deep regret and irreparable loss to the
State that the itch store of material
he had collected was entirely lost.
Towering above all else that sur
rounds it, stately, clear-cut, and stain
less as the character of the sleeper be-
meath it, rises the shaft on which is
carved the name of William A. Gra-
ham, and beneath which sleep until
the resurrection morn all that was NOR
tai of one of North Cardinals noblest,
most gifted and distinguished sons. A
great statesman, and able jurist, a
Christian gentleman, a man who went
up steadily by merit to the highest
position in his native State, and to one
of the highest in the national
Government, and who retired from
public life at eventide as he had
entered it in the dawn of his brilliant
young manhood sans peur ct sans re-
procle.
see him yet, the tall, stately form
erect and elegant the fine intellectual
face so scholarly and refined A close
student, deep thinker, wise in state
craft, just in his conclusions, fearless
in his advocacy of the right and faith
full in his discharge of trust. Fair
as Doric column stands the life, pub
lie and private, of this noble son of
grand old commonwealth!
Limited space forbids an extended
notice of many other sleepers here
worthy of most honorable mention
Frederick Nash, distinguished Chief
Justice of the State of North Carolina
man whose fine intellect, deep cul-
ture and impartial discharge Of the
high duties of his office added yet fur
ther lustre to an honored name; the
Rev. John WitherspooE, an able and
popular divine, founder and first pas
tor of the Presbyterian church here;
Judge Norwood and his son, the late
venerable John W. Norwood, who has
within the past few months gone to
his rest after long, honorable and use
full life, DIR. James Webb, many years
ago well known throughout a large
section Of the State as a physician of
great merit and high character, and
who was held in great respect and af-
fection; Dr. Edmund Straudwick who
succeeded DIR. Webb, and who for en-
inence as physician and skill as
surgeon had very wide reputation,
the benediction Of whose life still rests
upon those who loved him.
Gallant soldiers sleep amongst the
dead here. Major Ben Huske, Alvis
Norwood, Capt. Ed. Scott, Henry
Nash, Roscoe Richards, of whom his
colonel said II never knew braver
man. Whenever l called fer volun-
teers for desperate work Roscoe Rich
ards was one of the first men to step
from the ranks Frederick Nash,
who laid down the burden of life far
from friends and home after months
of suffering amidst the dreary horrors
of prison life at Elmira, N. Y, faith
full unto death!
All! those days long ago, yet ever
near in memory, when there came
back to Southern homes only coffin
in place Of gallant son or brother,
husband or father, who had gone forth
in the strength of manhood and who
was to come again, if come he ever
did, feet foremost, and sometimes only
the poor remnants that shot or shell
had leftl Vividly do I recall the
burial of brave young soldier who
had been brought home from the car
mage Of the "Chickahominy." As we
sat in the church the heavy tread OF
those who bore him to his rest passed
by the door. Alas! they could not
bring him into the church an6 as we
gathered around the grave in the ex-
quisite brightness of a summer even
ing, while the prayers were being said
mocking-bird in a tree just above
the grave sang as though ali the world
was mad with JOY. In and out amidst