Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-04-12

lature for 1865, Judge Sheffey was defeated
by Henry Peck, who was sheriff of the
county, but of course the legislature then
elected never assembled. When the Pierre
point Government came IN and Legislature
was elected under it, Gov. Pierrepoint ap-
pointed Mr.. Sheffey, Judge of the Augusta
Circuit, and denomination being confirmed
by the legislature, he took the position
February, 1866, and held it until Virginia
was made Military District No l, and he
was removed by the Commanding General
Candy in March, 1869.
Six years afterwards he was elected by
the Trustees of Washington Sc Lee Univer-
sity to the position of Lecturer on Wills
and Probate practice, in the Law Depart
ment of the University. The Faculty con-
ferred the degree of L. L. d. on him.
HIS FAMILY.
On December 23rd, 1S47, Judge Sheffey
married Miss Louisa Cole, daughter of John
and Mary Cole of Baltimore. She was a
woman of lovely person and character, and
proved fit mate and companion for her dis
tinguished husband. They had no children
but adopted two daughters of Mr.. Shelley S
brother, Miss Louisa Sheffey, now the wife
of Rev. w. HI. Fl. Powers, of the Episcopal
church Of Towsontown, Md, and Miss
Maggie Sheffey.
HIS LIFE ACTIVITIES.
Judge Sheffey was one of the most public
spirited as well as one of the most laborious
of men, The large business of the law firm
Of Sheffey & Bumgardner, of which he was
the senior partner, furnished him field of
activity which he filled with large amount
Of night labor. He was both day and a
night worker, and passers by his residence
could often see the light burning in his
front office, far into the hours Of the morn
ing. Besides his law business, he was
President of the Augusta National Bank
and President of the Equity Insurance Co.
He was, so to speak, the legal adviser of
this diocese of his church, and his knowledge
of, ecclesiastical law made him highly
valued member of its Diocesan Councils and
of the General Conventions. He became a
member of Trinity church fifty years ago,
had been member of it's vestry for thirty
years, and it was very near to his heart up
to his death.
The Meeting Of the Bar.
On Tuesday morning, at 10 O'Clock, the
members of the bar assembled at the Court
House to pay tribute to the memory OF
the distinguished lawyer. Mr.. George M.
Cochran was chosen Chairman, and Mr..
A. G. Gordon, Sec 'ty. In taking the Chair,
the Chairman said they had been called
there by the death of the most distinguish
ed member Of the Staunton bar. He had
passed away, and it was only left to them to
pay fitting tribute to his memory.
T. C. ELDER.
Maj. Elder paid tribute to the memory
of the dead. One by one they had gone, and
now Death had taken from our midst one
Of the best and neutrality-suspicious. the yer!
best and very brightest. Twenty five years
ago there stood at this bar, A. III. FL. Stuart
John B. Baldwin, Thomas J. Niche, David
Fnltz and Hugh w. Sheffey. Mr.. Stuart
is yet in our midst, and it is the prayer o.
all that he will long continue, but the 9th
ers have passed away-first Baldwin, thel
Niche, then Fultz and now Shelley. 1t il
sad to think that we shall miss Judge Shelf
fey forever from among us-the good deeds
he wrought, the influence of good exam
pie which we trust will survive him ant
bear fruit. He possessed many Of the high
est traits in an eminent degree. Although
of an impulsive nature, eager in the pursui
of his profession which led him into the
hottest contests at the bar, he was as fal
from bearing malice as any man he ever
knew. He cherished no resentments and
it may be said of him that he loved his
enemies. Take him for all in all, it will be
long before we look upon his like again
Maj. Elder in concluding offered the fol
flowing preamble and resolutions
"Kno,o ne not that there is a Prince and a grea
man fallen this day in Israel :"
Again has the Bar of Staunton suffered from 8
visitation OF the great Destroyer rms time the
tinguished in our ranks. He has gone to his re-
ward, full of years and full of honors. AS gol
, den sheaf of matured grain, he wasspared by the
fell reaper till ripe for the harvest; and whilst hi
surviving brethren can but deeply lament the los
of one possessed of so many rare and varied gift
and Accomplishments, and whose career has shet
little luster on the noble profession of the Ia
they do, nevertheless, find some consolation IL
the fact that he was permitted to live beyond tn,
three score years and ten named by the Psalmls
as the period of mans life on the EARTH and tina
the years by which his life transcend the allotted
period, SO far from being only "labor and sorrow,
1were almost to the end years of congenial pro
2 Hon. Hugh White Shelley, LII. D. departe
this life at his residence, in the city Of stauntoI
ISL Born in Wythe equity, Virginia, April l2t
1915, if he had lived four days longer, he woul
l have been seventy-four years of age. In the yea
I 1910, he removed to Staunton, and commence
= the practice of law at this bar and here he con
tinued to reside and to practice his profession I'm
: terprising, and public-spirited man. His talent
and attalnments were recognized at the outset {
his business life. From the first, he took a goo
position at the bar.
His active mind, energetic nature, and patri
otto impulses led him to take lively interest 1
! Der of the House of Delegates to the General AS
9 sembly of Virginia. He was also member {
stitution of the State. In this Convention, Whic
D embraced in its membership many of the mos
self with unusual credit. Afterwards he was
I, distinguished member of the State Senate. II
the OF If ne Of
l which was in sympathy with the Confederat
, Government, and was in the Chair when the fins
order of adjournment at the last session OF tina
= body was pronounced. Shortly after the wa
and before the state government was fully re
5 established, distinguished brother was az
, pointed by Governor Pierpoint Judge of thisjud
cial circuit, and discharged the duties of the ofc
I for period of about three years. This positio
: afforded ample opportunity for the exercise an
application of his legal ability and learning, an
how they were employed by him is best atteste
by the records of the Courts over which ne presto
ed and the concurrent opinion of the lawyers VIII
practiced before him. Upon every case that cam
before him for trial, great or small, he bestowe
the most careful attention.; and in all 1mportan
3 chancery causes his habit was to deliver a writ
ten opinion, and also to prepare the decree him
self. Perhap s no other circuit judge in the stat
of time, as many DEGREES as did Judge Shetfe
| during the three years he sat on the bench. An