Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-05-31
EDEN TON.
AS A N. CAROLINA EDITOR SEES Us.
Something of it's History--Its Present and
its Future.
Chronicle Editorial Corrcspondence.

NnrOnlCIe Editorial correspondence.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEKS ISSUE. !
We visited the Johnston property.
Here lie buried ia the old Johnston GEM
etery three of the most distinguished
men in the history of North Carolina
James Iredell, who was born at Lewes,
Sussex county. England, Oct. 9Th, 1850.
He emigrated to North Carolina in 1868
and died at his home in Edenton Oct
Goth, 1899. He was the only North Car
Gilman who ever sat upon the bench Of
the Supreme Court of the United States.
At the time Of his death he was As5oci-
ate Justice Of the great tribunal. The
fact that he was born in England never
affected his American citizenship. Driv-
en- by family reverses he secured the ap-
pointment of Com ptrOller of Customs at
Edenton (called the Port of Roanoke. J
His salary was ESQ per annum, which
amount he arranged should be regularly
paid to bis mother in England. The fees
of the Office, amounting to G7O suttiCed
to supply his ordinary wants He read
law under Mr.. Samuel Johnston. Dur
ing the Revolution, although all officer
under the crown, Judge Iredell wrote
secretly and ably in behalf of the colo
MES. William Hooper declares that he
to give success to the cause His life
was benediction to Edenton in its for
native days. A great lawyer who
scorned ''sharp" practises, he was also
a devout Christian, holding to the old
truths and illustrating them in his life.
1t is an inspiration to youth to stand by
the tomb of so eminent and so pure a
statesman and jurist and to read of the
virtues that adorned his life. Beside
him lies buried his son, James Iredell,
who was born in EdentOn Nov. 21d.
1886, and died at the home of his birth
April 18th, 1858. He was Speaker of
the House of Commons, Judge of the
Court of Law and Equity, Governor of
North Carolina and Senator of the
United States.
The third distinguished man buried
in the Johnston cemetery is Samuel
Johnston. In 1871 he was a member Of
Congress. In 17SS-'89 he was Governor
of North Carolina. In 1890 he was
United States Senator, and in 1900 he
was Judge of the Superior Court. But
the position he held which gives his life
greater interest to US in this Centennial
year is that he was President of the Con
vention that on the 22nd day of Novem-
ber. 1889. in the town of FAYETTEVILLE.
ratified the Constitution of the United
States. A centennial celebration of that
event will take place IN Fayetteville next
November and picture Of Samuel John
ston ought to hang in the hall i'll which
the celebrate will be. held.
Here also lie the remains of the late
James G. Johnston, who died in 1860
leaving the largest estate in North Car
olina He was noted figure III his day.
It is related that once when he was at
the springs in Virginia a planter of that
State was Dragging about the big crops
which he harvested and putting on
great many airs. One day after this
braggart had told how much corn he
had raised. a gentleman in the party
turned to Mr.. Johnston and asked him
how much he haG raised. AS if it were
a small matter. Mr.. Johnston replied
- barrels" -" I've forgotten the num-
ber) which was ten times as much as
the Virginia farmer had Dragged about
producing. He owned $500 slaves, and
a dozen or more of the finest plantations
in this part of the country, and several
fisheries. His home-a little over half
a mile from Edenton-was famous far
and near, It was called Hayes. The
house still stands and is owned by Mr..
John Wood, son of Mr.. Edward Wood
to whom Mr.. Johnston left most of his
property. 1t is large ard was surround
ed by large park after the old English
fashion. On one side lies Edenton bay,
and the view from this point is beauti-
full. In this handsome old house, the
centre of the most elegant hospitality
afforded by North Carolina before the
war, Is the large library as it was left