Smyrna times., 1892-04-13
CHANCELLOR SALISBURY DEAD.
SKETCH OF HIS SUCCESSFUL CAREER.


SKETCH OF HIS SUCCESSFUL CAREER.
Chancellor Willard Salisbury died
at o'clock, Wednesday morning. at
his home in Dover. An attack of apo
plexy, sudden and unexpected caused
his death. DR.. L. A. H. Bishop arrived
few minutes after the Chancellor's
death. He had been affected for years
by partial paralysis of the lower part
of the body, so that he could not move
without assistance. He went out rid
ing Tuesday afternoon and was in his
usual health.
Willard Salisbury was born in Mis-.
pillion hundred, Kent county, June 2,
1920. His father was William SauIs.
bury, man of sterling character, and
his mother was Margaret, daughter of
Captain Thomas Smith, and possessed
of great mental power. The rudi-
ments of Williard's education were
acquired at the schools in the vicinity
of his home, his earlier years being
spent on his fathers farm. When Is
years old he was sent to a Denton.
Md, academy for two years. He spent
a year at Delaware College, Newark.
and a year at Dickinson College, Car
Isle, Pa.
He became a student at law under
James BartOl, late Chief Justice of the
Courts of Maryland, when 20 years old
and completed his studies in the office
of the Hon. Martin w. Bates. He was
admitted to the bar at Dover in 1S45.
! He opened an Office in GEORGETOWN
and soon become the acknowledged
leader of the Sussex county bar. He
became known throughout the state as
an eloquent speaker an able advocate.
and young man of brilliant promise.
In 1850 Governor Tharp appointed
him Attorney General of Delaware.
and he filled the term of five wears
with satisfaction.
He took an active interest in politics
becoming conspicuous as a political
! speaker. lie was delegate to the
National Democratic Convention of
1856, which nominated James Buenan-
an as President of the United States.
He was elected United States Senator
in 1859. His powerful voice, pleasing
presence, strong physical constitution,
and magnificent, robust form, combin-
ed with well trained and well stored
mind and great powers of oratory.
made him a conspicuous figure in
Congress. He was reelected to the
Senate in 1865 and served until 1871
when he returned to Georgetown.
Mr.. Salisbury was appointed Chan
cellOr of the State of Delaware on
November Sd, 1878, by Governor James
Ponder. His career as u iurist was
marked and prominent. When in the
fullnesS of his intellectual vigOr Chan
cellOr Salisbury had an extraordinary
capacity for work. He has been
known to dictate to two persons at the
same time, on abstruse points of law.
and keep writing with rapiditv.
Chancellor Salisbury married Miss
Anna A. Ponder, daughter of John
Ponder, Milton merchant, on MAY
11th, 1850. Three children were the
result of their uniOn-John p. Sauls-
bury an attOrney-at. law and Secretary
of State under Benjamin T. Biggs, now
deceased Willard salisbury, attor-
ney-at-law in Wilmington and Marga-
ret, who died at the age of l9 wears
Mrs salisbury survives her husband
The last official appearance of tho
Chancellor, was in the March term of
the Court of Chancery in Wilmington.
The term closed on March 90 The
dlsmlssing OF the restraining order
against the MiddletOwn and Odessa
railroad, was his last official act. One
of the most important of his recent
decisions as that which prevented
the Levy Court of New Castle county
from striking names from the assessors
lists. At his last appearance he
told Register Charles H. McWhorter'
of the court that he was going to re-
sign and expected never to sit again
at regular term of court. He was to
have heard arguments in the Conrow
VS.. COnrOw case, Wednesday. 1t is a
will case in which about $4,000 is in
vOlved.
The Hon. Charles B. Lore in speak
ing of the Chancellor, said that it was
one of the traditions of Washington in
the early war times, that Willard
Salisbury was the handsOmest man
in the United States Senate, and one
the most eloquent orators.
The funeral took place on Saturday
afternoon, and the interment in the
Episcopal Cemetery, Dover.
The death of Chancellor Salisbury
recalls the great Senatorial fight OF
1871, when Willard and his brother
Cove were opponents for the United
States Senatorship, and the prize was
carried off by Eli, another brother,
who was put forward to prevent a
threatened deadlock. The caucus was
held on January I6, 1871, 80 members
of the legislature, then unanimously
Democratic, taking part. Four ballots
were taken. on the third ballot the
vote stood is for Willard, Is for Cove
and one for Eli. Then Williard's 13
supporters united with Ellis three and
the latter was elected. This contest
by three brothers for the SenatOrship
finds no parallel in the history of this
country.
The vacancy caused by Chancellor
Saulsbury's death will be filed by
Governor Reynolds. 1t is life posi-
tion.