The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1892-11-24
Late Chief Justice Merrimon.
News 4 Observer.

News & Observer.
Judge Merrimon wss msn Of
mark in his day and generation; 8
strong man; strong ia iutellect and
strong 10 will power, strong in nerve,
strong o moral force, and possesseC
Of fraEe indicating great physIcal
strength. He was pure man, sd
dlcted 20 DC evil hart, with sunny
disposition, pleasant msnner-, =
warm heart and 8 noble nature. Sui
was the man VITO has passed awsN
and left vacant q place that can nev.
er be filed among his friends In
Nor th Carolina.
Augustus Summerdeld Merrimon
was born in Trsnsylvsnis, then Il
part of Buncomhe county, on Sep~
TENDER 15tn. 1880. He was son Of
Branch II. Merrimon, local Methn-
dist preacher of the Hoi-tein Con
ference. poor man 10 worldly goods
though rich in gifts of grace. Witt
great difficulty, young Merrimor
procured some education. and enter
ed the bar. He was soon made coun.
" attorney Of Buncombe, and IN
1850 was elected to the house OF
Commons, where he first became
Known generally for his foe ability.
The war coming on he volunteered
10 the Ro1gh aud Ready Company
nf Buncombe, which was engaged In
drilling in camp at Raleigh when
Col. Johnston, Chief Commlssarv.
appointed him captain on his staff.
As such he rendered service at Fort
Macon. Ocracoke and elsewhere L.
ter be was appointed solicitor
of the Mountain district and ren>
dered most valuable service in pre-
serving order in those COMMITTEES where
the people were largely divided IN
their adherence to tie coptendirg
countries. Civil war TO some extent
ragged there and MerrimDn well per-
formed his duties in trying times.
In 1865, the legislature Of North
Carolina elected him Judge of tie
Superior Court, and he made his
mark in the judicial history Of North
? Carolioa. The great Johnston will
,ase vas tried before him and be won
! much honor 70 his rulings
p In 1868 when reconstruction was
t in force, ne was chairman Of the
Democratic State Committee, and he
f was nominated for Judge of the Sn,
perior Court by the Democrats
\ for Governor. but was defeated by
Gov. Cald we'll by q small majority,
: That fall be was elected to the Sen
t ste after an acrimonious contest with
| Senator Vance, ard the next wear he
rormed law partnership with Coz.
; Fuller and Capt. Aehe, when lasted
veere. In the Senate be took .
aiob stand. But on the expiration
E. If his term, he retired to his la
practice, being succeeded in the
| Senate nv Vance. He remained IN
he practice of the law at RaleIoh
r until in 1898. when unon the resig n a.
ION Of Of Judge Raffin Gov. Jarvis
| ,npointed him to the Supreme Court
| opnch. and later upon the d"ath o.
thief Justice Smith Gov. FGwle APP
ointed him Chief Justice, to which
,Isce be was subsequently elected
w the people.
On the bench Judge Merrimon
ave many evidences of his unusually
ioorous mind. Some Of his opin-
ms are very strooq, showing his
,reat capacity ard his cleaIness OF
| apprehension.
Always a fine LAWYER, he was rar-
icularv qualified for jodiclal duties
V the natural caste of bis mind an
; | is rare powers Of discrimination.
He adorned the bieh position he
, FILLED, and although differing greatly
| gifts from Mr.. Davis, Senator
, Ransom and Senator Vance, WHO
themselves differ greatly from each
| pther, he took rank with them end
vas one Of the four greatest Caro-
| inians of these last vears.
Judge Merrimon, at the age Of p
: married Miss Margaret J. Baird, OF
Buncomba, who together with a
4 large and interesting family, sur.
| uiuas hi N