Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-09-16

nr,rg OF s. FERGUSON BEACH
r5Uard the close of yesterday, after
me GAZETTE went to press, and about
,Ts time the news of the sudden death
oiPpy Dir. Norton had been generally
rrculated throughout the city, the an
nonncament of the death of anothe" of
,ba most prominent men in the city
ga, made-that of 5. Ferguson Beach,
esd, who for over forty years had lived
and moved among us, and who was
welLknown by all our people. Mr..
Reach had been for the past year or two
pill.health, and having been compel
,si torelinQuish all business had been
nder special treatment near Baltimore.
His bodily ailment seemed to grow less
in the beginning, but the Improvement
proved temporary, and for the past
wear he has been gradually failing.
Saving a depression and loss of hope
fitness. his mental faculties remained
strong to the last, and he constantly in
ouired of home matters and friends,
though expressing always the belief
that he should never see them more.
Mr. Beach was born in Connecticut
in 1929, and came to this city
lorty-three years ago as an assistal i
to the late Caleb Hallowell, who
then conducted school at the south
east corner of Columbus and Duke
streets. He did not continue in this posi-
ton long, and 4 year or two later be-
gan the practice of law in this city.
Many of the older citizens will remem-
Der his modest sign in the northern
wing of the old Market Building. His
practice in a few years time had be-
come extensive and remunerative, and
for the past quarter of a century be
had been regarded as q legal luminary
horeabouts. He made the multitude
nous labyrinths of law close study all
his life and read and thought as long as
his powers lasted. While lawyer
above the average. he was also II pro-
found scholar, and he had doubtless
drank as deep from the cup of general
knowledge as any man in the state.
Much of Mr. Beach's practice during
late years had been before the Supreme
Court of the United States, and he was
entrusted with many important cases
before that tribunal. Before that au-
gust assemblage it was said he was
followed closely in his argu,
ments, and his legal points and
extensive knowledge of law made him
welcome advocate before that bar.
Mr.. Beach was of a'auiet and modest
nature. When he appeared in the
streets he invariably walked with his
eyes downcast, suspicion of o smile on
his countenance and with every mani
feStation of the activity of his mind.
The deceased physically was of frail
build, seemingly of small vitality, but
being methodical in his habits and ex-
ercising a strict discipline over himself
he reached ripe age, while many
of his contemporaries of more robust
constitution and who gave promise of
much longer lives paid the debt of ma
ture long before the final call reached
him. Mr.. Beach was not member of
any religious denomination, though he
often attended church services. He was
inclined to be of a non-communicative
nature on matters of belief concerning
revelaticN, and those with whom he
was most familiar supposed he was
somewhat of an agnostic in his makeup.
Mr. Beach seldom entered the politi-
cal arena. On one occasion, however,
during the war he was elected to Con-
gress, but the State being out of the
union at the time he did not take his
seat. Subsequently he was I. S. attor-
ney for this district. His remains
We're brought here this evening for in
terment on Monday and will be placed
alongside those of his wife, who died
some years ago.