Evening journal., 1894-03-15

clayton 2aa been generally regarded by
the bar as one, II not the ablest, OF
Delaware's greatest chief justices He
was born in 177T In 1911 he was at
torney general Of Delaware: In 1914
elected to Congress; IN 1924 became
United States Senator; in 1928 appointed
chief justice OF the old Court Of Common
Pleas, aud in 1892 made chief justice Of
the state, the first under the present
constitution. he resigned the latter
office in 1897, upon his further election
as United States Senator He died sud
denly at his home in New Castle in 1854
DeIaware's Greatest Son.
CAS- to John NJ. Clayton. no adequate
idea Of him can be given In mere sketch.
Chief Justice Gilpin once stated TO me
that Mr.. Clayton was the Gblest man, as
an all round man, that we had had In
Delaware, excepting probably, the elder
James A. Bayard.
Negotiated the Treaty of Ghent.
''This is Richard H Bayard " remarked
the judge, selecting from the photo
graphs one which showed a man Of mag
nifcent proportions and bearing "'He
was one of the hsndsomest and courtli-
est men Of his day. He is member of
our historic Bayard family, and uncle OF
Ambassador Bayard. His mother
was the daughter of Chief Jus.
tice Basseit, and his wife the
granddaughter Of Charles Carroll, Of
Csrrollton, Md, signer of the Declara-
tion of Independence. Mr. Bsyard was
born in 1896. He was the first mayor of
Wilmington, being elected 10 that Office
in 1882 He was United States Senator
from 1896 to 1889; appointed chief jus
tice of Delaware In 1889: re elected TO
the Senate in 1S4l, and served as United
States minister to Belgium from 1850 10
1853 His brief term as chief justice
afforded him but little opportunity for
the display of his judicial qualities, but
enabled him 10 exhibit the ability in-
herent In his race
Where did you procure the portrait
of the stately-looking Chief Justice
Booth, seniory'
"rhis l procured. after considerable
research, from Henry ID Booth his great
grandson, who now resides with his
family in Germantown, Philadelphia.
Chief Justice Booth held many prominent
offices IN his day He was secretary of
state from 1878 to 1897, under Cover
nors Cesar Rodney, john Dickinson,
Joshua Clayton and Cunning Bedford
He was appointed chief justice of the
old Court of Common Pleas, in 1882 aud
continued on the bench very nearly
thirty years His death occurred at New
Castle in 1898
Chancellors Of the Old school.
The reporter was particularly struck
| with the photographs Of Chancellors
Nicholas Ridgley and Kensey Johns.
| Chancellor Ridgley has remarkably
expressive eouutenance and head eX
pressing strong intellectual power Hs
/ is dressed in the old school garb sitting
on the bench in he Court Of ChRncery
"This is the photograph Of the original
/ portrait now in the possession Of his
niece. Mrs Charles l. DUPONT" SAID
/ Judge Grubb. Chancellor Ridgley wa.
born in Dover IN 1862, and attained verl
conspicuous standing at tue bar ever
smoug such distin guished members o.
the elder James A. Bsyard, Cesar A
Rodney and Nicholas VanDy ke In 170
he was appointed attorney general Of tn
state, aud In 1892 a member Of the stat
constitutional convention. In 1901
upon the resignation OF Chancellor Kileu
be was appointed to preside over thi
Court of Chancery, and is regarded a.
the real father Of ohancery jurisprudenc,
In Delaware He filed the office fol
thirty years with great distinction anc
his valuable adjudications are publishe,
by Chancellor Bates in the frst volum,
of Delaware Chancery Reports
Nobility and Beauty Of Expression.
The portrait Of Chancellor Kense,
Johns, Sr., is an artistic gem in It's exc
/ T. l..
with long, flowing white hair, and tn
face combining both nobility and beaut.
of expression
1T is certainly a very rare face, re
marked the judge, regarding it intently
1T bears the impress Of both high in
tellectual and moral endowments H
was born at West River, Md, in 1853
commenced reading law under Judg
Daniel Chase, Of the United State
Supreme Court, and completed his lay
studies under Chief Justice Read a
{ New Castle, where he was admitted {
the bar. He was a member of the stat
constitutional convention in 1892; aE
pointed United States Senator in 49,
in lieu of George Read, resigned; com
missioned associate judge of the Suprem
Court Of Delaware in 1896, and chic
| luellCt hA Nuhb CVuib III AAu9t WulC
office he held for more than thirty year,
He was appointed chancellor in 1885,
upon the death Of Chancellor Ridgley
/ From this office he retired in 1882, an
was succeeded by bis son. Kensey Johns
! Jr The retired chancellor died in h
ninetieth year at New Castle, in the IN
|, ! possession Of his mental faculties Thi
, photograph which l have here is take
from portrait in the possession Of th
( Misses Stockton, Of New Castle, an
which is highly valued by them
THE DELAWARE lAVENUE SITE.
The Garfield Statue VIII Occupy Pla'
la the Small Triangular Park.