Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-11-24
JUDGEE BoYD FAULKNER.
a Native of Martt'isbsrs, West Vir-
ginfa,--Af, A6Ie Representative
of the State Judiciary

Judge E. Boyd Faulkner was born in
Martinsburg, Berkeley county. (thenl
Virginia, (nowl West Virginia, in 1s41.
He is son of Charles James Faulkner,
former member of Congress, and grand
son of Gen. Elisha Boyd. His relatives
in Virginia include the Holmes, Hunters,
fuckers, Bocock4. &c. Judge Faulkner
was a student at Georgetown College and
the University of Virginia. He travelled
some time in Europe, spending some
months in Switzerland, and also attended
lectures at the French College in Paris.
At eighteen years of age he was Acting
Secretary of Legation to his father, at
that time Minister to France. AT
the breaking out of the war lie returned
to his native State, and enlisted as pri'
vate in the Wise Artillery. He was
shortly afterwsrd made aide. dec camp to
Governor Letcher, with rank of Lieut..
Col. of Cavalry On arriving at twenty
one years of age he was appointed cap
tain in the Provisional Army of the Con-
federate States, continued TO serve until
he was captured at Port Republic in 1864,
when he was taken to Johnson's Island
and remained there in captivity until the
close of the war in June, 1860. 1t might
be noted here that one of his ancestors,
Captain Mackey, commanded Pennsyl-
vauia Regiment at the battle of Brandy
wine. From the close of the war until
1867 he was preparing himself for the
profession of law, and not being allowed
to practice in his State on account of
what was known as the test oath, in 1867
he went to HopkinsviIle, KY, where he
formed partnership with Judge r. I.
Petree. In 1868 he was an assistant elcc-
tor on the Democratic ticket. In 1872
he returned to Martinsburg and engaged
in the practice of his profession. In 1876
he was elected to the House of Delegates,
and in 1878 was sent to the State Senate;
he declined the presidency of the Senate,
was n member of the principal commit
tees, and in 1880, with Judge Dennis.
was appointed on the Revisory Commit
tee to revise the Statute Laws of the
State. Those Statutes were all revised
and subsequently adopted by the Legisla-
ture. In 1884, at the request of his many
friends over the State, he became can
didate for Governor, and in one of the
largest conventions ever held in the State,
with the combined opposition of num-
ber of other candidates, he WAS defeated
by but ten votes. In 1885 President
Cleveland rendered him the position of
Consul General to Egypt, and shortly
afterwards that of Minister to Persia,
both of which he declined because of his
business engagements. In February,
1892, he was appointed by Governor
Fleming Judge of the Thirteenth Judi
cial Circuit Court, aud the following No
vember, without opposition in his own
or the Republican party, was elected to
that position. His circuit comprises the
OF Berkeley, Jefferson and Nor
gan. in the Eastern PAN Handle, in which
many members of the bar have State
as we'll as national reputation. Three
circuit courts are held in each county
every year, and special terms whenever
the judge sees proper to call them
Many important, exciting and interest
ing cases have been tried by him. and as
the time approaches for another election
there appears to be unanimous sentiment
that he should remain upon the bench.
Before his appointment to the judgeship
he had been counsel for some years of
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company,
the Cumberland Valley Railroad Compa-
mp, and other corporations in Berkeley
and adjoining counties. He married
Miss Susan Campbell, of Kentucky, and
has one child living. Repeated efforts
have been made to induce Judge Faulk-
ner TO become candidate for Governor,
the Court of Appeals aud for Congress.
but these efforts have always proved
Iuitless, the only Office he was willing to
accept being that which he now holds
Judge Faulkner's career in every stage OF
his life, has been marked by more than
ordinary ability good citizen, an un-
excelled lawyer, sound, pains taking
and conscientious judge. he stands TO-
day pre- eminently as one of the most dis
tinguished sons of his native State.
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