The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-02
(From the Patron and Gleaner)

(FrOm the fzSfOn ana GieanerJ
Among the most prominent men il
Northampton county was the late Judg
David A. Barnes. Probably he was tn
most generally esteemed and beloved o
Gny of Northampton sons. He wa
about the last OF that generation VIII
were looked upon and adjudged as tn
highest type OF manhood; whom no gilt
tering bait could entice-no alluremen
turn aside. and who would pursue NJ
purpose, nor attain any end, unless tn
aim be founded upon principle, integrit.
and honor.
No ONCE, however high, however honor
able, however reflective of power and in
fiueuce-would be desired or sought /
the slightest suspicion attached to 1T
bestOwal or acceptance. Such was thu
high ground upon which David A. Barnes
stood and trod.
He was native born son of North
amptou. He was the son OF Collin Will
liams and Sarah Barnes, and was borr
on the 10Th day OF September, 1872, a
the old homestead near the HEREFORD
county line. and about FIVE miles from the
town of Murfreesboro.
His father and mother were among the
very best people of their time and gener
alton, and their home was always the
centre OF hospitality and good cheer
His parents. knowing the necessity OF
proper training. and approaching the
divine precept. las the tree is bent, sc
will it grow" opened as soon as their chill
dren got the proper age, high day and
boarding school, and kept it up until the
boys were prepared for college and the
girls for the highest female Seminarles.
Il recall the Rev Mr.. Bronson, of this
State. as at one time principal OF this
schooD. They were under their parents
watchfnl care and guidance, and when
they left their roof to seek higher educa-
ton, their character and habits were SUI
ficiently moulded to render it easy for
them 10 pursue the right and to eschew
the wrong. and to walk and talk with pro-
priety and circumspectiOn.
He entered Chapel Hill in 1886 and
graduated with distinction in 1910. He
was {. member OF the Philanthropic So
ciety. Among his classmates were Tod
II. Caldwell. John w. Cameron, John
w. Cunningham. Lucius j. johnson
William johnson. William NJ. Ship
Calvin II. Wiley and others. OF the
tlnirty-one graduates Of that class,
doubt il but one, John w. Cameron, OF
Wilmington, n. c., is now living.
He read law under the late Judge
William CASTOR. Of Raleigh, and boarded
at Mrs. Taylor's, now Mr.. Charles NJ
Busbee's residence ON corner Of Sails
bury and Hargett streets. 1t was a
noted place in that day, and the Judges
Of the Supreme Court, and law students
and visiting members of the bar made il
their headquarters.
He was admitted to the bar in 1S4S
and located in Jackson. 1 remember as a
boy, his first appearance at the HEREFORD
bar, and his charge to the grand jury
He was a SLENDER black haired young
imam, neatly dressed, modest bearing
and he spoke with ease and fuency, and
yet not without apparent diffidence and
embarrassment. which is rarely impercep
tible to young lawyers in their first
speech at the bar. He gave then indis
putable evidence of his coming success
and reputation at the bar He at once
entered into a lucrative practice. and ear.
" gained the confidence Of his clients and
the general public. He plainly saw that
to cope with snch legal antagonists as
Bragg. Moore. Smith, Outlaw, Cherry
Augustus Moore, Heath and the like
and diligence were the only
assiduously applied himself to
this end; and from his early practice to
The laying down OF his legal mantle, he
maintained himself acceptably, and was
their peer in the intraca cies of the plead
ings-in the presentation Of the facts,
and argument, and in the genral routine
practice: and it can be said Of him,
what can be said Of few lawyers that
throughout his whole professional career
be never made poor speech.
I He practiced in the courts Of North
ampton, Halifax, BERTHE and HEREFORD
counties. In all these counties he had
a good practice. He prepared his cases
well, fought hard for his clients, and
was moderate in his charges. He was
not like the lawyer who collected a bill
thirty dollars. and coming to settle with
his client, observed, swell, / knew your
father and your mother. and I'll not be
hard with you. I'll take twenty and give
you ten," when the client retorted, "Well,
I'm laundering CHAD you didn't know my
grandfather. and my grandmother, if
you had I wouldn't have got cent"
He was elected to the House Of Com
mons i'm 1914 defeating the late Governor
Thomas Bragg, who was elected to the
House of Commons with Col. John
Odom two years before. He was also a
member of Commons in 1916 and 1850,
and was beaten in 1852 by B. f. Lock
hart. by eleven votes. In 1852 he was
President Elector on the Scott and Ora
ham ticket. his opponent being the late
Governor Bragg. He was a member OF
the convention Of 1861, known as the
Secession convention, which withdrew
North Carolina from the Union Of the
States In September. 1862 upon the
accession of Governor Vance to the Gov
ernoreihip of the State. he was made by
him one Of his military aids. together
with Col George Little, Of Raleigh, with
the rank OF Colonel.
He was appointed by Governor Hol-
den Judge Of the Superior Court, but
upon the adoption OF the Candy consti-
tuition he rendered his resignation. After
this he held. nor sought, any Office but
confined himself, exclusively, to the prac-
tice Of the law.
As legislator. he was watchful, earn
est, and able, and had an eve. solely,
to the enactment Of laws for the protec-
ton. honor and advancement OF this
State.
As a political speaker he was not ora
torical. but attractive. his language plain,
but thorongh'r sound. and fOrceful. He
maintained his DositiOn with argument