The news & observer., 1897-10-12
HB HAD BEEN IN FAILING
HRALTH FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
SOME or THE INCIDENTS IN HIS LIFE
AS Lawyer, Citizen, Legislator and Judge HI
Was Always in the Front Ranks
Universally Beloved.

afternoon at four o'clock from Christ
church. Many friends were present. The
floral offerings were beautiful. The ser
vices were conducted by Rev. DR.. Pit
finger, rector of the Church of the
Good Shepherd, assisted by Rev. Dr.
Marshall, rector of Christ church, and
Rev. DIR. Bennett Smedes, rector of St
Mary's.
The Raleigh bar attended in body
and the Justices of the Supreme court
were present
Messrs. r. Il. Gray, Ernest Haywood
Il. O. Smith. L. B. Womack, w. N
Jones, B. @. Beckwith, r. o Burton
and w. J. Peele acted as pallbearers.
The honorary pallbearers were Messrs
r. I'll. Battle, J. B. Bachelor, G. NJ
Busbee and James e. Shepherd.
Hon. George Vaughn Strong, LII. D.,
of this city, died Sunday morning at
O'Clock, aged 50 years.
Judge Strong was one of the most esti-
mable men in the State. He was one of
the ablest members of the North Carolina
bar and was one of the fairest and most
upright judges that ever graced our ju-
months of intense suffering and gradual
breaking down of a hitherto strong and
vigorous physical manhood. In this seri-
Gus and protracted illness he has had
the sincerest sympathy of a large num-
Der of friends and acquaintances
throughout the State. AT his home in
this city he has been the recipient of
every tender kindness that loved ones
could administer and of the best skill
that the medical profession could fur
nish. Among other inhrmities he suf-
fered the loss of his eyesight, and as
days grew into weeks and weeks into
months he grew weaker and weaker un-
til Sunday morning, just after the dawn
of beautiful Sabbath day, death crept
into his silent chamber, and there, in
the presence Of his devoted children and
friends, the slender cord that had held
the patient sufferer for many weary
weeks was broken, and he was forever
at rest.
Judge Strong was charming gentle
man-affable, amiable, a fluent talker, a
modest unassuming but a brave and
chivalrous man. Before his health was
so impaired he was a most energetic
and industrious member of the Raleigh
bar. He was held in the highest esteem
by his brethren at the bar and universal
ly liked by his neighbors. He had no
encmies-none knew him but to love
and respect him. There was no animos-
ity or envy in his makeup; no bitterness
in his soul. He was a true patriot,
loyal to his clients, true to his friends
and loyal to his State. He was a model
husband, kind, indulgent father and a
splendid citizen. His was a sunny dispo-
sition and if clouds .,assed by it was his
nature to look beyond them and content
himself with view of the silver lining
that to him was always visible.
Judge Strong was born in Sampson
county in 1928. He was graduated at
the University of North Carolina with
the class of as, and for several years
had worn the title of LII. D., merited
honor conferred upon him by his Alma
Mater. He studied law and at an early
age took prominent stand in his profes-
sion. He was for years member of the
Goldsboro bar, but came to Raleigh in
1871 and formed a co-partnership with
the late Hon. Thomas Bragg. The capi-
tai of the State in all it's history has not
held an ADLER law firm. He was after
wards associated with the late Chief
Justice w. n. II. Smith, and after his
elevation to the bench was associated
with Mr.. II. T. Gray and the late K.
X. Stamps.
A few years ago his youngest son, Mr.
Robert G.. Strong, read law and OBJ.
tanned his license, when the law firm OF
Strong & Strong was organized. Judge
Stropg's health failed soon after this
firm was established and he was com
PEELED gradually to retire from active
practice, but his wise counsel has beer
of great service to his talented son, up
on whom his mantle has fallen.
Judge Strong was an unswervin!
Democrat, and true to the last to the
principles of the party he loved and fol
which he had fabored.
His wife was Miss Cowan, of New
Hanover county. She died several year,
ago, He leves six children, one son
Mr.. Robert G. Strong, and five daugh
ters-Mrs. Weston II. Gales, Mrs. JOhr
Calvert, Mrs. Norwood Giles, Mrs
Kinealey, and Miss Carrie Strong.
Primarily, Judge Strong was a law
yer. He was just judge, an efficient
legislator, a public-spirited citizen, bu
it was as q lawyer in the court house
that he was at his best He was tht
most studious man, the most careful il
the preparation of his cases, weighing
every point with the precision of ar
apothecary preparing prescriptions. He
studied his case first from the stand
point of his opponent, and then went tC
work to find law and precedent to over
come the contention ne knew his oppo
nent would make. H& never went into
the court house without the fullest prep
aration and was never found mapping
In the trial he was ALERT, careful, ant
never lost a point, taking advantage OF
every plea, demurrer, OF objection tha
would help his client. It( was sometimes
said of him that he gIave too mucl
thought to the case of lhis antagonist
and lacked the supreme confidence tha
wins victories at the bar. He was forti
fed against that by faith} in the purit.
and honesty Of his client that was su
blime, if sometimes MISPLACED, and thi
method fortified him s3 thorough,
that he was not surprised Iby any posi-