Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-10-14
Death OF Capt. II. +. Dennis.

1
two years of disease of the kidneys,
complicated with heart trouble, aged "a
years and 20 days. During all this time
he suffered no pain, and, though steadily
declining in strength, was able, until
within about two months of his death,
to walk about the streets or ride out in
his buggy. a conviction that he had a
fatal disease "a convection, we may add,
in which his friends ali shared) seems
to haye fixed itself upon his mind from
the very inception Of the maady from
which he died. This conviction obbed
HIM of that natural flow of animal
spirits for which he was noted, and
doubtless FASTENED the end.
Robert Flournov Dennis was the eId-
est son of Col. VIM. III. and Ann Nor
ton Dennis, of Charlotte county, Vir-
ginia, and was born in that county on
the 18th day of September, 1923. His
rather was 4 man of prominence in
Charlotte and for many years repre-
sented his Senatorial district In the
State Senate, oyer which body he pre-
sided as President before the Constitu-
ton was adopted, which imposed the
duties of the chair upon a Lieutenant
| Governor.
After attending the neighborhood
schools and an Academy at Fincastle,
Botetourt county, he entered Washing
ton College at Lexington, where he
graduated with first honors OF his class
in 1S45. The Faculty afterwards in
vited him to deliver the A. NJ. Grafton,
which he did, and that degree was con.
ferred upon him. 1t was in this way
that he became connected with the pres
ent Washington and Lee University, of
which institution he had been trustee
since 1878, and until a few months be-
fore his death when, on account of i'll
health, he rendered his resignation. -
| He studied Law ut the University Of
| Virginia, under the famous Professor,
John b. Minor, and IN lS49 settled here
at Lewisburg for the practice of his
profession, where, OH the Goth day of
August Of the same year, he married
Martha Jane, youngest daughter of the
late John a. n orth, who was for many
years Clerk of the Circuit Court of
| Greenbrier and of the Court of Appeals
of Virginia, when its sessions were held
at Lewisburg. There were no children
Of this marriage. His wife preceded
him TO the grave about two years, de-
parting this life on the 9th day of Sep
| TENDER. 1895.
Mr.. Dennis soon took a prominent
place at the bar, and was elected Prose
cutting Attorney for this county serving
| two terms Of four years each. Whilst
holding this Office in Greenbrier, he held
the same office in Pocahontas and Fay
cite counties, in each for a term of four
years.
Thoroughly grounded in the principles
of his profession he steadily rose
amongst the members of the bar until
he stood rs one of the best. The ease
and accuracy with which he grasped
the law and evidence in the most diff
cult and Intricate cases were often the
wonder of his associates. His learning
was accurate in every branch of his
profession but his chief power was as
jury lawyer. In this sphere he stood
easily first in all this section and had
but few equals either in the old or new
State.
Upon the breaking out of the late
war between the States he raised the
first company of volunteer infantry that
entered the Confederate army from
Greenbrier. Some of the men who left
the county with him, as members of his
company, are still residents here. d. II.
Bell, J. w. A. Ford and A. II. Strealey,
being those whose names we now re-
call. Capt. Dennis was ordered with
his company to Harper's Ferry, where
he was attached to the 9th Regiment,
Virginia Volunteers, Stonewall Brig
ade. in the army then under the COM
mand Of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. He
commanded his company at Kernstown,
the first Manassas, and on the march to
Romney. Under the Act of the Con-
federate Congress recognizing the
army and eXempting from active SER
vice all men over certain age, mot
now re-called), Capt. Dennis retired
from service in the field and took po-
sition in the transportation department,
in which he served until June, 1864,
when he was captured, at Crows Tav-
ern in Allegheny county, and taken to
Camp Chase near Columbus, Ohio,
where he was held as a prisoner until
February, 1865, when he was exchanged.
At the close of the war he returned
to his home in Greenbrier to resume
the practice of his profession, but on
account of the odious test oath at that
time required Of all who had aided in
or sympathiZed with the so-called rebel
lion in the South, he could not appear
In Court in any case. He therefore as
ISOLATED with him in the practice
Alex. Walker, Esq, who had come to
Greenbrier from New York. and was
one of the best of the thousands of car
pet-baggers, who came South, after the
war to prey upon the misfortunes of "A
helpless people.
In 1893, Capt. Dennis was nominated
by the Democratic Convention of this
Judicial district for the Judgship of
the Circuit, but was defeated by Hon.
Fl. A. Holt, who ran as an independent
candidate.
In politics Capt. Dennis was always
staunch Democrat, and from the
early days of his residence in Greenbrier