The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-22

Gov. Thomas Bragg was not natlv
of Northampton. He was born in tn
town Of Warrenton, Warren county,
c.. on the 9th day of November, 1910
His father was Thomas Bragg, wh'
died at his sons home lin Jackson, abou
1850. The late Judge John Bragg, O.
Mobile. Alabama, and the late Lieuten
ant-General Braxton Bragg, were broth
ers OF Gov. Bragg.
Gov. Bragg, in his early days, went t
school at the old academy at warren
ton, and his education was completed a
Capt. Partridge's Military School, IL
Middletown. Connecticut He was Their
with the late Mr. Paul G. Cameron, ant
was a member of his drill squad. HI
read law under the late Judge Hall, O.
Warrenton, one of the judges of the Su
preme Court. Shortly after being ad
mitted to the bar he moved to Jackson
and made it his home. This was il
1893, and the day he reached Jackson
the sum total Of his worldly goods, con
sisted Of a horse, harness, stick gig, ant
fifty dollars in money. He was of steady
and studious habits, great industry an(
endurance, and hard work and applica
ton were not irksome to him, and h
went to work in earnest and success il
his profession did not long wait him.
Soon after his coming to Jackson Mr.
Benjamin B. Blume, then the county so
licitor, becoming weary of the practice
resigned his Office and moved to Peters
burg, Va. Gov. Bragg was elected by
the magistrates to succeed him. He
was an eager, hard, and unyielding pros
ecuting officer, and it caused him to be
unpopular in many 4 quarters, but ne
sought not popularity at the expense OF
his duty as an officer, but gave to 1T all
his power and energy. -aas W
On the 4th day Of October, 1887, he
married Miss Isabella NJ. Cuthbert. OF
Petersburg. Va. The issue Of this mar
rage were ten children, five sons and
Eve daughters. Of whom three daughters
now survive. s. s4 80 7a@as
He practiced in the courts of North
ampton, Hartford, BERTHE. Gates and
Halifax. regularly, and occasionally in
Chowan and Washington counties. He
controlled the largest practice Of any
lawyer in the eastern part of the State
I'D to the time Of his election as Gov
ernor Of the State. He was hard stu
dent, and constant worker. He was
rarely out OF his Office, except during
court, and never left his house at night
except on urgent business. He was a
man of the highest character and worth,
and his general department was unex-
ceptionable, and he possessed high mo-
rality and refinement He9was SO close
a student, and so engrossed with his pro-
fessional calling and duties, that he rare
" mixed with the people OF the town.
and this exclusive life, in measure, es-
tranged him from the townspeople, and
though he was classed and considered
an unsocial, and may say an unpopular
man, yet, his. individual worth, and his
moral rectitude and reliability. was of SO
high standard, that he was accorded
the greatest consid Grafton and respect.
He was the most constant and invet-
crate smoker / ever knew, and constant
smoking no doubt shortened his life. This
opinion was entertained, and expressed
to me, by his family physician. the late
DIR. Charles E. Johnson, of Raleigh.
Gov. Bragg was by no means an ora
tor. in the general sense and meaning,
but was one of the smoothest speakers
l ever heard. His language was plain
and simple-and his arguments very
forceful-neyer faltering or stammer-
ing never at loss for a word-spOke
easily and somewhat rapidly-had no
fights Of oratory, or elegance of express
sion. but as the saying goes, was ''as
plain as an old shoe," but he was power
full in argument, and in the presentation
Of facts. once heard the late Chief
Justice Merrimon say, that, upon an
issue of fact, before a jury, he was the
strongest lawyer he ever saw.
The first capital case ever heard Gov.
Bragg speak in, was in the case of the
State VS.. Garrett, tried in Northampton
before the late Judge Bailey, in 1858.
This case created considerable feeling in
the county. The killing occurred at Gas
ton. Gov. Bragg's speech in this case
was very fine effort, and was the gen.
eral talk for days afterwards.
In 1912 he was a member of the Leg
islature, House of Commons, and took
a very high stand. In 1874 he was again
a candidate, but was defeated by the late
Judge Barnes, who had the year before
located in Jackson to practice law. In
1874. he was Presidential elector on the
Polk and Dallas ticket, his opponent be-
ing the late William w. Cherry, Of Ber-
tie, one Of the finest and most electrical
speakers that ever appeared in the east.
This campaign was carried on between
the two most shining young lights Of
party representation then belonging to
the district. In 1848 he was Presidential
elector on the Cass and Butler ticket, his
opponent being the late Hon. Kenneth
Rayner-who was considered to be the
finest stump speaker on the Wing side
of the entire east. This was very ex-
citing campaign, and the warfare Of
these political giants was very spirited
and incisive. Mr.. Rayner, often said
after the canvass was ended that Gov
ernor Bragg was the strongest man he
ever met on the stump.
In 1852 he was a Presidential elector
ON the Pierce and King ticket, his oppon-
emf being the late Judge David A.
Barnes.
In 1854 he was nominated for Gov
ernor of the State, his opponent being
General Alfred Dockery, father of Hon
Oliver H. Dockery, of Richmond county
Governor Bragg did not desire the nomi
nation for governor, and after much con
I'll oil A