Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-08

y l.
was elected to Congress from this dis
trict and when he resigned the former
position, Governor Holiday appointed
Judge Gunter to I'll the vacancy: but
when the General Assembly met in the
winter of lSSl-'S. the Readjuster majority
elected Hon. William T. Fitchett, OF
Northampton. The term expired in 1884.
and the Democrats then being in the
majority in the General Assembly, elected
Judge Gunter and enlarged the circuit
by including in IL a number of counties
on the Peninsula between the James and
the York. Judge Gunter was reelected
four years ago. and his career on the
bench has been so just and honorable.
and his decision so fair, as 90 win for
him the respect of all the attorneys who
have practiced in his courts. In fact,
no judge in Virginia has gained a more
enviable reputation for just decisions, or
made more warm friends among the
attorneys practcng i'm his courts, than
has Judge Gunter. He has been espe-
cially kind and helpful to the young
and inexperienced attorneys in his circuit,
who always speak of him in terms of the
warmest friendship and gratitude.
A sTAUNCH DEMOCRAT.
Judge Gunter had been from early
youth an uncompromising Jeffersonian
and Jacksonian Democrat. He served as
chairman of the County Committee for
many years, and was for some time
member of the State Central Committee
of the Democratic party. Up to the time
that he was elevated to the bench he
was an active and aggressive campaign
speaker striking hard blows for his
party whenever he found an antago-
mist. Away back in the days following
the Reconstruction era he met and
routed the Republican leaders that In
/ .s,,f, nd fr, la
days OF Readjuster domination, such
men as General Malone, Parson Massey,
and Colonel Lamb felt the weight of his
powerful arm. The Democratic party in
Virginia never had a truer son or
| drawer defender He was delegate TO
the National Democratic Convention of
| 1876 that nominated Tilden and Hendricks.
In 1880 he was a candidate for the
| Democratic nomination for Congress in
this district, but his friends finding that
| the nomination would probably go TO a
| dark horse, brought forward Judge
| George T. Garrison, of Accomac, and
succeeded in giving him the nomination.
In 1873 Judge Gunter lost his wife, and
! four years later his Oldest son. Alfred Il.
/ Gunter, a Bachelor of Arts of Richmond
! College. and a Master Of Arts of the Uni
versity of Virginia. who upon the retire
ment of his father from active practice,
| had formed a law partnership with the
Hon John w G. Blackstone, now Judge
/ Of Accomac County Court, was taken
from him by the insdious disease of con-
sumption. And in the space of few
more years three other sons, all fine,
manly fellows and all highly educated
and thoroughly equipped for useful ana
! honorable careers. were carried off by
the same disease. leaving him three chill
dren still surviving-Mrs. John w. Ed
monds, of Accomac Courthouse; Miss
Bessie Gunter, and Benjamin I. Gunter.
Jr.. the present commonwealth Attor-
ney of Accomac.
AN ADVOCATE OF EDUCATION.
Judge Gunter was a strong advocate
Of higher education. Not only did he give
| his own children the best educational
| advantages but he encouraged others to
! educate their children. He was the stead
| fast friend and patron of the Onancock
| Academy as long as it existed, and after
wards Of the Margaret Academy. He
was for many years a trustee OF Rich
| rnond College and always had its best in
terests at heart. He was also strong
| friend of the University of Virginia.
! Several years ago Judge Gunter married
Mrs. Slater a widow, residing at Belle
/ Haven. in the lower part of Accomac,
who still survives.
Judge Gunter had long been a member
of the Baptist church, and for many
wears he served as moderator OF the Ac-
| comac Baptist Association. Every one
who knew him will agree that he was the
| highest type of a Christian gentleman.
| For a full quarter of century he had
! been a member of Ocean Lodge of
Masons. ia,
| on The seaside of Accomac, where he
! lived nearly all the days Of his life, he
disnensed a graceful and generous hos
! Vitality. preserving the usages and tradl-
! ttone If fhe Virginians Of the olden time
No man ever enjoyed to a greater degree
! the confidence and esteem or the
reonle among whom he lived. lie was
| ixind neighbor and true friend, ana II
he did not like man ne ulu not tiS 10
conceal il. Deceit and hypocrisy iound
- .lodqment i'm his honest heart He
io,,od Virginia with all the passionate
Location Of a true son, and, like the loyal
I,.-.or, shoreman that he was ne loved
49, Of all the fair and fruitful Peninsula
| mai had always been his nome
when. in the coming years men shaii
recall the names ana virtues o. No. q,
- have lived on the Eastern Shore IN
~ Generation. they may well say OF
.i'is model citizen and incorruptipie
M I',So what Mark Antony said of the
, oTSq was the noblest Roman of them
all. A., ,v,or..
His life was gentle, and the elements n,edhs,
Go mixed in him that Nature might
stand up . ,,,,.s .,.a, q,
And say to all the world This was a
man..
rhe Funeral Arrangements
ONANcoCK via TAsLEY. VA rsn,
ruarv 7.-(special.) 1.-THE remains OF JuI is,
Benjamin 4. Gunter' VINO ,r uieu :" etation
tn ,ya over the New York. Philadelph,a
and Norfolk railroad, and were taken TO
WI, wii,ow Bank. Judge Gunters home, On
ne 80, seaside OF Accomac. The members Oh
the bar and the officers OF the court M nro'
~ remains al the station, and accom-,
.,,aa them 10 their home. The funerai
viii rdIl take place at o'clock tomorrow ,,v
sfternoon. and the interment will be win
Wssonic honors The announcement OF
Indee Gunter's death has created un',
yersal sorrow on the Eastern o"ois