The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-17
AN ABLE LAWYER
LOST TO THE BAR.
Mr.. James Peasants Died at Noon
at Mountain Top.
END OF A SUCCESSFUL CAREER
uc Was Not Only Splendid Lawyer
but Ripo Scholar and a Dcvous
Christian Gcntlcman-Funera
from DIR. Hoge's Church.

a. noon Yesterday * Mountain IOP'
where he had been for sometime in the
hone of improving his condition. lie
gradually grew worse, however and his
death while not q surprise. IS widely la
u,ented. ne enjoyed great popularity
among those who knew him. and his life
was so gentle he made no enemies.
The funeral viii take place Monday af-
VERNON az o'clock from Dr. Hoge's
church. The interment will be in Holly
wood
The pail bearers Will be as follows:
ActIVc-Preston Cooke, Jackson Guy
Dr. Geo Ben Johnson w. C. Preston, Z.
a. Walker. r.. "A. Steger, A w. Patter-
son W. NJ. HIM.
Honorary-W W. Henry, r. A Lancas-
ter. j. l. williams Judge l. l. Lewis
Captain John A Coke. Judge William J.
Ieake. y. W. Bowe W. n. +. MOTIFS H.
g. Cannon. NJ f. Peasants, MAJOR James
~ Dooley. NJ NJ Gillian, Judge George
L.. Christian. Robert stiles. William Il.
lncke. George ID. Peasants
r. F. Lee Camp. 40. l. {. ", has ap-
pointed the following detail TO attend the
Funeral of their late COmrado: Command
e. Jobn IL Lauehton. Jr.. Comrades W.
y Freeman. H. O.. Minor. 7. A. Brander'
mos. TT1ett James n. Gray, GerVaS
stolrs ana Maxwell T. Clark.
Thav will meet az che Camp Hall
-Evg al 3.l5 O'Clock in full uniform
Air Peasants had been IN falling
health for more than year lie had
not been to his law office within the last
twelve months. Last winter he spent a
few months Al Clifton Springs. y. Y,
and on his return here remained very
short time He went nrst 10 Albemarle
county and thence TO Mountain Top.
A USEFUL CAREER.
Mr. Peasants was born In Goochland
county in 1852 and was. therefore sixty
six years OF age lie was a son of John
Hampden Peasants. the great edi-
tor who was killed I'm duel
with q son Of Thomas Richie
the famous editor Of the Enquirer in 1871
Ills grandfather was James Peasants,
who served the State both as Governor
and as United States Senator.
Young Peasants received his early edu-
cation Do the schools of Richmond and
afterwards attended the University OF
Virginia He was graduated from that
institution as a Master Of Arts and
then studied law I'm the Office Of Robert
q. Stauard. I'm this city.
Soon after his admission 10 the bar OF
Richmond Mr.. Peasants attracted atten-
fion. He was peculiarly talented. lie
formed a partnership with James X.
Lee. which continued until the death OF
the latter. Mr. Peasants IN his early
career gave some attention TO the news
paper business and invested money in
the Penny Post all Of which was lost.
When the war came on he enlisted as
FIST Lieutenant I'm the Hampden Battery,
q company raised IN this city by Captain
iawrance S. Marye. who was then
citizen OF Richmond. The company was
Uslled the Hampden Artillery. In com
81. .ymFT N.nFs rafe4l % c.
ants. He was subsequently assigned 20
duty in the ordnance department. with
the rank OF captain, which position ne
held to the close Of the war.
After the death Of his partner, Mr.. Lee
Mr. Peasants practiced his profession
alone until n few years ago when his
brother-in-law. Mr.. Eugene c. Massie
became his partner.
HIS FAMILY.
MI Peasants had one sister. She mar
ried Mr. Douglass ID. Gordon, who died
in Baltimore. leaving a vast estate Mr.
Peasants was Mr.. GOrd0ns executor
and much of his time was occupied for
several years In settling up this estate
Among Mr.. GordOns children are Hon.
Basil b. Gordon and Mr. Douglass Cor
don. one Of the proprietors Of the Balti-
more News a daughter married MI.
Jack Lowell paymaster in the navy.
sic. Of Albemarle. a sister Of Messrs. W
r. Massie ana Eugene G. Massie, Of this
city. She survives him. They had no
children
HIS ANCESTORS
Any one familiar with Martins portrait
OF John Hampden Pleasants-which Is
now ln the possession of an admirer Of
that remarkable man. Will recognize the
benevolent features Of the son in the
fathers. he will also recognize some Of
the lawyer gifts but few Of the shining
Qualities that distinguished the bright
but brief career OF the classic paragraph
Is, OF the old Richmond Wing.
James Peasants came of good, old Nlr-
finia blood. He was descended from that
Peasants who came from England In the
seventeeth century and established his
family az Curles. BY thrift and honest
dealing the good man acquired large pos
sessions on the lower James, and above
It's falls at Westham.
His name frequently occurs In the old
records and invariably with some act OF
courage and Of bcnevolence. He built az
his own cost the first church ever erect
ed by the Society OF Friends I'm Virginia
Though known openly as a dissenter from
the established church he never failed 70
win the respect Of those who held rigidly
20 ms cannons.
BRILLIANT INTELLECTS.
Several OF the descendants OF the oder
Peasants have been distinguished In the
political history OF the mother States.
The grandfather Of James Peasants was
Governor Of Virginia and a colleague Of
James Barbour in the Senate Of the
United States. Hampden and Hugh are
we'll known TO a former generation for
the frequency and brilhancy Of their po-
Wical paragraphs. Hampden was the
recognized leader OF the States Rights
VVhig party. whose bold. and energetic
advocacy OF its cause came nea. loosing
Vlrglnlas ship Of State from its Demo-
cratic moorings.
Hugh's talents ran in a higher ana
more aesthetic grove. lie was scholar.
poet a man vorsed in the literatures and
histories Of all times.
n 81 safe 20 say mat had Mr.. James
Peasants been called to ambitious posi-
tions OF State. he might have surpassed
his father and uncle in shrewdness OF
purpose. and won the same golden opih-
ions which his grandfather carried In
long public life.
An the papers from his pen. whether
merely cierls ai or academic, were marked
hy ei0quence OF expression and clearness
of thought 10 may be said Of him as
was said OF Aaron Burr-take out one
word from HIS thesis and substitute an
other and you impair the force OF the
whole