Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-30
ROBERT WHITEHEAD.
Death OF This Venerable and Able
LAWYER.

1
I LIVINGSTON, VA, November 29.-(Spe-
| ciaL)-At 1O:25 p. NJ. on Monday, at his
nome, near Lovineston, Robert White
head one of the Oldest, If not the oldest,
lawyer in Virginia, departed this life.
Mr.. Whitehead was born in the village
! OF Lovingston, on August c, 1915 The early
years or his life were spent in that viii
| rage ana at school in Kentucky. Later
he became student Of the University of
Virginia, where he received his legal edu-
cation. Upon arriving at the age of n
Mr.. Whitehead was admitted to the lar.
ana began the practice OF his profession
in Lynchburg, then a small and unim-
portant town. After few years he re-
turned TO LovingstO1, where he con-
tlnued TO reside up 10 the day of his
death. In early life Mr.. Whitehead mar
ried Miss Gwathmey. He is survived by
two children or this marriage-Dr J. ID.
Whitehead, Of Lovingston, and Mrs. Annie
Smoot, Of Alexandra. After her death
Mr.. Whitehead married Miss Margaret
Baldwin, sister of Hon. John Il. Baldwin.
who, with five childron-yiz., S. r White
head. Misses Mary and Sadie whitehead.
OF Nelson; Professor r. +. whitehead of
-le.nVnis, auo Mrs. Fred. Moss. Of Fau-
duier-surviyes him. He Is also survived
by three brothers-Rev Paul Whitehead.
or Richmond; Hon. Thomas Whitehead
Commissioner of Agriculture, and Edgar
Whitehead. OF Amherst-and one sister
Mrs. X. ". Brown, Of Amherst
For more than forty years Mr. White
head was Commonwealth Attorney for
the county Of Nelson, and no people ever
had a better or more faithful officer. AS q
lawyer Mr.. Whitehead was the peer OF
any of his time. His contemporaries Were
Hons. r. A. Coghll, T. j. Kirkpatrick
Charles Mosby, r. T. ". Duke Judge
Watson, Sterling Claiborne, William NJ
Cabell, and many others of like abiAty. 1t
is no exaggeratiOn TO say that Mr.. White
head never found himself overmatched,
but in every contest he was the peer Of
his adversary.
As a public officer he was without a SUI
perior. He never prosecuted any man
But no offender ever went unwhipped of |
justice. Bold and fearless, he was always |
fair and generous. AS a man he was |
amongst the truest of friends, and most |
faithful In the discharge Of all OF the du-
ties of citizenship. No man ever lived in |
Nelson county whose influence was more /
extended, or who did more to elevate the
mental and moral tone of the community,
and to no man do the people of this coun-
ty owe more than to him.
Although lawyer of large practice, Mr.
was never rich which was due
to the fact that he WAS never known TO
press any man for what was due to him
There have been many instances In which
he pursued his antagonist TO judgment,
then personally paid the debt and gave 10
the debtor all the time and indulgence
needed
Although possessed of so great ability
that be could not have failed TO be promi-
lent had he devoted himself 10 politics,
Mr.. Whitehead never became a candidate
'or any Office except Commonwealth At
orney and he was never defeated.
learned and able lawyer, an upright
,itizen, a faithful official, a true friend, |
most excellent husband and father, has
rome. Those who knew him will ever cher
sh the memory Of his virtues and his
ife viii continue 10 exert an influence for
rood amongst those who knew him. May ;
he sod rest lightly on his grave. ,