Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-08-09

l .
by Speaking of Mr.. Vandegrift's credit
able career in Delaware College, having
ntered in 1878 at II years of age. He
had known Mr.. Vandegrift for more
than 90 years and had always found
him good friend, good citizen, q
good member of the bar. The early
taking away of the deceased was .
great calamity. Col. Benjamin Nields,
who followed Mr.. Davis, spoke as fol-
lows:
Sin the language Of the resolutions
just offered, can truly say that this
bar has lost one of its foremost mem
bers. Mr.. Vandegrift had great
capacity for work and had untiring
perseverance and patience. With his
mental qualities he had unusual physi-
cal strength. In the preparation of his
cases he was palnstaking and ex-
haustive. I have tried many cases
against him, and in none OF them did
ever find him unprepared OF taken
by surprise at any point OF law that
could be raised against him in the
cause. His knowledge in the .prepara-
tion of his cases, everything that per-
tanned to the case was thoroughly
studied and mastered. One case IN
particular that occurs to me was Will
l1dIuS vs.. WdlUUD ~ WHO'LL W. 40 oass
case the question of the effect OF sui
phuric acid fumes or vapor was involved
and chemical experts were called by me
| to testify in the cause. | found that
Mr.. Vandegrift was thoroughly prepared
| in the science of chemistry to meet
these expert chemists on their own
ground and combat their theories and
conclusions. In the trial of causes ne
had great moral courage. Whatever
appeared to him to be the right course,
| that course he adopted and pursued
without regard to friendships or !conse-
auences. Duty with him stood ever
paramount. His sudden death has Ere
vented him from reaching the height
he would have attained in bis PRO.
fession. He was still ascending the
hill Of the science of law, but had not
reached the great height he would have
attained il his life had been spared.
As a citizen of this State and COM
munity. outside of his profession, he
took an active cart and always stood for
that which he believed was right, and
never would compromise with Or
tolerate what he believed was wrong.
He took deep interest in the public
schools and OF higher education. He
took an active part in the Historical
Society. He was prominent in pre-
serving and keeping sacred the memory
Of old Drawyers Church and no one
today can think of old Drawyers Church
, without associating the name of Mr..
Vaudegrift with it, He was among the
first to take active steps in having a
I. monument erected to the memory of
! Thomas F. Bayard, and while his pane
. may not be inscribed upon that monu'
ment, it will live in it's marble for the
!. part he took in having it erected. IL
Is remarkable how soon the memory oil
bright lawyers perish. Among the
bright and brilliant lawyers of this
y State, who have passed away, how few
j, of them are remembered by the sue
!, ceeding generation? Mr.. Vandegrif
= has left record upon the legal records
!, of this State and OF the United States
= He has left his name upon the record
= of the events Of his time. By thes'
. and in the memory Of those who knew
him and loved him he will live"
+ Judge Ball spoke as follows: -.
4 Truly can it be said our communit
= is in mourning. Mourning for the los
- Of one of her brightest, brayest AM
. most conscientious citizens. This ba
!. is in mourning because death has de
~ prived her of the services of one Of he
A. most respected members.
;" 1.-THE taking away Of good ma
10 leaves vacancy that it's hard, yer
~ hard to fill.
=. Lewis Vaiiegrift was good mar
% strong, vigorous and faithful 10 th
~ performance of any duty laid upon hin
~ When once he had made up his min
:" as to the right and Justice of a Gauss
u nothing could swerve or turn him frol
%. what he c0nsiderad his duty.
=. "He was a man of very marke
he ability and strong, Ievel-heade
~ lawyer, that every member of this b'
he dreaded to run up against He wi
"a 40 very successful in his practice, havir
~, the happy faculty Of compelling me
no by his vigor and sincerity to belize
." in the Justice of his cause. He W
W. W, always strong, aggressive fighter, b
'N' q niost courteous opponent, ever watc
y, full for the weakness of his oppone
~ and quick to take advantage, hut new
I'll STOPPING to sharp practice
o III "He had true appreciation OF VIII
o;,, lawyer should be and conducted hill
-, self 10 manner that could very prot
ha ably be followed by us all. But
''' seems to me that what Ilacsd him
-, high in the esteem Of his fellowm
~ ~ was not SO much op account of
u 70 great ability as of his manly life.
~ " largeness of heart and his conscientio
o u regard for the truth and the right
low - $500. ...a5 ,.,.;..t -,
his line ~ .no oaos "as s,oi as' A'o'
"You always knew just where Lev
A.. O. Vandegrift stood.
t she II remember so well the speech
'no made before the General Assent
~ ~ when the bill for the establishment
n workhouse was under considerati
One of the members asked this gu
law ton, Can we afford 1T? Will il pa
oaIs Mr.. Vandegrift was on his feet in
S ma' instant and in his vigorous style so
t ut, among other things; You can
wen ven count the value of the saving Of
mas human being in dollars and cents, u
A n. not question of money, it is qr
SUP ton Of humanity. II you can bel
, the condition of your unfortunate
i ~ low man and restore to HIM his NJ
III III hood; no Price is too great TO pay
WI it,
ent; "Truly, we will all miss him,
ereu bar, the city, the county, the st,
p,e, , and we can only hope that the fut
anu has in store for him the reward of
' ' who tried to do his full duty -
aad Judge Grubb. made few remarks
gu" III which he said he, in common with
:, ~ entire community, concurred with e.
na 4; ~ word that had boen said. He was
g. ~ ~ of the greatest men at the lar
n " worthy the esteem of all. He
i t maintained the ancient fame and
@oa ditions of the bar of Delaware.
0 the ,,,s attond tha t,,rarai
and aa;o 81 W;i,;sn, p;Ilaa aftar
/ r. haI