Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-06-16

clerk he was OverlaDOrlOus, scrupu'
lously exact as to detail, and system
attic in the execution of all work. AS
lawyer he was logical, forcible, clear
and concise in style, conscientious
and reticent. Mr.. Joynes had served
the county ably as legislator, Master
Commissioner of Chancery aud Com
monwealth's Attorney. 1t is affirmed
that he could multiply nine figures
by nine in his head. During the war
of 1912 he saw military service as
First Lieutenant OF the Second Regi-
ment of Virginia Militia. In 1929 hei
was an active member OF the conven>
ton, which deliberated, and finally
gave the assent OF Virginia to the
Federal Constitution. During an
excited debate in the Assembly, the
caustic John Randolph, OF Roanoke,
wrote on a slip OF paper, which hel
handed to a friend. these significant
words OF an opponent OF Mr.. Joynes
who was wasting rhetoric In refuting
the latter's logic-"He gnaws file. y
SIR. James J. Ailworth was deputy
for Mr.. Joynes, aud upon the latter's
relinquishmen in 1916, succeeded to
the Office of clerk, which position he
held satisfactorily till his death in
1850.
John w. Gillet succeeded Mr.. ALL
worth, and held the clerkship until
1862 when he was deprived of it by
Federal military rule. Mr. John b
Ailworth then became clerk and filed
the position three years; Mr.. Gillet
being reinstated in 1866. In the
spring of 1869 the Office OF clerk be-
came vacant by the retirement Of
John w. Gillet. Esq., who thence
forth devoted himself TO the practice
of law. Montcalm Oldham, Jr., who
had been three years ia the employ
OF Mr.. Gillet, made application for
the vacancy, as did also the late Will
liam H. b. GUSTS. Mr.. Oustis re-
ceived the appoi ntment and became
clerk of both courts. He secured Mr..
Louis P. Rogers, former clerk of
Northampton, considered one of the
most efficient prothonotaries in the
State as deputy, also retaining Mr..
Oldham as assistant deputy. In the
spring of 1870, Mr.. Gusts was elected
clerk OF both courts over his OPP
ponents, Montcalm Oldham, Jr., and
Luther Rice Warren. Mr.. Gusts
continued Mr.. Oldham as deputy,
and when an Act was passed by the
Legislature In 1875 debarring one
man from holding both clerkships in
county the population of which
exceeded $4,000, recommended Mr..
Oldham for the circuit court, which
position he secured, continuing to
act as deputy for Mr.. GUSTS. Will
liam II. B. Gusts was las was also
the Hon. Thomas r. Joynes) an
alumnus of Margaret Academy. He
was in 1884 distinguished graduate
of Bloomington University, Indiana,
then a flourishing institution under
the presidency of the celebrated
educator DR.. Andrew j. Wylie, hon
ored preceptor of Henry A. Wise and
other Accomack magnates. Mr..
Gusts travelled to Indiana when
lad of fifteen by stage coach and
on horseback, accomplishing the trip
in three weeks. He remained there
four years obtaining the degree A.
B., and writing the Greek thesis Al
the age of nineteen. In early life
he was member of numerous DELHI
erative bodies, was an ardent demo
crat and while never virulent parti-
san, was ever a consistent patriot
In 1865, Mr.. GUSTS was elected to
Congress, but under the Disability
Act excluding Southern men from
that national body, was not
, allowed to take his seat. Owing to
the infirmities of age and failing
health, Mr.. Gusts retired from the
county court clerkship in 1887, and
was succeeded by his deputy, Mont
calm Oldham, Jr., the latter being
succeeded in the circuit court clerk.
, ship by John Drummond Grant.
!, Previous to his election as clerk, Mr..
Grant had been Commissio ner of the
Revenue for Accomack Parish, anc
had filled most acceptably the posi-
, ton of clerk in the Land Office
Richmond, Va.
Antiquary.