Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-11-07
SKETCH OF
JUDGE PAUL
Brief History Of the Noted Lawyer
Who Died Friday.
BORN In ROCKINGHAM COUNTY.
He Was Appointed Judge Of the United
States District Court by President
Arthur in 1888.
BORN IN ROCKINGHAM COUNTY.

Paul's Mill, in Rockingham county, Vir-
ginia. He was son of Peter Paul, now de-
ceased, farmer well known in this sec
ton of the valley. His early days were
spent as boy on the farm, working in
sunm er and attending district school IN
winter. In 1859 60 he taught school for
the purpose of securing means with which
to prosecute his studies and in the fall OF
the latter year he entered Roanoke Col
lege, at Salem. At the outbreak of the
civil war be left college and was one OF the
number of students who enlisted IN the
Salem Artillery. After serving with that
command for twelve months he joined the
Fifth Virginia Cavalry, with which he
continued during the remainder OF his
army service. He was severely wounded
at Satlett's Station previous to the second
battle of Manassas. In 1864 he was taken
prisoner at the battle of the Wilderness
and was confined in fort Delaware until
the close of hostilities.
After the war he did not return to col
lege, but entered the law school OF the
University Of Virginia, wherein 1867, he
graduated, and the same year began the
practice of his profession in Harrisonburg
At the bar his ability and personal popu-
larity soon secured for him a good prac-
tice. and in 1870 he was elected Common
wealth's attorney for the county OF Rock
ingham. He made fine record as res
olute and able prosecuting officer and was
twice reelected. His taste for politics
and his talent for political leadership made
him prominent figure in the early aglta'
ton of the State debt settlement, and IN
1877 he was elected to the State Senate.
The following year, the State debt becom'
ing more and more the dominating issue
in Virginia, Captain Paul was nominated
for Congress in the Seventh district as the
Readiusler candidate against Judge John
T. Harris. Mr.. Paul had an enthusiastic
following in the district and the contest
was warmly and bitterly waged, but Judge
Harris was re. elected. Two years later he
was again the unanimous nominee Of the
Readusters for Congress, and this time ne
carried the district on the face Of the re-
turns by plurality Cf 725, The Demo-
cratic nominee WAS Colonel Charles L.
The election was contested.
Paul received the certificate of the can
yassing board, but when the contest was
passed upon by the House. O'Ferrall was
awarded the seat. During his political
career MIR. Paul was an idolized leader In
the Readiuster party. On the stump he
was bold and aggressive and there were
few speakers of the opposition who cared
to meet him in JOINT discussion, which
was a popular feature Of campaigning IN
those days. 70 him and Captain Harry
Riddleberger, Of Woodstock, more than
any other two men, was probably due the
swinging of the "Old Tenth Legion OF De-
mocracy" in the Valley of Virginia into
line for the Readjuster measures.
Judge Alexander Rives baving retired
from the United States district court Tor
the Western District of Virginia in 1883,
President Arthur rendered the appoint
meot to MIR. Paul. Though reluctant to
leave political life, he accepted the ap-
pointment and discharged the duties ol
the Office with marked industry and abll'
ity until incapactated by bis fiual Illness
feature of his administration which won
for him the high regard of his fellow Vlr'
oiniaus was bis discountenancing the prac'
tice of lnstituting prosecutions for trivia
oAenses, which had brought the Federal
courts into bad odor directly after the
civil war. While sternly maintaining tn
authority and dignity of his court, he saw
to it that the powerful machinery OF The
Federal government was Dot used for po
litical persecution or to swell the emolu
ments of court officers. During the lag
few years litigation over valuable minera
and timber lands in Southwest Virgins
threw an enormous amount of work int'
his court and his close application to th
mastery of prodiglous records gfowlnI
ont of these cases overtaxed his strength
Judge Paul was exceedingly happy il
his domestic life. He had a beautifu
home near the outskirts of the town, ant
he was deeply attached to bis family. Hi
wife was formerly Miss Kate S. Green, G
Warren county, lady of fine literary GU
ture, who kept in close touch with ever
phase of her husbands political and judi
cial career. She survives him with thre
SONS and three daughters. One OF tn
latter is the wife of Hon. Greenlee L
Letcher, of Reckbridge, a son OF Virginia
famous war governor. "Honest John
: L.tcher The other children are youngt
and are at home. The funeral OF Judg
- IN .i.o ,.laoo thia afternoon at