Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1901-02-08
CHIEF JUSTICE MARSHALL.

NhAAA VONAAOA UhltDL1h LII,
MOST ILLUSTRIOUS OF AMER
ICAN JURISTS.
A Brief Outline of His Life and
Public Services-Chief Justice
for Thirty-four Years.
The most illustrious of all the
names in American jurispru-
dence is unquestionably that of
John Marshall There have been
other great judges in this coun-
try, but he stands out among
them all conspicuous and coloss,
al. There have been great iudg-
eS in other lands, but even the
greatest of them never did, or
had opportunity to do, any work
so extraordinary in it's nature
and so vast in its results, as the
creative work of Chief Justice
Marshall, by which through more
than thirty four years of the
infancy of this nation and the de-
velopment of its unique system
OF government, he built the mag.
nlhcent and enduring structure
of its constitutional law.
The chief incidents in the biog-
raphy of John Marshall may be
briefly summarized. He was
born in Fauquier county, Va.
September %, 1855, and was the
Oldest of 10 children. His grand
father, who was a native of Wales.
had settled in Westmorland coun-
ty in 1870, and his eldest son.
Thomas, the father of John Mar
shall, removed toFauquier county.
became the friend of George
Washington, was employed by
MIN as a surveyor, and served I'M
der him in the Revolutionary war.
Later he removed to the noun
talns east of the Blue Ridge. At
fourteen John was sent for in
structiOns IN Latin to clergy
man named Campbell, where he
remained one year. After the
family had removed to Oak Hill
he studied Latin another wear
with a Scotchman named Thorn
son, and this completed his class.
zeal tuition. He became a lieu
tenant in the American army in
lII5, and was afterwards a can
tain. He was at Valley Forge
curing the winter of 1878, and
fought at Brandywine, German
town and Monmouth. He was
admitted to the bar in 1880. was
chosen representative to the iegis-
iature in 1882, and was married
IN 1888 TO Miss Willis Amber.
he resigned his seat in the legis-
lature in 1874, but was reelected
IN 1857, and was a delegate to the
constitutional convention in 1888
lie declined re- election to the
legislature IN 1892, and return
ed to the practice of law. hut
was reelected without his CON |
sent in 1875. He was offered the !
post OF attorney general and of |
minister to france, but declined
Doth. Later hewas made one of
the three ministers to France, !
with General Pinkney and Mr.. |
Gerry, to avert hostilities with !
That country. He was elected 10 |
congress in 1899. At the close
OF his term he was appointed Sec, ]
Rotary of War, and later Score
tary of State. He was appointed I
Chief Justice of the Supreme
court of the United States on
January 81, 1901, at the age of
IOrty six, and took his seat on
February 4. He continued in
mat mat court until his death, July 6.
1889. In 1929, while still a mem.
per OF the court. he was a mem
Der OF the convention which met
10 receive the Virginia Constitu. ;
ton, w"
His services to his country as
com missioner to France were of ,
Ihe largest importance. He was
welcomed on his return with dis.
-lnguIshed hOnors, and then gave
to the practice of his
profession desiring to withdraw
rom public life. His countrv's
heed of his services. however
vas SO earnestly impressed upon
nm by General Washington that
he finally consented to be chosen
) member of Congress. Here. !