Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-12-30
RESOLUTIONS OF THE
STAUNT0N BAR
On The Death of Major Thomas c. Elder,
One of Its Prominent Members.

Whereas, On November Goth, 1904
about eleven thirty clock a. M, Ma
jor Thomas G. Elder, a distinguished
member of this bar, departed this life
in the seventy first year Of his age, al
ter brief illness of pneumonia: and
Whereas, 1t is the desire of this bar
to put upon record brief memorial
of his life and character, and some tes'
| oimonial of the affection and high
esteem in which our deceased brother
| was held by US, Therefore be it
Resolved, First, that we have heard
with unfeigned distress, of the death
of Major Elder, an event for which
this community was entirely unprep
ared, and which has brought a sense
of personal loss to each one of us;
Resolved, Second, that in the death
of Major Elder this community has
lost one of its best and most distin-
guished citizens and this bar one of its
most learned, skilful and conscien
tIous members.
Born on April 10Th, 1854, in the coun-
ty of Lunenburg, Virginia, Thomas
Claybrook Elder, after being graduated
from RandoIph-Ma college and
studying law at the University of Vir
gInia, was admitted to the bar of
LunenDurg county, when scarcely
twenty one years of age, and began
the practice of his chosen profession
which he was destined to honor and
adorn by his character and abilities.
After being at the bar only few
months. he was elected commonwealth
attorney of his native county, a posi-
tion which he filled for several years
with the same thoroughness and scru-
pulous integrity which characterized
all his professional life. About 1853.
he moved to Petersburg and there
formed law partnership with Roger
A. Pryor, who afterwards became
general in the Confederate army and
distinguished judge of New Y ork
City; this partnership continued until
broken up by the civil war. In 1867.
Major Elder, although of such trail
physique and delicate health that he
| was not liable for military service. en-
listed in the Confederate army az a
private soldier, and served throughout
the war with courage and fidelity.
| rising to the rank of major, serving
most of the time under Generals FIN
negan and Perry, with the Florida
brigade, and surrendering at Appomat'
tox with the remnant of Lees army.
In 1856 Major Elder married Miss
Anna f. May, daughter of DR.. and
Mrs. Henry May of Lunenburg coun-
ty, and whom he survived less than =
years. About 1868, Major Elder NOV
ed with his family to StauntOn, where
| he resided and practiced his profes
sion continuously until his death
From 1873 till he refused re- election ii
1880. he was commonwealth attor'
ney and city attorney for this city. q
position which has never been fillec
with more credit and ability by AM
other incumbent either before or since
When hs first moved to Staunton, hi
formed partnership with Mr.. Orlando
Smith, under the firm name of Smitf
and Elder; after the death of Mr.
Smith, Major Elder formed a partner
ship with the late William J. Nelson
under the firm name of Elder Il Nelson
which continued for a number of years
about 1890, Major Elder formed hi
last partnership with his elder son
Fitzhugh Elder, now his surviving
partner, and who thus has been asso
ciated with him in the practice of th'
law for fourteen years, under the firn
name of Elder & Elder. This, in brie
outline, covers the period of Majo
Elder professional life.
Major Elder was one of the mos
! prominent lay members OF the Eplscc
pal church in Virginia, For man
years he had been vestryman an
Junior warden of Trinity church in thl
} city: he was member of the board G
trustees and president of the loci
board of the Virginia Female Inst
tute; for a number of years he was
delegate to the diocesan council, ant
in 1901, was delegate to the gener
} convention OF the Episcopal church
San Francisco.
) As a man, Major Elder was notaE
model of many and great virtues. +
= was devout and consistent Christia
: possessed of an integrity upon whi'
not even the shadow of doubt h
y ever rested, full of patience, forbea
g ance and charity, and with an unpl
4 tentious, yet unconquerable, fortitud
p which no buffet of unfriendly fortul
g could overcome or impair.
q AS a lawyer, Major Elder was one
= the most distinguished members of
= profession in this state, in recogniti
a of which he was unanimously elect
president of the Virginia state bar
s. sociation for the year 1902, the s
a dress delivered by him at the conc
. sion of his term of office, being a M
notable paper. There was scarcely a
= branch of law practice in which
ability was not conspicuous; but
point of extent and accuracy of lea
ing. he had few equals, and through
the commonwealth he was regarded
amongst the very foremost tempor'
Virginia lawyers. Few men have e
erasped the spirit and philosophy
j the law more firmly, or comprehen
IT, with more accuracy. than did Ma
Elder; and no temptation nor e1ige
of his cases could ever induce him