Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1904-01-29
LAST DAYS OF
COUNTY COURT
Time Honored Custom
Goes Out of Existence

The time-honored institution. tn,
monthly County Court ended las
Tuesday. The passing of this institu
'ion marks an epoch in the history o
the State, as did its Introduction thirt,
four years ago and the closing scenes
and acts of the Court hereon Tuesday
had tinge of saddness that could moi
be disguised or entirely suppressed.
The day Was spent in clearing IN.
docket as far as possible. and putting
things in shape for the new order. and
the new Judge, Uenslev who
will hold his first Court here on Feb.
ruary.
As final and farewell act the com
piim"ntary resolutions appended be-
low, were passed 10y the members OF
the Tazewell bar, and the County
Court. and the Office of County Judge
passed into history. and the chronicle
turned a new page.
The system OF the County Courts
just ended, dates back to 1869, when
the Underwood constitution was adopt.
ed. Before that date the county
government was administered 10y JUS
tices, who were elected 10y the people
Tor a term OF four years. There was
the chief Justice or President, who as
sociated with him one or more Justices.
and these held monthly courts.
After the adoption OF the Underwood
constitution, county Judge was APP
pointed by the Legislature for a term
of six years.
The first Judge Of our County Court.
was james T.. Kelly His SUCCESSORS
were, I'm their order as follows:
5. G. Graham, Sterling Watts, s. NJ.
b. Coulling and j. ii. Stuart. Judge
Stuart was the only one OF the five
Judges to serve two terms. All OF
these former Judges are still living in
the county. except Judge Kelly, who
died some years ago.
The first Commonwealths ATTORNEY
OF the county, under the new order.
was II. c. Anderson.
The first Clerk was Reese b. Gilles-
pie. His successors were, DIR. Doak.
father OF q. w. Doak, w. G.. Harrison
and the present incumbent, Il. IL.
George. Mr.. George was deputy Clerk
under the two Clerks preceding him. 1t
Will be seen that the county has had
only four clerks in thirty-iour years.
The present efficient Clerk has been
in office continuously since 1887. Up
TO 1898 there was only one Clerk for
both Courts. In that year the late III.
Bane Harman was elected Clerk ut the
Circuit Court, which position he held
until his death, few weeks ago.
The first Treasurers OF the county
were ID. B. Baldwin, succeeded by Dr.
G. w. Greever. X. Britain, father OF
OF present treasurer, II. X Gillespie
and II. p. Britain, present incumbent.
Before 1870 the Sheriff Of the county
was also treasurer. All the treasurers
OF the county are still living except Mr.
Rufus Britain. III. p. Britain, present
treasurer, was deputy during the two
administrations proceeding the present
one.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED by THE TAZEwEII
| BAR.
At n meeting OF the Bar OF Tazewell
County, Virginia. January %, 1904
II. @. Anderson, Chairman; A. s. Hig-
ginbotham, Secretary.
On motion the following resolutions
were adopted:
Whereas; By the Constitution of
Virginia of 1902 that most ancient and
time -honored tribunal in the judicial
system OF this Commonwealth, known
as the County Court, was abolished,
and this, the last term Of the County
Court OF TaZewell county, is now draw
ing to a close, as provided by said Con-
stitution, anu whereas the closing of
this current term OF the said court
marks the retirement OF the Hon. j. Fl
StuaIt from the Judgeship of the
County Court OF this county after
an honorable faithful service or more
than twelve years;
Now therefore be 1t resolved;
1. Then We bear testimony to the
very pleasant relations which have
always existed between the Judge Of
said Court and the members OF the
Bar, as well as the officers Of the Court
during his long period OF service; and
we desire to express our thanks 10
Judge Stuarl for his Uniform courtesy