The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-03
BRIEF SKETCH Of
ROBERT B. GLENN
Whom the States Demo-
cracy Honor.
GLIMPSE OF BOYHO0D
The Strong Young 0vercomer of OBJ
stacIes Proves Himself the Father
of the Mama View of Mr..
GIenn's Home and
Family.
BY GEORGE p. PELL.

to be the next Governor OF North
Carolina spread over the woods and
tobacco fields Of old Rockingham.
Of GO and 6s when they used to
meet him in the big road, with his
hooks strapped to his side, walking
four-and-a-halfi miles to school and
back every day. The history of his
early life is familiar TO them. rs his
public career is known to the people
OF North Carolina And both are
fun Of interest and inspiration. From
those who knew him pest [ have
gathered the following facts:
Robert Brodnax Glenn was born in
Yadkin county while his parents were
on a visit there August 18th, 1854
The Glenn home being in Rocking
ham, to which his parents soon re-
turned. that county has claimed him.
as her own and he has ever called
himself her son. His father was
Chalmers l.. Glenn, a son of John
Glenn, distinguished citizen of Hall
fax county Va. and his mother was
annie Dodge, daughter of j. II
Dodge, for years clerk of the Su
premc Court of North Carolina that
held its sessions in Morganton.
Chalmers l.. Glenn was a strong
and promising member OF the Rock.
ingham bar, living the life OF a plant
er-lawyer on a tobacco farm and hay
ing an office In Wentworth. He en-
1oyed the pleasures OF home life sur.
rounded by his accomplished Wife ana
three boys. James Dodge, Edward 4
Brodnax, and Robert Brodnax but
the joys OF rural life were soon ended
when the call to arms sounded
throughout old Rockingham in '6i
and the very flower of her manhood
responded. This young lawyer laid
aside his life's ambition ard enlisted
in Company l, 18th regiment. com
manded by Colonel, afterwards Gen
eral William ID. Fender. When hc
bace farewell 10 his little household
ne said to his wife: IF / never re-
turn, give my law-books to Robert
- he VIII be the lawyer of the fam
sly Thus had the future of this
son impressed itself upon his father
That father never returned. He was
chosen first lieutenant Of his com
pdny. afterwards captain, and on the
fourteenth Of September. 1862, upon
the fateful field of South Mountain
hathcd the soil OF his dear Southland
with his blood.
Fortunately for them the boys be-
came members of the family OF DR.
Edward r. Brodnax, d distinguished
physician Of Rockingham, and thei:
kinsman The doctor was great
Wing and of power in his county anh
impressed his strong character upon
his adopted sons. de cared for them
cook a great pride in them, educated
them, and reared them TO manhood
Robert was early in life recognized
FOR his warmheartedness, mis- gener-
osiky. and alcrtness of mind and body.
From his earliest school days his ala-
bition was 20 succeed his father IN
the profession of the law No schools
being nearby. fer two years he walked
to Leaksvile, four and a haH miles
distant, each day in order to attend
the excellent school conducted there
by the late Col. John r. Winston, ~
man of great intellectually, and af-
terward by Prof. Nat $. Smith. IN
1870 he entered Davidson college
where he spent three years. He
says he wasn't a brilliant SUDDEN;
but did respectfully" Most of his at
tention was placed upon his literary
society work, lac being a member Of
The PhiIanthroDic society. To this he
applied himself assiduously, winning
much success. being chosen fcom.
mencement orator in 1873.
Leaving Davidson college he on
tered the University Of Virginia. talk
ing a special course preparatory to
the study OF the law. When he re-
turned home the state was In She
midst OF the campaign Of "a. and
though just twenty years old lF
plunged into ii, making his first
speech at old Bethlehem Methodist
church He then entered the Law
school of Chief Justice Pearson. sue
cessfully passed examination for IL
tense. and in 1877 began his career
as lawyer in the little town 81
wentworth Here he struggled for
awhile, but in the spring Of ~ he
moved TO Danbury, Stokes county
here he set about In earnest TO buiic
himself up IN his profession. lie
had. lust before leaving Rockingham
welded Miss Nina Dcadcrick, o.
Knoxville Tenn. daughter OF Hon
John r. Deaderick clerk Of the SUI
preme Court OF Tennessee, and niece
of Chief Justice Deaderick. Of thai
State Like so many young men Wp"
spend an their substance on thei.
education and enter the practice poor.
he struggled manfuliy for living ana
for position in hts chosen profess
sion.
An incident CT bis. early married life
will illustrate the kind of material of
going on the road with a sack of -four
on his shoulder when the late lament.
ed Major Len n. Anderson met hin7
and said: young man you cught ~
hive hired a darkey with ten GEMS
10 have done that. when the youteE
lawyer replied II haven't the ten
cents" Major Anderson at once Ell