The Washington times., 1905-09-22
Brilliant Career AS
Orator and Brave Man

Ex-Governor O'Ferrall was born in
Frederick county. Virginia. October q.
1910. and was sixty-fiye years old. His
father was the late John O'Ferrall, of
Morgan county. Virginia (now West
Nirginia). and was a popular man Of
his time. having often been a member
of the Virginia house of delegates. and
at the time of his death was clerk OF
his county and circuit courts.
1t was at this later period and at the
| age of fifteen years that the younger
OFerrall came into public life. and
| there was hardly a moment from that
] time until the end of his term as gov-
crn. on January /. 1895, that he was not
rendering service to the public, either
| in peace or In war.
| Young O'Ferran was appointed cler X
pro tempore of the court OF Morgan
county. upon the death OF his father, and
at the age OF seventeen was elected for
q full term of six years. But the war
| came on, and the gallant young Virgin
ian-destined thus early In life TO make
a name for hirnself-shouldered a mus
ket and marched ou; 20 fight for his
people.
| Morgan county was strongly Union in
sentiment and sent only about twenty
soldiers to the Confederate army.
Had Eigh. Wounds.
The town of Berkeley Springs sent only
two, and Charles T. O'Ferran was one
OF these.
He entered as private in the cavalry
service and rose step by step as a resul;
OF his intrepid bravery to the rank OF
colonel. and at the close OF the war was
in command OF all the Southern cavalry
in the Valley of virginia
To his regiment, indeed. is due the
credit for holding the last line, hav-
ing the the last tight. and capturing the
last prisoner on Virginia soil.
His command was in two engagements
after the surrender of Gen. r. Z. Lee
having refused TO believe that his great
leader had lai| down his arms althouoh
under flag of truce General Hancock
sent him lord that Lee surrendered
and that 4 would be well for his regi-
ment to follow the example OF it's com
manders- he never knew the definition
OF the word fear" and his black plume
always waved at the head OF his regi-
. ment. where the battle rolled the
In that four years OF blood and car.
mage Colonel OFerraIl was eight times
: Wounded-three times from saber thrusts
ano hVe from bullets.
Left for Dead.
In the cavalry engagement at Upper
, Vihe' IN 1863. lie was shot through tn.
lungs and left for dead The Richmons
D papers announced the death of the gal
lant young officer but ne recovered ant
resumed command of his regiment.
Returning from the war, he got to
: gether enough money to enter the Law
Grass al washington College, from
which he was graduated with distfnc
ton He settled at Harrisonbure an,
5 entered upon the practice OF his nrofes
g sion. ms P-OAeS
In 1871 Colonel o'Ferran was electe,
q 20 the house OF delegates as a conserva
8 tive. AT the end of his legisiattve 80 .,
: ne was elected judge OF the count,
u court OF Rockingham. and in this nosi
/ I1or,., ,loi, utsposSo OF some or the most i'm
= portant and perplexing criminal case
= eyer tried IN the Valley courts
men the readjusters got control a
e sne LcxglSiatuTe. in 1873, Judge OFerral
v none followers put into his place n
n was always an ardent Democrat. an,
= the Cumberland Gap TO the ocean r,anl
e times TO preach the doctrines az ~
2 party to the voters u III
In 1852 Colonel o'Ferran made his ars
- race for Congress. His Competitor W.
the late Judge John Paul. Of bis w. " :,
town OF Harrisonburg "
Won His Contest.
n The national House was Denoo.,.,
II and Colonel O'Ferrall made a contest .
e the grounds of fraud and Illegal votin,
, and was seated.
20 He was seated In the Fortv-aieb, e,
, Congress on May ), 1884. and was ~
q times renominated and Reelected nra,
=, tcally without opposition in has ou,
le party.
II He made and kept the Seventh distri,
safely Democratic, and when he Ia
1t to assume the duties of govern,
:, in 1894, IL was. as IT IS today, regarda
"a as the Gibraltar OF the party in vi
"a ginia.
- IL was during his long service I'm :,
Congress OF his country that Colon
O'Ferrssl made his greatest reputatio
- and when he stepped from this arena
50 the governors mansion, his fame as or,
81 tor and party leader had reached far b.
30 yond the borders of his own State
He was the chief lieutenant floor lea,
er OF the late Charles F. Crisp
~ Georgia. in his fight for Speaker again
48 Roger O. Mills. of Texas, and Wh,
Crisp won he made O'Ferrall chairmt
CT the important Committee on Pri,
n ieges and Elections.
Ii. He was an intimate friend of Pres