Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-09-27
Elk. Governor O'Ferra1l Died Fri
day in Richmond

/ Elk. Governor O'Ferra11 Died Fri
day in Richmond
Former Governor Charles I.
O'Ferrall, aged O5 years, died at
his home in Richmond Friday
morning, after an illness of a
month. The cause of his death
was complete collapse of his
nervous system. His last public
appearance was at the funeral of
General Fitzhugh Lee when he
acted as chief-marshal Of the i'm
posing parade at the interment of
his distinguished friend.
The funeral took place Sunday
afternoon from the Second Presby-
terian church, conducted by the
pastor, Rev DIR. RI ssell Cecil, and
Rev. DR.. S. G. Mitchell of Rich
mond College. The body was
carried from his late home to the
church on the caisson which had
borne the bodies of President JEFF
ferson Davis and Gen. Fitzhugh Lee
to their last resting places. The
casket was hidden by flowers
Behind the caisson was led
riderless horse draped in black and
with saber reversed. Leading the
procession were Governor Monta-
que and staff, attended by COM
panies of military from Petersburg
and Lynchburg. Behind the caisson
came the Richmond Light Infantry
Bl ues and the Howitzers' Battery.
The interment was made in Holly
wood cemetery.
Charles Triplett O'Ferrall was
born in Frederick county, Virgin
ia, on October 81, 1910, and was
at the time of his death about
sixty.fve years of age. His faith
er was the late John O'Ferrall of
Morgan county, Virginia, now
West virginia), who had often
been member of the Virginia
House of Delegates, and at the
time of his death clerk of his
County and Circuit Courts.
Young O'Ferrall was appointed
clerk pro tempore of the Court of
Morgan county upon the death Of
his father, and at the ags of II
was elected for full term Of six
years.
When the Civil War broke out
Morgan county was strongly Union
in sentiment, and sent only about
40 soldiers to the Confederate
Army. Berkeley Springs sent
only two, and Charles L. O'Ferrall
was one of them. He entered as
private in the cavalry service, and
rose to the rank Of colonel, and at
the close of the war was in COM
maud of all the Southern cavalry
in the Valley of Virginia, His
was in two engagements
after the surrender of Gen. R. E.
Lee, be having refused to believe
hat Lee had actually laid down
MS arms, although under a flag of
;ruce General Hancock sent him
word that Lee had surrendered.
Colonel O'Ferrall was wounded .
light times--three times from Q
aber thrusts and five times from
bullets. In the cavalry engage G
neut at Upperville in 1863 he was
hot through the lungs and left G
or dead. The Richmond papers @
announced the death of the gallant f
'oung Officer, but he recovered a
md resumed command of his regi- h
nent. +
Returning from the war he got J
ogether enough money to enter D
he law class at Washington Col
ege, Lexington, afterwards Wash L
ngton and Lee University, from D
which he was graduated with dis A
inction. For several years he "
vas resident of Lexington. pro- n
,rietor CT the hotel here. He
fterwards settled in Harrison p
urg for the practice of his profess l.
ion. al
In 1871 Colonel O'Ferrall was b
lected to the House CT Delegates
8 a Conservative. At the end Il
f his legislative term he was "
lected judge of the County Court o.
+ Rockingham, and in this posi-
ion disposed of some of the most IL
and perpIexing criminal
asses ever tried in the Valley
ourts. He was displaced when
he Readjusters got control Of the A
legislature in 1879. tn
In 1882 Colonel O'Ferrall made B
is first race for Congress. His nj
ompetitor was the late Judge sc
ohm Paul, of his own town of
Iarrisonburg, The House was b,
'emoeratic, and Colonel 0'Ferrall tn
Iade a contest on the grounds ca
fraud and illegal voting, and pl
as seated. He was seated in the
Congress on May M
, 1884, and was five times re. is
ominated and reelected, practi- Ell
lily without opposition in his own eli
arty. al
Colonel O'Ferrall was several ii,
mes a candidate for Governor
,fora ha finalIu won tho nriga of 4,