Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-09-22
THE LATE Bx.aov. o'FERRALL.

As stated elsewhere in the Gazette,
Ex-Governor Charles T. O'Ferrall died
at his home in Richmond today.
Ex-Governor O'Ferrall wss bora in
Frederick county, Virginia, October 81,
| 1910, and is 65 years old. His father
was the late John O'Ferrall, of Morgan
county, Virginia (now West Virginia),
and was popular man of his time, hav-
ing 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 10 years that the younger . Fer
rail- came into public life, and there was
hardly moment from that time until
the end of his term as governor, on jan
usry /, 1898, that he was not rendering
service to the public, either in peace or
in war.
Young o. Ferrall was appointed clerk
pro tempOre of the Court of Morgan
county upon the death of his father, and
at the age of II was elected for a full
term of six years. But the war came on,
and the gallant young Virginian-des-
tined thus early in life to make name
for himself, shoudered his musket and
marched out to fight for his people.
Morgan county was strongly dnion in
sentiment and sent only about 20 SOL
diers to the Confederate army.
The town of Berkeley Springs sent
only two, and Charles T. O'FerralI was
one of these.
He entered as private in the cavalry
service, and rose, step by step, as re-
suit 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, having
the last fight and capturing the last
prisoner ON Virginia soil.
His command was in two engagements
after the surrender of Gen. Il. e. Lee,
having refused to believe that his great
leader had laid down his arms, although
under flag of truce General Hancock
sent him word that Lee had surrendered,
and that it would be well for his regi-
ment to follow the example of its COM
mander. He never knew the definition
of the word "fear," and bis black plume
always waved at the head of his regi-
ment, where the battle rolled the deep
est.
In that four years of blood and earn
age Colonel O'Fer5all was eight times
wounded-three times from saber thrusts
and five from bullets.
Returning from the war, he got to-
gether enough money to enter the law
class at Washington College, from which
he graduated with distinction. Hesetted
at Harrisonburg and entered upon the
practice of his profession.
In 1871 Colonel O'Ferrall was elected
to the House of Delegates as a conserva-
tive. At the end of his legislative term
he was elected Judge Of the County Court
of Rockingham, and in his position dis
posed of some of the most important and
perplexing criminal cases ever tried in
the Valley courts.
When the readusters got control OF
the legislature, in 1879, Judge o. Ferrall
was displaced, and one Of General Ma
homes followers put into his place. He
was always an ardent democrat, and
npon leaving the bench was sent from
the Cumberland Gap to the ocean many
times 10 preach the doctrines ofhis party
to the voters.
In 1882 Colonel O'Ferrall made his
first race for Congress. His competitor
was the late Judge John Paul, of his
own town OF Harrisonburg.
The national House was democratic,
and Colonel o. Ferral made contest on
the grounds of fraud and illegal voting
and was seated.
He was seated in the FOrty-eighth Con
gress on May 5, 1884, and was five times
renominat'1 4 aud reelected, practically
without opposition in his own party.
He made and keptthe Seventh district
safely democratic, and when he left it to
assume the duties of governor in 1894
it was, as it is today, regarded as th'
Gibraltar of the party in Virginia.
He was the chief lieutenant floor leade
cf the late Charles F. Crisp, of Georgia
in his fight for speaker against Roger q
, Mills, OF Texas, and when Crisp won 1t
made O'FerraIl chairman of the i'm
portant committC on privileges and elec
tons.
He was an intimat friend of Presiden
Cleveland, and through both of the lat
ter's administrations was often called t
the White House.
, Governor O'Ferrall would never sub
scribe to the doctrine Of free silver, an,
with his characteristic courage and frank
ness announced that be would give hi
support to Palmer and Buckner, the can
didates of the gold wing of the party.
T. Governor o. 'Ferrall in his latter day
, made valuable contribution to the lit
! ersture of Virginia in his book entitled
HForty Years Of Active Service.
j y, The COlORel's Waterloo.
Colonel John NJ. Fuller, Of Honey Grove
IT -. ,..o~lv mot his Waterloo from Live