Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-09-23
col. O'ftRRtL Is
CaLLFD HOME
Continued from first pagc.)

and nj the time Of his death clerk of
his county anu Circuit Courts.
II WAS at this later period and ut
the tender age of fifteen years that the
younger o'f'errall came into public
life, and there was hardly moment
from that time until the end OF his
term as governor, on January ] 1898.
that he was not rendering service 10
the pablic, either in peace Or war. III
deed, there were few men OF his day
AMI generation who served their poo
pie with such conspicuous ability in so
many varied ana responsible positions.
civic and military, as did Governor
O'Ferrall
Young O'Ferrnil was appointed clerk
pro tcmporc Of the court of Morgan
county upon The death Of his father,
ana ut the age oil seventeen was elect
ii for 4 fill term of six years. He
%as perhaps Inc youngest man WHO
yer filled so responsible Il position
II the State, though he performed his;
lGtiCa to the entire satisfaction ur the
Nar ;tni the people, n; was shown by
lis clcction Tor IL iuil term before he
;as yet out OF his iccns But war
,anc ON, and the gallant young Nir.
,iniln-drs.inrd thus carly in life tn
aakc naIHr for slouli-
rod his mlskct and started ont 10
.sht for his people.
Morgan county WAS strongly union
Il sentiment, and semi only about
wcnty soldiers Ia tho Confederate ar
~.
Town Sends Two Soldiers.
The town Of Berkeley Springs sent
My Two, ana Charles I. O'Fcrrall wa;
nc Of these.
He entered as Il private in the caval-
Y service, and rose step by step as Il
asnlt Of his intrepid bravery to The
INK of colonel, and II lac close uf the
ar was in command OF all the South.
Ill cavalry in the Valley of Virginia.
10 his regiment, indeed. is due the
credit Tor hul'tin. the last line, having
,ic last fight and capturing the last
prisoner on Virginia soil.
His command WIS in two engage
mcniS after The surrender OF General
X. IL. Lee, having refused to- believe
that his great leader had actually laiil
down his arms, although Under Il llag
of truce General Hancock sent him
word that Ice surrendered ana hal
il would he we'll for his regiment &:
follow the example Gf its commander.
Wounded Eight Times.
In that great contest lasting through
four years of blood and carnage. Col
O'Fcrrall was eight times wounded
three time from sabre thrisis. al fSso
from bullets.
The political side 0f Governor O'FC:.
rails life was remarkable, not only
for its success, hnt for the long period
through which it ran
Returning from the war he got to-
sethcr in Il short whic by hard lcks,
enough money to enter the law class
1t Washington college, from which he
graduated with distinction. He set
led AT llarrisonbnrs and at once en-
cred upon the practice of his prorcs.
sion.
II was not long, however. before his
people called him into positions Of hon,
u and trust. In 1871 Col O'Ferrlll
vas elected 10 the house OF delegates
rs Conservative. ana he served with
conspicuous ability i'll that hOIy. Al
he end of his legislative term. Col
)'Fcrrall was elected judge oi :hc
'ounty court Of buckingham, and in
his position dispnSed Of some III Ia.
most important AMI pcrpleNing Grim
nal cases eyer tried in the Valley
curtis.
An Ardent Democrat.
|, When the Iieadjustcrs got control Of
lie legislature, in 1879. Judge O'Fcrrail
as displaced and one Of General Ma
ones followers put into his place He
!as always All ardent Democrat, ami
pom leaving the bench placed him
self nj the disposal of the State Gem
miitec and was sent frcm the Cum
hcrland Gap ia the ocean many times
to preach the doctrines Of his party 10
The voters.
He was one Of the regularly appoint.
cd Democratic canvasscrs for The State
from 1880 to 1883, and his eloquent
voice ran. ont constantly III behalf 2f
his party, no man doing more effective
work than, he 10 accomplish the over
threw of Mahoneism and Rcadjuster
rinS rule.
In 1882 Colonel C'Fcrrall made his
first race for Congress His competitor
was the late Judge Iohn Paul. of his
own town of Harrisonburg, who was