The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-10-09
Mrs Robertson. Misses Ella and Sue
Stedman, OF this city.

Mrs Robertson. Misses Ella and Sue
Stedman, OF this city.
Louis D. Henry, though a. native Of
New Jersey, was a member o fthe Fay
e~tteville bar, having read law under
his uncle, Edward Graham. of New
Bern. He was distinguished for his
accurate memory, his rapid mastery
OF all the details of an intricate law
case, and his clear, forcible style IN
presenting 1t to a jury. He was OF
quick temper and an unbending will,
and a difficulty with Thomaa ]. Stanley
brought about a duel. which resulted
fatally for Stanly. President Van Bu-
rem appointed Mr.. Henry 10 commits
sioner to settle the Spanish claims; and
In 1912, about which time he removed
to Raleigh, he was defeated by J. NJ.
Morehead for governor. He died in
1886, aged So years.
A brilliant member OF the Fayette-
vile bar was John D. Eccles, who, { o
his knowledge of the law added ripe
scholarship and rare literary attain
ments. He Is said to have possessed
one of the finest libraries In the state.
Two or three Observation-Disclosures are
left of his blood, and his memory is
perpetuated in Eccles Bridge over Cross
Creek on Green street. where a hand
some structure of iron has lately been
placed; also in ~"Ecclesford." the ooun-
try home Of Mr.. Ed. Smith. Mr.. John
E. Garrett now owns the place in the
northeastern part of the city, which
was for a time the home of John D.
Eccles, There is a curious story told
of his building, which Is of brick with
framework of very heavy timber. It is
said to have stood Cnce IN the banks
Of the Cape Fear river, n to. have
| been used by CORVALLIS as h%eadquar-
| tiers. Many years after the Revolution
airy war, in the early part of the 18th
century, it was taken down k-ece
meal, carried over, and re-erecte1 in
its present position.
James G. Dobbin, a graduate Of the
University in 1882, stood very high
| both as a W31l-eq tipped student of the
law and as a pow orful advocate be ore
the Jury. Ec representa- Cumberland
| In the house in the legislature in 1848-
80, his collep que b ing Geo w. PegIam,
from that palt OF the county viii \ is
| now Harnett thu senators being Alex
| ander MurChisCn and Thomas N. Cam
eron. In the Legislature he was a tire
less worker and exerted a ccmmand-
ing influence. It is a remarkable fact
that Mr.. Dobbins' public career was
q reversal Of the usual course; before
his legislative service to the state, he
was elected to congress in 1845, dur
ing the administration Of James K.
Polk, but declined a reelection fer a
second term. He was a man of great
personal magnetism, endowed with ex-
oeptional powers of oratory-gifts that
descended to his eldest son-and the
Speeck which electrified the Baltimore
democratic convention in 1852, AND
brought about the nomination Of Frank
lin Pierce for president, resulted in lie
portfolio of secretary Of the navy fol-
James c. Dobbin in the Pierce cabinet
A daughter of Mr.. Dobbin, Mrs
Louisa Anderson, lives in Brooklyn, N
Y, and his grandson, John H. Ander.
merchants Of this city, a man Of great
public spirit, and a jealous democrat
-
strength at the Fayetteville bar. He
stood very high with the bench. fol-
he seemed to court more the ear CT The
judge than the jury; though his
knowledge of human nature, his quick.
ness and a%droitness in every stage o
a trial, rendered him, when he chose
all-powerful with the opinions nd sym
pathies of the twelve men in the box
t. - oo;l that thu 0r1r 0ron1oin re thu
his clients found with him was thai
"Wins1ow thought more Of what ht
called the beauty Of a good, knottl
case than he did of the verdict. HI
turned aside now and then from hard
stony road of the law, to find intel
lectual easement in the green glade
and along the sparkling waters Of the
realm of fancy. During this brie
outing in the Forest Of Arden HI
was no mean verse-maker. besides
writing many delightful pieces Q.
fugitive prose.
Fayetteville district in congress at the
outbreak of the civil war. rendering
his resignation and returning home, HI
was of invaluable service as one Of the
council of state, to Governor Ellis il
the difficulties which beset the state
administration at that time; and. i
my memory is correct, acted as govern
or for a short while after the death o
Ellis. Mr.. Winslow's daughter, Mrs
II. r. Horne. resides on Green street
and his two grand-sons. Messrs. W. w
and S. r. Horne, are members Of tn
drug firm Of Messrs H r. Horne 6
Sons.
Coming down to later times, that
may not monopolize the Sunday Mes
senger's valuable space, I will sketch
one Or two of the judges who presided
over this Fayetteville bar, SO rich il
prestige and historic interest.
Judge Caldwell rode this circuit 70
several years after the civil war. Hi
knowledge OF the law was complet
and exhaustive. and his int~erpretatio,
and execution OF it inflexible and just
D~~% r. -~~ 49, ~-I- - $4,000 - z~sf