The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-09-26
Col. L. E.. Edwards Dead
ABLE LAWYER, ELOQUENT ADJ
VOCATE, FINE SCHOLAR.
End Came at His Home in Oxford,
Tuesday Afternoon, Sept. 18th,
Aged 83 Years-close Of a Long,
Brilliant and Successful Profes-
sionsl caceer and a Useful and
Honorable Life.

Oxford Public Ledger, 10th
Col. Leonidas Campton Edwards
died at-his home in Oxford on Tues
day afternoon, Sept. 18th, at the ad-
age S3. His death was not
as he had been declining
for the past several months.
He was a native of Person county,
but moved to Oxford shortly after
he entered upon his professional ca
reer. After attending preparatory
schools in his native county, Col. Ed
wards entered the University of North
Carolina where his education was
completed. The late James FL. Hor-
ner, LII. D., and the late Joseph B.
Bachelor, and Thomas Ruffin, Jr.,
were classmates of his. Generals Pet
tigrew and III. W. Ransom were his
collegemates, though not in his class.
1t is doubtful if the State ever furnish
ed the University men more distin-
guished in their several callings.
Prof. Horner, the peerless educator;
General Pettigrew, accomplished
scholar and brilliant military genius;
Gen. Ransom, eminent lawyer, soldier
and statesman; Mr.. Bachelor, pro-
found lawyer, scholar and polished
Christian gentleman; Thomas Ruffin,
Jr., eminent lawyer and Judge; Col
Edwards, eloquent advocate, accu-
rate lawyer and a ripe scholar. After
graduating with distinction he at
tended the famous law school of
Judge Pearson where he prepared
himself thoroughly to meet the Giants
OF the North Carolina Bar, and the
equals of any lawyers OF the nation.
When Col. Edwards first came to the
bar of Person and Granville he met
Mr.. Badger, Gov. Graham, Mr.. Yam
cey, Mr.. Miller, Judge Read, General
Bragg and other distinguished law
yers. He admired them as men and
their great abilities as lawyers made
lasting impressions upon him.
In the preparation of his cases for
trial he was painstaking and thor
ough and his presentation of the law
to the court was lucid and forceful,
and his argument to the jury clear,
logical and eloquent. His clients
cause was his own, and all honorable
means were employed to win. For
elegance of expression, logical reas-
oninga and forceful presentation of the
law and the facts of a case, no man
in the State could surpass Col. Ed
wards.
He was Reading Clerk of the Seces-
sion Convention and in this capacity
had the privilege of knowing such
master minds as Badger, Governor
Graham, Chief Justice Ruffin, Weldon
N. Edward, and other like characters.
Perhaps no assemblage of men in the
State has ever equaled this Conven-
tion, and Col. Edwards always re-
garded his associations with them as
al exceedingly fortunate experience
of his young manhood. AS a member
of the Senate during the impeach-
ment trial of Governor Holden, Col.
Edwards took prominent part and
his speech was pronounced one of the
ablest arguments during this famous
trial.
He lived for a short while in Raj
eigh, where he was associated in prac-
tice with the Hon. Jos. B. Bachelor,
but preferring the people of Oxford
and Granville he returned to Oxford
and made his permanent home here
He enjoyed an extensive practice,
not only in the State Courts OF Gran.
Vile and adjacent counties, but also
in the Federal Courts, where he ap-
peared in nearly all of the important
cases from this section. In many oi
his cases in the Federal Court Cover
nor Graham was associated with
him, and it is needless to say that
the causes tried by these two able
lawyers were handled with great abil-
ity.
For more than 30 years Col. Ed
wards was one of the leaders OF the
Granville Bar. From 1890 to 1898
he was associated with B. s. Royster,
but realizing that he could no longer
do his full share OF the work he volun-
tarily retired from practice in 1898.
Besides being strong lawyer and
devoted to his profession, he found
time to devote to literature and the
classics. With a we'll trained and ac-
curate mind he combined industry
and application. His fund Of iifor-
nation and learning was far beyond
that of the average man and lawyer.
He always prided himself upon his
knowledge OF men and affairs in
North Carolina, during the Recon
struction period, and his reminis-
cences of these times were interesting
and instructive.
Col. Edwards was twice married,
his first wife being Miss Frances
Cooper, daughter of Mr.. James c.
Cooper, prominent planter and
business man OF Granville, and his
second wife was Mrs. Mary Cannady,
daughter of DR.. z. W. Young, Ok
ford's beloved and celebrated physi-
clan.
As a neighbor, Col. Edwards was
generous and kind, as a friend he
was faithful aud true, and as a hus-
band affectionate and indulgent.
One more of Oxford g distinguished
citizens has passed to his reward
The fu aral was held Wednesday
afternoonI.om the Episcopal church,
OF which he was communicate, con-
Quoted by Rev. +. 7. II. Horstleld,
and the interment was in Elmwood
cemetery.
Those from q distance attending
the funeral were: Messrs. &. j. Cooper
Fayetteville; ID. Y. and James Coop
er, Mrs. Jane Young, A. c. Zollicoffer,
Mr.. and Mrs. w. A. Hunt and Al
Daniel, of Henderson, and Mrs. 7. l..
Daniel, Berea.
The Honorsry Pallbearers were:
Drs. N. NJ. Ferebee, L. c. Taylor, g.
A. Coggeshall, s. D. Booth, Judge