Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-08-03
TRIBUTE PAID TO JUDGE FRANCIS 7. ANDERSON
Distinguished Virginia urist and Statesman Spent Closing Years
of Useful Life In Lexington---Remains Buried
In the Lexington Cemetery

-
on the occasion of presentation of por-
traits for the CourtToom.)
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: / feel that a reel
tai of some of the events in the his
tory OF Judge Anderson's career is
appropriate on this occasion; first,
because public attention is now
called to the life Of so good, so pure
and so great man, man who was
ever patriotic and true to principle
and to right; and for the further
reason that a rehearsal OF such
events should tend to teach the liv-
ing high conceptions OF duty, and
to illustrate many distinguishing
characteristics worthy of their emu
lation.
Francis T. Anderson, son Of Will
liam and Anna Thomas Anderson,
was born at Walnut Hill, Botetourt
county, Virginia, on the 11th day of
December, 1903. His father was OF
the Scotch-Irish stock which set
tied and held the Valley OF Virgin
ia, and whose hardihood a ID feats
of unsurpassed valor conquered
Kentucky and the West. His moth
err was OF the Cavalier stock Of
Maryland. He was reared upon his
fathers farm near Fincastle, in
Botetourt; and under influences
and in the daily presence of exemp-
lars that imbued lis mind with
lofty ideals-dutv to his country,
and duty to his God!
His father in youth had been a
Revolutionary soldier. With the
fresh q additions of that great strug-
gle, and with his boyhood memory
of the return OF his hero-father from
the War of 1912, in which as Col
onel ne rendered distinguished SER
vice TO his country, Judge Ander-
son belonged to a generation which
constituted a connecting link be-
tween the heroic period and the
modern epoch OF American history
between the times of Washington
and Jefferson and Patrick Henry,
and the times Of Lincoln and Jeffer.
son Davis and General Lee.
The groundwork of his educa
ton was laid at his fathers fire
side by his devoted and devou
Christian mother, After attending
excellent private schools he became
a student at Washington College
where he graduated with distinc
tion at the age of nineteen. He reaC
law with Fleming B. Miller and
Chancellor Allen Taylor, and came
to the bar at the age Of twenty-one
Within a year afterwards he wa,
married to Mary Ann Alexander
daughter OF Andrew Alexander O
Rock bridge, to whose sweet in
fluence over his life and home
Judge Anderson largely attributed
his success In life. A devout Chris
tian himself, he succeeded his faith
err as a ruling elder in the Presby
terrain church.
He was an earnest and laboriou
student OF the law-of the law as
science-as science of broad prin
ciples and sound philosophy. A law
) yer of comparatively few books, w 81
) chosen and faithfully studied an,
mastered, he entered upon the hig
plane of his profession with tina
I earneStnesS and enthusiasm whic
, characterized his every dischar g
= of duty. He achieved early distinc
+ tion and success. His active worI
; in the profession extended over
) period of twenty five years. Will
r. taking an active interest in publ
affairs, he never was ambitious fC
political distinction.
In his eaily professional life fO
several years he conducted success.
3 fully a class of law students. Thi
. systematic study of the law was {
g great value both to teacher and stl
5 dents; but in few years the la
D class was forced to give place to til
r arduous work of his profession.
Q Judge Anderson was also the d,
S voted friend of education. Electe
: a trustee of Washington College j
Q 1853, he gave much time and labC
: TO the service of that venerable il