Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-05-20
ADDRESS OF Co... E. h. SMITH
Made at EastviIIe, Va. May 9th.
1910, on the Occasion Of the
Presentment Of the Portrait of
DR.. ]. W. Tankard.

Mr.. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLE
MEN:-The friends and loved ones of
DIR. j. w. Tankard from the county of
his adoption are here today to present
toyou, of his native county, his portrait,
and to pay an humble though sincere
tribute to him whom we loved so long
and have lost awhile.
| The honor of making his presentation
ADDRESS has fallen to my lot, and while
there is no one more appreciative of the
honor conferred, there is also no one so
conscious of his inability to do justice to
such splendid theme
It has ever been the custom of the
Anglo Saxon race, to pause for moment
amidst the din and battle of life to do
honor to their sacred dead; to els:t
lasting monuments and images TO those
who are worthy of their esteem; not
only as simple act of justice to those
who have fought so well life's battles,
but as an inspiration and an incentive
to the living and to posterity to emulate
their worthy example And it is in this
spirit that we come to you today to
present to this court and to the people
of this county, the portrait of man
whose spotless and blameless life is
worth the emulation of us all.
James William Tankard, the son of
Philip B. and Elizabeth Tankard, and
the grandson of John Tankard of Revo-
lutionary fame, was horn in Northamp-
ton County, Va, in the year 1886. Like
many of Americas truest and best, his
young life was spent in the country
where nature is most lavish in the
bestowal of her riches.
His academic education was gained
at Margaret Academy, in Accomac
county, and it was while there that his
studies were interrupted by that lamen-
table struggle for constitutional rights,
the war between the states, and when
that great struggle had come TO such a
disastrous close, on the field of memoir
able Appomatox, he, with host of
other young men of that trying time,
was forced to forego the dream of his
ambition, the benefit of a classical and
liberal education, and to bend his ener-
gies towards the pursuits of livelihood.
In 1867 he entered the Washington
University School of Medicine at Balti-
more. and after remaining there for
two years graduated with the degree of
Doctor of Medicine. Immediately after
his graduation he began the practice of
his profession in this, Northampton
Il h,,N ,-,r g.
two years moved to Northumberland
where he continued the active practice
of his profession until the day of his
death in December, 1908.
1t was while here that he met Miss
Olivia K. Coyington, one of Northumber-
lands noblest women, who afterwards
became the fond companion of his life,
the recipient of his bountiful love and
who walked down life's pathway with
him. sharing his blessings and his bur-
dens with fidelity and devotion seldom
equaled and never surpassed.
During. his sojourn in the home of
his adoption, DIR. Tankard occupied
many responsible positions. From 1888
to 1894 he was member of State Medi-
cal Examining Board. He was Presi-
dent of the Northern Neck Medical
Association, and frequent and valuable
contributor to the medical journals of
this country. He was Master of his
Masonic Lodge. President of the Anti
Saloon League of his county, school
trustee of his district for q years and
steward of his church for thirty-four
years.
But we do not come claiming for him
any greater merit than that he so richly
deserved. He was not a man to seek
the plaudits of the people, or to aspire
to those positions in life which make
men renowned, though oftimes they
could have been his for the asking. But
his greatness consisted in the possession
and utilization of 50 many of those
noble and laudible characteristics which
go to make up a complete and well
rounded character.
1t is seldom in life, my friends, that
so tremendously blended so many ad
mirable qualities; and never were the
beautiful words of the immortal Bard
of Stratford more appropriately APP
piled to man than they can be to him.
| His life was gentle and the elements
So mixed in him that nature might
stand up I
And say to ali the world-this is mani'
DIR. Tankard was a man with hand
some and mastery appearance. and his
open face and noble countenance were
but the index to his still more noble
soul. He was skilled and learned
physician, a man who looked not upon
his profession simply as a means of
obtaining hisdaily bread, but as sacred
trust which he was ever anxious to
fulfil. He was an eloquent and a pol
ished orator, whose sweet. clear and
resonant voice charmed many an appre-
ciative audience; a patriotic and loyal
citizen whose mind was not set on per-
sonal preferment, but whose heart ever
glowed with patriotic devotion to his
native State; faithful and trusted
public servant, whose one thought was
the welfare of those whom he served; |
a sincere and true friend that one could |
"grapple to his soul with hoops of |
STEEL" And here, if you viii pardon a
personal reference, permit me to say
that l am proud to know that between
him and my own departed father there
existed an everlasting friendship which |
nothing could mar or DESTROY. and long
shall l remember with pride the COM
pliment which he paid him when he |
publicly proclaimed that his confidence |
in him was so great that he would fol- |
low wherever he would lead.
He was a devoted brother, a kind