The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-01-07
LIFE OF
THOMAS RUFF1N
lawyer. Publicist. and commander
of First North rOl
Cavalry. {. s. n.

III 49, y
ton on those Athenians who fell in the
peloponnessian war says, Those VINO
are here inferred have already received
part OF their honors, While Tor the
remaining part the state will bring
up their sons at the public expense
from this time TO their manhood, thus
Offering both TO these and their pos
terity a beneficent reward for such ser
vices, for where the greatest prizes
FOR virtue are given, there also the
most virtuous men are found among
the citizens" Webster in his Grafton
at Plymouth Rock in commemoration
Of the first settlement of New England
by the Pilgrim fathers, says: There
is a moral and philosophical respect
for our ancestors, which elevates the
character and improves the heart.
Next to the sense of religious duty
and moral feeling hardly know what
should bear with stronger obligation
on a liberal and enlightened mind
Than 6 conScioueSS of alliance with
excellence which is departed" 1t may
be stated as a cardinal maxim that any
people who have not a proper vene-
ration for their ancestors and a Just
appreciation Of the heroic services OF
those who have sacrificed their lives
on the altar Of their country can ever
Attain to em~inence and power as a ma
ttIOTs 1no CultINdtlOH VI SUCH Scili
ments are not only wise, honorable
and %virtuous, but they are an incum-
bent duty, for they redeem the nature
Of man from the subsection OF fear.
and he Is no longer a "puny lnSec&
lFh,vering at a breeze but he becomes
the glory Of Gods creation. Sentiment
is the noblest passion that ever thrill
ed the human soul. Demosthenes to
revive the s~lumbering patriotism of his
tY~1epenpYAtQ CODnfrNnAn. reminded
them OF the brilliant exploits OF their
heroic ancestors. Napoleon at the bat
fle OF the Pyramids to inspire his SOL
diers, said that the deeds of forty
centuries looked down upon them from
Sonder Pyramids" The barbarian
,thieftain to stimulate his followers in
resisting the Roman invasion, said:
'Think Of your forefathers and your
posterity." The Romans themselves
nj the pinnacle of civilization when
they had arrived at the highest pitch
OF their grandeur, enriched with the
spoils Of every cline and crowned with
the divine jewels Of science and art,
celebrated in anniversary festival
every great event which had signal
lied the annals of their ancestors.
Even the Divine Legislator has INT
,fioned these principles by the express
injunction TO his chosen people. With
these numerous instances where other
>, Qcople nave NeHeTdteO lnelr ancestors
ut is commendable In the Southern
people to recall the services n to
commemorate the heroic virtues Of
their gallant soldiers. One Of the
bravest Of these Southern heroes, who
IS worthy Of remembrance and entitled
to the gratitude Of his people, is Col
Thomas Ruffn, commander of the
first North Carolina cavalry. Colonel
.ltuffn was born near Louisburg
Franklin county, about the year 1920
lbeing the third son Of Henry Johr
sGray Ruffn, and his wife, Mary Tart
Ills father was q man Of note anC
swealth in his community, was colone
lof the State militia in 1912 and 1917
/ see from Wheeler'S history that Col
onel Ruffn's father represented
,Greene county in the House Of Com
mons In the Legislature Of 1907. $50,
'pnd 1909. He afterward removed t.
franklin county and represented tina
county In the lower branch of the Leg
i~slature In the year 1927, and repre-
sented her in the Senate in 1928. S,
IL Will be seen that his father was
man Of prominence. He was the own
er Of a large number of negroes an,
= large tracts Of land. Colonel Ruff
sWas graduated at the University q
tChapei Hill In 1S41 in the same elias
with Col. X. b. Bridgers a large plant
Ter OF Edgeconbe county before tn
q ~ taWstit ~ HJt1flDtT Oh the con
federate Congress and for many year
after the war president of the Wi
Smlngton and Weldon Railroad, wit
Eovernor Ellis the handsomest gov
ernor We ever had. Judge Jesse {
Shepherd. Of Fayetteville, one Of til
Eentlest and finest men the State eve
produced. with Prof. Charles Phillip
Of the University, his brother. Ho,
5. +. Phillips. a great lawyer and Il
tweive years Solicitor General Of II
united States, and Col. Robert Strane
q Wilmington, a man d~istinguisht
Tor the elegance and suavity of h
manners. for grace. dignity and Gu
tCre and was one OF the most perfe
types OF the true gentleman 7 ey
nlet. He was SO modest, so unassur
ing. so gentle, that everybody W
drawn to him by the silken cords
love. His father was elected iud
IN 1896 and Senator in 1886, Aft
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