Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-02-11
An Old Friend And Associate Pays
Tribute to the Late 4. n. Ogden.

Tribute to the Late H. N. Ogden.
The following communication receiv.
ed by the Charleston Gazette will be OF
more than ordinary interest to the
people Of West Virginia just at this
time, not alono for the information il
contains, but on account of its literary
merit as we'll:
Clay, w. Va; Jan 20, 1915.
Ed or Of the Gazette
Apropos of the death Of Howard N.
Ogden it may not be improper for the
undersigned, who was for nearly 8
quarter of century his personal friend
to lay a wreath upon his tomb.
When went to Morgantown in 1891
to accept place in the faculty of the
University. Mr.. Ogden was the Profes.
sor of English Literature, and / vel
remember with what energy and fervol
he conducted his department; and
what was more important with what
enthusiasm he inspired his students,
one of whom was my younger brother,
Braxton. "the poet of the Blue Ridge
and another was my cousin, Frank
Manning, both of whom have long beer
dead.
l was impressed, upon our first &C
quaintance, with Mr.. Ogden's brilliant
attainments as scholar and thinker.
He was an industrious student and
omnivo -ous reader. Nor was his read.
ing confined to the subjects taught in
his department, but he found time to
delve into many branches of learning,
his favorite books being those on poll.
tical economy and the science of gov
eminent
His wide range of knowledge and
natural love of his fellow man made
him most companionable friend. He
had personal and moral courage of 9
high order. as was duly attested BY the
conflict between the President of the
University and certain members of the
faculty, which resulted in the resigna-
ton of the President. as-weu az IN the
retirement of several members of the
faculty. of which Mr.. Ogden was one.
he accepted the result with compla-
cency, feeling fully repaid for the sac
yrifice of his chair in the faculty by the
hoNo f3NiaI poa,alku 81 fhoa Tfnsxyars;tx ~
the removal therefrom Of the CHIEF
cause of all the faction, the President,
whose policies were considered by those
who opposed him as inimical to the best
interests of the University.
Soon after his retirement from the
University, Mr.. Ogden went to Chicago.
For time he was on the staff of lee
turers sent out by the University OF
Chicago in their University Extension
Course. !" Afterwards he founded the
Illinois College of Law. which is now
one of the greatest law schools in the
country. He was for many years head
of that institution, and at various times
filled therein the chairs of Auglo-Saxon
English Law and Roman Law, of which
subjects he was master. Soon after
leaving Morgantown. the University Of
West Virginia, in recognition Of his
brilliant attainments as scholar, and
his eminence as teacher, conferred
upon him the degree Of Doctor OF Laws.
On his return to West Virginia few
years ago he entered upon the practice
of law at Fairmont, the scene Of his
early struggles in life, and continued
in the practice thereat until his appoint
ment about eighteen months ago to the
office of Public Service Commissioner
His labors in behalf of the State in that
responsible position are too we'll known
to be repeated here. Suffice is to say
that he met all the novel and intricate
problems presented to that tribunal
with thorough knowledge of the
principles of government and political
economy necessary for their solution.
The writer has seen very little of Mr..
Ogden in personal way for number
of years until his return to West Vir-
ginia few years ago, since which
time have met him frequently, and
only few weeks ago. meeting him in
the lobby of}the Kanawha Hotel / in
vited him to my room, and had the first
long conversation with him foE more
than twenty years. In the course of
that conversation he told me of the
work of the Public Service Commission,
and as he outlined to me the great DOS
sibiHtles of that tribunal and Of the re-
forms he hoped to see accomplished
along the line of its endeavors, was
struck with this thorough knowledge of
the great public questions of govern
ment which now confront the state and
the nation. Our conversation finally
drifted to former times. and Of the
deaths Of those Ne had both known
and loved in the long ago. and espec4
tally Of the two young men mentioned