Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1918-01-24
ham Record which he had ever since
continued to edit. f395
ACTIVE IN POLITICS.

elected reading clerk of the State Senate,
which position he filled for two sessions
with remarkable satisfaction. In the
campaign of 1872 he participated as
Presidential Elector of the Fourth Con-
gressional district and made brilliant
campaign of his district. AS an editor
and lawyer and as an active member of
the State Democratic committee ever
since 1872, Mr.. London had long exerted
a strong influence in public affairs Care
full, painstaking and accurate, his long
service rendered him familiar with all
the details of public movements and he
was an authority on all matters of pub
lie interest occurring in the State for
more than forty years. In 1876 acting
on the suggestion of the President and
at the request of the local authorities,
he prepared centennial address deliv-
cred on the 4th day of July, covering the
Revolutionary history of Chatham county,
which is valuable contribution to the
Revolutionary literature of the State.
Ten years later at the death of Major
General Grimes, he prepared sketch of
that distinguished officer which received
the highest commentators. The next
year he delivered memorial address at
Wilmington that gave great satisfaction
to his friends. As a member of the
North Carolina Press Association he had
attended all the meetings of that associa-
ton and had welded an influence among
the editors second to no man in the
State; and his papers prepared for that
body were of particular advantage to it.
At the last session of that body he was
accorded the honor of President Emeri-
tus, an honor that never before had been
conferred upon North Carolina editor.
A graceful and effective speaker, with
fine delivery and rare command of
choice language, he had excelled as an
orator and was distinguished as one of
the readiest and happiest speakers Of
the State.
Although one of the most active and
serviceable members of the State COM
mittee Mr.. London never sought to use
his position to secure political prefer
ment, and he always had the courage
of his convictions.
SERVED IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
In 1900 he was elected to represent
Chatham county in the State Senate, and
again in 1902. Familiar with all party
measures and public matters, he at once
became one of the most useful members
of that body and was elected President
Pro Tenn. His first session was marked
by the passage of the London Libel
Law" remedying some of the evils Of
the old law of libel, and in the second he
was the author of the London Bill in.
tended to eradicate and exterminate the
evils of the liquor traffic in North Caro-
lima. This bill which was much more
stringent and far reaching than the
Watts bill, stirred the State most thor
oughly. Every community took sides
and the strength and vigor with which
Mr.. London and his associates pressed
it awakened the widest thought on the
questions involved. At the very last.
however, Mr.. London consented to &C.
Icept the Watts bill, which although not
so stringent as his own measure, was a
great step towards the accomplishment
of the reform he was advocating.
While his vocation had led to an in.
tellectual rather than to business ca
reer, yet Mr.. London had been an in
telligent promoter of local enterprises,
and he was a director of the Commercial
National Bank at Raleigh, and of the
Bank of Pittsboro; he was also the pres
ident of the Pittsboro Railroad Company
and as such built the railroad from
Moncure to Pittsboro in 1886.
Always patriotic Southerner, he took
great pride in his record as Confeder-
ate soldier and on the organization of
the United Confederate Veterans he was
appointed adjutant general of the North
Carolina division, and zealously discharg-
ed the functions of that position. Mr..
London was a member of the Protestant
Episcopal Church, and had been YES
tryman and the treasurer of his parish
at Pittsboro ever since 1868.
i MARRIED TO MISS JACKSON.
On June %, 1875. Mr.. London was
happily married to Miss Bette Louise
Jackson, a lovely lady in his native town.
and granddaughter of the late Governor
Jonathan Worth, and their union was
blessed by seven surviving children.
Mr.. London's contributions to litera.
ture bearing on the war period were
second in importance to that of no man
. in the state. He had been jealous in
, season and out of season to keep the
record of our people straight and to per.
, petuate the facts of North Cardinals
war history. He contributed to the Reg
, mental Histories, the History of the