Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1918-01-24
Major H. A. London,
Tar Heel Veteran,
Dies at Pittsboro.
(From Raleigh News & Observer,
Jan. %, 1881


Jan. %, 1881
Major Henry A. London. veteran edi-
tor, lawyer and Democrat, died at his
home at Pittsboro, Chatham county, Sun
day morning, Jan. Goth, 1918, shortly af-
ter three o'clock. Major London had
been i'll for several days and since Friday
his death had been momentarily expected,
The funeral was held from St. Barthlo-
news Episcopal church in Pittsboro
Monday at one-thirty o'clock, conducted
by Bishop Joseph Blount Cheshire, of
Raleigh, assisted by Rev. H. o. Nash, of
Southern Pines. Despite the three-inch
snow that had fallen Sunday, the church
was packed over its capacity by friends
who gathered with sorrowing hearts to
pay their last tribute of respect to their
friend. The floral designs were especially
beautiful, among the handsome ones be-
ing those from the Trustees of the Uni
versity, from the State Press Association,
from the Commercial National Bank,
from the Bank of Pittsboro, Internal
Revenue Department at Raleigh, Daugh.
tiers of the Confederacy. etc.
Few, if any, deaths in North Carolina
during the past decade have caused such
universal sorrow as the announcement
of the passing of this typical Tar Heel
patriot Confederate veterans over
North Carolina will learn of Major Lon.
don's death with a peculiar grief, for
none held dearer than he the traditions
and sacrifices of the four years struggle
Major London is survived by his wife
and seven children. The children are
Mrs. ]. H. Anderson, Fayetteville; Mr..
Henry M. London, Raleigh; Mrs. ]. H.
Fell, Trenton, N. J.; 1t. Commander John
J. London, U. S. NJ; Mr.. Isaac S. London,
Rockingham; Mrs. ]. H. Gordon and Miss
Camelia R. London, Pittsboro.
BORN MARCH /, 1916.
Henry Armand London was born in
Pittsboro. Chatham county, on the LIST
day of March, 1886. HIS parentage was
of the highest responsibility and he was
connected with many of the Cape Fear
families who from the earliest settlement
have been prominent in the councils of
North Carolina. One of his ancestors,
Sir Robert London, was knighted by
Charles the Second for services rendered
to his unfortunate father, and another,
Sir John Yeamans, was the first Governor
of Carolina appointed by the Lords Pro-
prietors in 1868. His grandfather, John
London, was private secretary to Cover
nor Tryon in 1869 and ITO, secretary of
the Province in 1771, and clerk of New
Hanover from 1773 to IT'S. Other an.
cestors and connections played a distin-
guished part in the Revolutionary War
and he inherited spirit of patriotism
that had formed one of the most striking
traits Of his character.
EDUCATED AT UNIVERSITY.
His father, Henry Adolphus London,
married Sally Margaret Lord, of Will
mington, and was merchant widely
known for his purity and integrity, as
well as for his public spirit and benevo-
lence. For quarter of century he
presided over the Court of Pleas and
Quarter Sessions of Chatham county and
managed the affairs of that county with
remarkable sagacity: At the early age
of eleven years, young Henry was un.
happily bereft of his estimable mother,
but still the influences of his home life
were most salutary in the information Of
his character. Not robust as boy. he
became fond of books and was an apt
pupil. He received his preparatory edu.
cation at Pittsboro Academy, and in 1865
graduated at the University of North
Carolina. In the meantime, however, he
had at the age of eighteen entered the
Confederate army as private of Com
pany |, 32nd North Carolina Regiment
and was detailed on account OF his health
as courier for Gen. Bryan Grimes
whom he joined at Petersburg and served
with until the surrender at Appomattox
1t fell to the lot of this young soldier t.
carry the last order issued on that fate
full field, directing General William R
Cox TO cease firing" because Genera
Lee capitulated to General Grant.
| Returning home in April he resumed
his studies and finished his course at tn.
University, receiving at that time thu
degree of A. B., and three years later hi.
Alma Mater conferred on him the degree
of A. M. Studying law, he obtained hi
first license in June, 1866, before he was
I! twenty-one and entered upon the prac
tice at Pittsboro, and to this vocation hs
soon united the business of editor, hav
ing Sept. 10Th, 1873, established the Chat