ASA O. GAYLORD.

(By W. M. Bond, Jr., of Plymouth; read by T. W. Bickett, of Raleigh.)

Asa O. Gaylord was born in Washington county on July 27th, 1857. His ancestors had for many generations lived in this county and had taken an active and prominent part in the affairs of the community and county within which they resided.

In 1875, Asa O. Gaylord entered Trinity College as a sophomore and graduated in three years, having during his collegiate course been diligent in his study and taken a high place among his fellow students. He obtained his license to practice law in 1879, and first located for the practice of his chosen profession at Harrellsville; shortly afterwards, however, he moved back to his old home county and established in Plymouth. At that time, in addition to the very strong bar resident in the town of Plymouth, lawyers from Washington, Elizabeth City and Edenton also practiced extensively in Washington county, and the young Mr. Gaylord found his ability pitted against some of the recognized leaders of the profession in this State. By close and constant study, and by careful and conscientious labor in the interest of his clients, he was soon recognized as one of the most able lawyers in this section of the State, and built up an extensive and lucrative practice.

During the entire course of his practice he was successful in an unusual degree, and this success was due to the diligent and careful study which he made of every case in which he was employed.

As a lawyer and as a citizen he enjoyed the high regard and respect of those with whom he came in contact, and for many years prior to his death was generally regarded as one of the most able and best prepared lawyers in the First District, the fame of his reputation extending throughout the entire State.

Asa O. Gaylord married Miss Julia S. Woodson in December, 1881, and of this union there were born five children, four of whom are yet living, the oldest son, T. J. Gaylord, a successful merchant in the town of Plymouth; the second son, Louis W. Gaylord, being a prominent attorney in Plymouth; the other two children, a daughter, Miss Charlotte A. Gaylord, and his youngest son, Avery Gaylord.

While always active in politics Mr. Gaylord never aspired to office, and except for holding, to the great satisfaction of his people, the judgeship of the County Court of Washington county for one term, never sought or held public office.

He was an active worker in the Methodist Church and was for many years superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School.

His death, which occurred on January 29th, 1915, after a very short illness, in the very prime of his life, and when his exceptional ability was yet undimmed by the flight of years, came as a severe blow to our profession, and was a loss which his fellow citizens could ill afford. His absence will be long felt, but we will recall with pride his ability as a lawyer, his sterling character and his worth as a citizen, and his host of friends here and elsewhere cherish with loving thoughts his sincerity of purpose, his merit and his steadfastness to a principle, a high ideal and a friend.

ARTHUR BENJAMIN VANBUREN.

Arthur Benjamin Van Buren died at his home in Wilmington, North Carolina, at 9:30 o'clock p. m., December 25th, 1914, at the age of thirty-eight years. He was born in Richmond, Virginia, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. B. B. VanBuren, now reside in that city. He was educated in the city schools of Richmond and at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. He moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, about 1903, and accepted a position with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company in its general offices, his duties being connected with the Traffic Department, and

especially with those matters coming directly under the supervision of the Interstate Commerce Commission. In 1910 he compiled and had printed an "Index-Digest of the Reports, Rulings and Decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission," which is in general use by transportation companies, and has been highly commended by the legal profession. This was the first work of this nature published, and was received with general favor everywhere such work was used. While engaged in the employment of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company, he obtained from the Supreme Court of North Carolina his license to practice law in this State and was admitted to the bar.

On June 1st, 1914, he severed his connection with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company and entered the office of J. O. Carr, Esq., Wilmington, North Carolina, where he engaged in the active practice of his profession, with assurances of marked success, until his confinement on account of a serious surgical operation about the 25th day of October, A. D. 1914. After a brave fight for his life, sustained by a hope which was marvelous to his friends, he succumbed on Christmas day.

On the 17th day of April, A. D. 1906, he married Miss Carrie Laurens Wright, a daughter of the late Joshua G. Wright, and a member of one of the old families of the Cape Fear section. His widow and one son, A. B. VanBuren, Jr., survive him.

Mr. Van Buren's agreeable manner, his consideration for others, and his high sense of honor, won for him the high esteem and respect of the members of the legal profession with whom he came in contact. His future was a promising one and he would have soon been one of the leading lawyers of his community. He was careful and painstaking in all of his work, and no one was ever more devoted to his profession than he. There was not a member of the Wilmington bar who did not esteem him highly, and in whatever sphere he moved he won the respect and esteem of his associates.

J. O. CARR.

HENRY THURMAN POWELL.

In the year 1876, near Kittrell, Granville county, was born Henry Thurman Powell, the second son of Erastus A. and Candace F. Powell.

In 1881, Kittrell township, by the will of the people, was transferred from Granville to help make the new county of Vance, and Henry Powell began his education in the new county schools near his old home. He later entered the Savage and Gilmer High Schools in Henderson, and at the age of twenty matriculated at Trinity College. In 1899 he enrolled as a law student at the University, where his love of the law won for him an enviable reputation among his class

men.

In September, 1900, he was admitted to the Bar. Filled with boundless zeal and dauntless determination to be a real lawyer, he at once opened his office in Henderson, where till his last days he wrought for the uplift of his town, his county, his State.

His sincerity of purpose, his efficiency and accuracy in all business transactions, soon won for him a desirable practice. Unpretentious in manner, frank of expression, with a keen sense of humor and a natural hearty laugh, Henry T. Powell attracted a host of friends from the varied walks of life.

He was a Sigma Nu, a Master Mason, a member of the Grand Tribunal of the Knights of Pythias and a Past Grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His fraternal ties were strong, his love was warm.

At the age of twenty-nine he married Miss Carlia Harris, the daughter of one of Henderson's foremost citizens, and his name is perpetuated in their only son.

He was among the incorporators and promoters of many of Henderson's enterprises, and took an active part in all campaigns for Good Roads, Better Schools and more efficient Prohibition. In him there was no vain flattery; no taint of the hypocrite.

As City Clerk, Mayor and City Attorney, he was our best

posted citizen on municipal affairs, and intensely interested in all things tending toward municipal development.

In the General Assembly of 1909, he represented the 17th Senatorial District with honor to himself and credit to his constituents. The Legislature of 1911 appointed him Judge of Vance county Recorder's Court, which position opened to him a broader field of usefulness. Here his sterling metal, his keen perception and fearless character shone with a brighter glow. He placed the administration of justice on a higher plane and held with a steadier hand the scales that tapped the kindred veins of prince and pauper.

An earnest and devout member of the Methodist Protestant Church, the teacher of the Baraca Class, ever working for the Master whose summons he answered on the 23rd day of July, 1914, just three weeks from the day he left the Bar Association at Wrightsville.

A great home-lover, beautiful in his family devotions, splendid in his loyalty to friends, magnificent in his sympathy, Henry T. Powell was a lawyer wise in his counsel, zealous in his cause, true to his clients.

Like a leaf from its twig in June, like a young fig from its branch falls, so in the vigor of his young manhood passed from our midst Henry T. Powell, our friend and co-laborer.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE HONORABLE GEORGE DAVIS.

I have been requested to prepare a sketch of the Honorable George Davis for the North Carolina Bar Association, to be read at the annual meeting of 1915, to be held at Asheville, N. C., and in compliance with that request I submit the following sketch of the life and career of that distinguished

man:

Jehu Davis was one of four brothers who came from England to Massachusetts early in the Eighteenth Century, who went to South Carolina, settling in St. James' Parish, the famous Goose Creek section, near Charleston. After some