Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/37

 JUDGES SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

Buchanan, John Alexander, born in Smyth county, Virginia, October 7, 1843, son of James A. and Mary G. Buchanan. He received his early education in the old field schools, and his collegiate training at Emory and Henry College. When Vir- ginia seceded he enlisted as a private in an infantry regiment in the Stonewall Brigade, the war, participating in many of its most sanguinary battles. In the battle of Gettys- burg, he was captured, and held as a pris- oner of war from July, 1863, to February, 1865, when he was exchanged, returned to his regiment, and was with it at its dis- banding in April, following. He then en- tered the law department of the University of Virginia, completed the course, was ad- mitted to the bar, and engaged in practice at Abington, Washington county. He was successful from the outset, and soon came to be known as one of the most capa- ble lawyers of southwestern Virginia. In 1885-87 he was a member of the house of delegates, in which body he made an ex- cellent record. In 1889 he was elected to congress, as representative from the ninth congressional district, and was returned for a second term. In 1895 he was elected to a seat on the bench of the supreme court of appeals, and came to be regarded as one of the ablest men on the bench. In 1913 he gave notice of his intention not to apply for re-election, when his term should ex- pire in 1915, and in 1914 the general assem- bly elected Joseph W. Kelley, of Bristol, tc succeed him.
 * ind served entirely through to the end of

Harrison, George Moffett, was born near Staunton, Virginia, February 14, 1847, son of Henry Harrison and Jane St. Clair Coch-

ran, his wife. He had for his early teacher his talented father, who took a genuine pleasure in instructing his children. He was just at the proper age to prepare for college, when the civil war broke out, and l;t at once enlisted in the Confederate army. He acted with courage and fidelity during the entire struggle, serving in the Freder- icksburg artillery, with which he surren- dered at Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865. Returning home, he busied himself with his books until 1869, when he entered the law school of the University of Vir- ginia. Finishing his course in the summer o: 1870, he was admitted to the bar and en- gaged in the practice of his profession, in Staunton which has since continued to be his place of residence. While in active practice, he was counsel in many highly im- portant cases. For a number of years he was a member of the law firm of Harrison & Tucker, his partner being Harry St. George Tucker. He was one of the master commissioners in chancery of the circuit court of Augusta county. He was elected a judge of the supreme court of appeals, January i, 1895, ^"d his marked ability as a jurist won for him a re-election in 1906, for a twelve year term. He married Bettie Montgomery Kent.

Phlegar, Archer Allen, born at Chris- tiansburg, Virginia, February 22, 1846, son of Eli and Ann Phlegar ; his father was a v/ell known lawyer. He attended a male academy in Montgomery county, and Washington College. He entered the Con- federate army as a private, and rose to the lank of lieutenant. After the war, he worked on a farm, meantime studying law, and in due time was admitted to practice.