Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/444

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

events of history and literature, and the business man's knowledge of men and in- sight into character. In the light of his keen analysis of right and wrong as applied to men in everyday affairs, unrighteous con- tentions displayed their weakness, fallacious arguments lost their force, and difficulties were settled upon so equitable a basis as to leave all parties his friends, and often both would-be litigants his clients. With such a combination of talents, the business world was not long in recognizing the advantage accruing to those whom he represented. As the years advanced, Kirkpatrick & Black- ford became more and more widely known, and the success they won in litigation, in the settlement of numerous difficult cases, and in organization work for large interests, brought them for a number of years the largest and most valuable clientele of any firm of lawyers in Virginia, if not in the South.

In 1895, both partners having sons with whom they wished to share the fruits of their success, they dissolved partnership. Major Kirkpatrick associated with him his son, F. Sydnor Kirkpatrick. Captain Black- ford became the senior member of the firm of Blackford, Horsley & Blackford, his part- ners being his youngest son, Raleigh Col- ston Blackford and Judge John D. Horsley, with whom he was associated until his death.

Although over sixty years of age when this change took place, he had lost none of his remarkable vigor of intellect and physi- cal strength. He brought into the new firm the same energy and activity that had always characterized him, and they occupied from the very start an eminent position in the ranks of the profession.

Just as the years of his earlier childhood were "saddened and rendered unhappy" by trouble with his eyes, so were his later years. Nothing better proved the mettle of the man than the courage with which he went on with his work through a considerable period of total blindness and a much longer period of seriously impaired vision when he had to depend upon someone to read and write every word for him. During this time he argued many cases, and won his fair share, prepared many briefs, and kept up his part of the office work of the firm.

For many years he was director and coun- sel of the old Virginia Midland Railway

Company, and subsequently counsel for the Southern. Among the thousands of em- ployees of the Southern system, from brake- man to president, he was known and hon- ored and loved.

The legal work in which he, perhaps, felt the deepest satisfaction was for the Vir- ginia Midland, in the largest case at that time ever tried in Virginia: Graham vs. Washington City, Virginia Midland & Great Southern railway, and the different branches of it which went to the court of appeals, notably Gibert z's. Washington City, Vir- ginia Midland & Great Southern railroad. Although the official report of this case (Ti^^ Grattan, p. 645) in error omits his name as counsel, the burden of it rested on him. He prepared all the papers in the court below, and the supreme court judges handed him back a marked copy of his argument and told him they had drawn their opinion by it. This was his largest case, but the great number of important legal contests in which he took successful part are attested by the records and reports of the courts of Vir- ginia.

In the years 1894-95 he was president of the Virginia Bar Association, which he had helped to organize.

For a number of years, at dift'erent periods, he served the city of Lynchburg as member of council and chairman of the finance com- mittee. He was city attorney from 1869 until 1881, when he resigned because of a conflict of interest between the city and the railroads he represented. He also served for some time on the city school board. \\'hile officially connected with the city, he prepared a revised edition of the city code, as well as most of the important papers needed in the administration of its aft'airs.

On the i6th of July. 1868, he was elected vice-president of the People's Savings Bank, and on February 3. 1874. in the midst of the panic of that year, he was made president. By his courage and common sense and his strict regard for business integrity, he safely steered it through the deep waters of that trving period. When in July, 1882, the bank Ijecame the People's National Bank he was again elected to the office of president, and continued to serve in that capacity until his death. To his skill and judgment as a financier the success of the bank was largely due.

During the panic of 1893, 'i^ '^^^ '" the