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James Paull, Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, an eminent member of the Ohio County bar, and a highly esteemed citizen of Wheeling, was born near St. Clairsville, Belmont County, Ohio, on the 6th day of July, 1818, and died at his residence in Wellsburg, May 11, 1875, at the age of fifty-seven years. He was the son of George and Elizabeth Paull, whose ancestors were among the early settlers of Western Pennsylvania. James Paull was thoroughly educated in boyhood, and after completing preparatory studies at Cross Creek, Pennsylvania, he entered Washington College, and graduated from that institution in June, 1835. He came to Wheeling, and choosing the law as his profession, he learned the routine of practice with Zachariah Jacob, Esq., an able lawyer, and finished his studies in the law department of the University of Virginia. Mr. Paull continued his residence in Wheeling, where he lived up to within eighteen months of his death, during which time he resided at Wellsburg. For a short time after graduation he was engaged in teaching the higher branches in the Linsley Institute.



In the years 1855 and 1856 he represented Ohio County in the Legislature of Virginia at Richmond, as a member of the Whig party. In 1872 he was nominated by the Democratic party and elected judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals. He was the only resident lawyer of Ohio County ever elected to that position. Mr. Paull devoted himself wholly to the law, in which he became eminent even before he reached the zenith of man hood. Never robust, but always industrious, the labors of the Supreme Court judgeship proved injurious to his health. His associates on the bench begged him not to overtax his strength, but he could not obtain his own consent to fall short of his full share of duty, and therefore kept on at hard work until his health gave way, and he fell just after his sun had reached its noon. His decisions were clear, able, exhaustive, honest. He left a high record as a judge, and as a citizen all who knew him esteemed him as an honest man. His decisions in the West Virginia reports are among the most valuable contributions to the law of the State. The