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 The Supreme Court of West Virginia.

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gan the practice of law in partnership with tates, and many of his opinions have been Henry J. Fischer, Esq., of Mason County, widely quoted beyond the borders of his one of the most prominent lawyers in the State. He is tall, wears a long beard that is now State. Mr. Fischer was very fond of a joke, and at one time Judge English in his early becoming whitened by the touches of time, career was a candidate for Prosecuting Attor and would be taken anywhere for what he is, ney, his opponent being Judge Moore. On a Virginia gentleman. He married, May 6, his return from one of his electioneering 1862, Miss Fannie Lewis, belonging to one trips Mr. English, as the story goes, came of the oldest families of the State of Vir of deeds one ofof her bravery an into Mr. Fischer's office and said : " I found ginia, made famous by the one of the oddest old men up on cestors, General Twelve Pole Creek; Lewis, in the battle he said he liked my with the Indian chief appearance and Cornstalk, at Pt. would like very much Pleasant, in 1774, to vote for • me, but October 1 4th. At he had registered a this place Judge vow never to vote English resides in for a lawyer. Now, the quiet of peace, Mr. Fischer, what with his family. would you have said Henry C. Mcto him? " " Oh," W h o r t e r, since Mr. Fischer replied, 1841, has been a "I think he could resident of what is vote for either you now West Virginia. or Moore and not Since 1865 he has break his obliga been a lawyer in the tion." city of Charleston, Judge English is in this State. For a man of quiet and some years he resid retiring disposition, ed in Roane County, exceedingly modest. and in 1865 was a HENRY C. MCWHORTER. He has lived most of member of the legis his career in Mason county, and in 1866-67lature and from 1868 was thata County, the county adjoining that in which he was born. He has engaged but little in member from Kanawha County, and the lat the political contests in the State, and has ter year was the Speaker, and faithfully and devoted his time to the duties of his profes efficiently performed the duties of that office. sion. His literary education and studious In 1885-87 he was also a member of the habits fit him for the position of judge. He legislature from Kanawha County. He was was, in 1888, elected judge of the Supreme born February 20, 1836, in Ashley, Marion Court for twelve years; his term expires De County, Ohio. He lived on a farm during cember 31, 1900. Judge English has shared his youth, and was later clerk in a drug store. with his associates on the bench a reputation He served in the federal army, beginning as for honor and ability; he is particularly well a private, and in 1863, while a captain, re versed with the law relating to wills and es- signed on account of his wounds.