MAJOR J.D. SHAW - A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
Semi-Weekly Robesonian - October 13, 1913 Issue Contact: Myrtle Bridges January 3, 2015
One of the Most Prominent Attorneys in This Section of the State - A Sketch of His Life In Thursday's Robesonian brief mention was made of the death at Rockingham early Thursday morning of Major Jno. D. Shaw. The following is taken from Rockingham special of the 9th to the Charlotte Observer: Maj. J.D. Shaw, the most prominent lawyer of Richmond county and probably the most influential citizen in this section, in spite of the persistent refusal of public office, died here this morning shortly after midnight of stomach trouble, aged 80 years. He became ill yesterday just after dinner, suddenly attacked while playing his customary game of solitaire after eating. A physician was hurridly summoned, but it was at first thought that nothing serious was to be feared. Last night Maj. Shaw grew steadily worse and doctors were called in from Laurinburg and Charlotte. At midnight his strength failed rapidly and a little while after 12 o'clock he was dead. The life history of Major Shaw is a story of personal achievement. Born June 26, 1833, on a farm 29 mile from this city, he received his first instruction at one of the old-time country schools; but prepared himself for college through home study and in 1850 entered the State University, graduating in the class of 1854 with high honors. He studied law under Judge Richmond Pearson and received his license to practice his profession in 1857. The next year he was married to Miss Margaret B. Henderson of Lincolnton, who died several years ago. To them were born five children: Mrs. Henry Fairley of Rockingham; J.D. Shaw, Jr., who at the time of his death, which occurred in 1908, was a leading lawyer of Laurinburg; A.C. Shaw, for a time chief law clerk and later chief of division in the United States Land Office, now a practicing attorney of Portland, Ore.; Miss Esdale Shaw of Rockingham, and Angus B. Shaw, who was one of the biggest farmers in this section up to the time of his death, some seven years ago. Shortly after receiving his license to practice law, Major Shaw was county clerk and treasurer of this county. From that time until his death he steadily refused office of any kind and at various times declined judgships. When he entered the Confederat Army, which he did at the outbreak of the Civil War he began service as a private in the ranks, earning promotion as it came to him and reaching his final rank of Major in the third year of the struggle. After the close of the war, in 1866, he went to Texas and formed a partnership with Judge Ochiltree, father of Congressman Tom Ochiltree of that State. From Texas he came to Lincolnton in 1869 and soon built up a magnificent practice, which he gave up in 1876 to return to his home town of Rockingham. Master of his profession, he had not long to wait before he became the leading attorney of this section. Honored by all, influencing the thought of the people of the section as few have ever influenced it, anything in the gift of his acquaintances was probably his for the asking, but he steadily refused all nominations or appointments to public office, preferring to remain in the active exercise of his talents as a lawyer. Representatives of the State Bar Association and the associations of adjoining States are expected to attend the funeral tomorrow from the Episcopal church of the Messiah, of which he was long a member. Hundreds of people from the surrounding country will be present.
Read Last Will & Testament of John D.Shaw
This page created January 3, 2015