Newton County GaArchives Biographies.....Pace, James McAllen August 2, 1835 - September 7, 1912
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Phyllis Thompson http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002524 March 23, 2006, 3:59 pm

Author: The Covington News, October 2, 1912

In Memory of James McAllen Pace
     The following inclination of our hearts and the time honored custom of our 
profession, we come to pay respect and tribute to the memory of our deceased 
brother, James McAllen Pace, express our mournful sorrow for his loss, and our 
profound and sincere sympathy for his bereaved family.
     Our beloved friend and brother was born in Troup County, Ga., on the 2nd 
day of August, 1835, of excellent and highly esteemed parents, who while he was 
but a child, moved to Covington, Ga., bringing him with them. He was educated 
at Emory College, Oxford, in this county, from which he graduated in July, 
1854; and shortly thereafter, completing a law course in the law school of the 
State University, at Athens, Ga., he opened an office in this city, and took up 
his life work, the practice of law, which he assiduously and ably followed 
until stricken with a fatal disease that terminated his valuable life.
     On the 28th day of May, 1861, he married Miss Leonora Haralson, of 
LaGrange, Ga., a lady of great beauty of person and strength of character, and 
who for the remainder of his life was the helpful partner of his joys, sorrows, 
trials and successes and who survives him. From this union, sprang 
five “hostages to fortune,” four of whom survive.
     In May, 1862, when the bugle call to arms rang out over the hills and 
valleys of this fair land, he answered the call of his country, and became a 
member of “Gordon’s Brigade” in the Army of Northern Virginia, whose fame, to 
which he contributed, will live when “Wrapt in flames the fiery ether glow And 
heavens last thunder shakes the world below.”
     He became a captain, and served as such on the staff of the dashing and 
gallant General John B. Gordon, throughout the war. He witnessed and took part 
in the triumphs of Lee  and his immortals, and was present and participated in 
the sad scenes of their downfall and surrender at Appomattox on that fateful 
day in April, 1865.
     Returning to his home, he became associated with the Hon. W. W. Clark in 
the practice of his profession, and soon forged to the front rank, commanding 
by ability, attention and integrity a respectable and substantial clientage; 
and this was no mean success, when it is recalled that the Flint Circuit then 
embracing this, his home county, was noted for the learning and eloquence of 
the members of its bar. Here in this forum, and in the presence of this 
audience, he was want to employ his legal skill and acumen and display his 
earnest and able advocacy of his clients rights. And this he did with a 
fearlessness of manner that compelled the respect of bench, bar and people. Not 
affecting graceful elocution, or the tricks of the stage, he brought to his 
work sound discrimination and analytical research and disdaining the mere 
ornaments of language of which by reason of his literary taste and broad 
reading, he had almost supreme command, be presented in sterling Saxon the 
salient and controlling points of his cases, and enforced them with clearness 
and precision.
     He was a genial, affable and approachable nature, holding to the opinion 
that “merit makes the man, lack of the fellow,” feeling not for but with the 
people, his presence and utterances were enjoyed alike by all in social life he 
was ever welcomed in friendly circles and his sallies of piquant humor, mingled 
with his inimitable mimicry came as gleams of sunshine to chase away the 
shadows of care.
     Cautious and sagacious, was slow to form attachments and friendships, but 
once convinced of another’s worth, he gave ample proof of his appreciation. 
Strong in his convictions, he seldom discarded a friend of propitiated a foe. 
     He had literary taste, and was a great lover of books, combining in his 
reading all styles of literature. He was replete with reminiscences of events 
and histories of the times and men, both during and after the civil war; and it 
is to be regretted that with his luminous, graceful and facile style, he failed 
to put on record such as were calculated to instruct and delight.
     Were we called upon to designate his prominent characteristics, we would 
say Love of home, justice, nature and uncompromising courage of his 
convictions. Perhaps next to his home circle, he worshipped most devotedly at 
the shrine of nature. He found “tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, 
sermons in stones, and good in everything.”
     But with all his usefulness, with all his attainments, legal, literary and 
otherwise, it was a husband and father that his many virtues show brightest. 
Generous without ostentation; affectionate without demonstration, he devoted 
his life and thoughts to the care, comfort and improvement of his family, and 
died bequeathing to his posterity that which defies both “moth and rust” an 
honest and honored name.
     Being of self reliant character, he never paraded his successes, defeats, 
joys or sorrows before the public. All in all, our beloved and lamented brother 
was a rare man. Let not “ the good he did be interred with his bones.” Let the 
evil, if any, die with him. Nor let our reverence for his memory end in this 
imperfect memorial. The highest tribute to that memory will be found in the 
imitation of his honorable, conscientious and courageous discharge of private 
and public duty.
     After a continuous, faithful and laborious service of over fifty years, 
our beloved and lamented brother, James McAllen Pace, on the 7th day of 
September, 1912, laid aside the professional robes for the drapery of the tomb. 
He has passed through the “valley of the shadow of death.” and his glorified 
spirit is now standing on “the sea of glass,” in the eternal City beyond the 
stars. And now that he has gone, many will discover that his place in this 
community was one that few are fitted to fill.
     In token of our heart felt sorrow for the loss of a brother so highly 
esteemed.
     Be it Resolved, That in the death of James McAllen Pace, the bar of the 
Stone Mountain Circuit has lost one of its oldest, ablest and most deserving 
members, we a true and loyal friend and brother, and the community in which he 
lived one of its most prominent, public spirited and useful citizens.
     Resolved, That we extend to his bereaved family our profound and sincere 
sympathy in their great affliction.
Resolved, That for the love and respect we have for the memory of our lamented 
friend and brother, this court be moved to adjourn until tomorrow morning; and 
that these proceedings be spread upon the minutes of this court; and that the 
clerk deliver certified copies of the same to the widow and children of the 
deceased and to the Covington News for publication.
JAS. F. ROGERS
CAPERS DICKSON
R. W. MILNER
A. C. McCALLA
F. C. FOSTER
Filed in office Sept. 26, 1912
JNO. B. DAVIS, Clerk


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