Madison-Mitchell County NcArchives Biographies.....Pritchard, Jeter Conley 1857 - 
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Author: Leonard Wilson  (1916)

JETER CONLEY PRITCHARD

AMONG the "Makers of America" we find some men whose attainments, and the
development of whose careers, have been made possible by the genius of their
native country. Among such is Jeter Conley Pritchard. Left an orphan, after a
war which had stripped his mother of husband and home, and had deprived her of
all resources, Judge Pritchard has risen to a height that exemplifies the fact
that opportunity to develop strength of character and to rise in station is
denied to none in this great and free land which we call the United States.

    An incipient fixity of purpose and determination of will, doubtless his
inheritance from his Welsh ancestors, and the quick perception and keen wit of
his Irish forbears, gave impetus to his natural ambitions. These, fostered by
his mother and intensified by the struggles of his childhood for the bare
necessities of life, have all produced a character unique in its completeness.
It is said that the dwellers in the valleys receive wonderful inspirations from
their constant uplook to the mountains which rear their summits above the
clouds. Be this as it may, it is certain that Judge Pritchard, from the most
straightened circumstances in the wilds of Tennessee, has risen to an exalted
judicial position little lower than the highest within the gift of the Government.

    William H. Pritchard, the father of the Judge, was of Welsh and Irish
ancestry, the name being sometimes written "Pritchett." He was a carpenter and
builder of Jonesboro, Tennessee, pursuing his vocation with an earnestness,
energy, and honesty typical of his race. He was well educated and fond of books,
devoting all his spare time to reading. He was first married to a Miss Boring,
of Sullivan County, Tennessee. By this union there were born five children, all
of whom are now dead except Mrs. Jennie Pierce, of Greenville, Tennessee.
Captain J. K. P. Pritchard, one of the children by his first wife, was a
distinguished officer under General Forrest. After the death of his first wife
he married Elizabeth Brown, who was of Irish parentage. His son, Jeter Conley
Pritchard, was born July 2, 1857. The father was entirely Southern in his
sentiments, and when the Civil War broke out, which was to bring disaster to his
comfortable home—his home which he was destined never to see again—he enlisted
in the Army of the Confederacy. His regiment was the Sixtieth East Tennessee;
his Colonel, John H. Crawford. This regiment, at the siege of Vicksburg, was
most highly praised for its bravery and endurance. After the surrender at
Vicksburg, Mr. Pritchard died at Mobile, Alabama, of disease contracted from the
exposure and suffering of four long years of continuous fighting.

    The plight of the widow and the boy was the more unfortunate and pitiable,
in that the State of Tennessee had been divided in sentiment, and the bitterness
and animosity between the Unionists and Confederates did not subside for many
years. The boy was not yet eight years of age when the end came, and his mother
could scarcely support, much less educate him. No doubt his mother taught him to
read, but at twelve years he was unable to write. With maternal intuition she
had long seen the promise of her son's career, and she labored to instil into
his heart and mind those stern precepts of morality by which he has ever been
governed. She seized the first and only opportunity that offered for his
advancement, and apprenticed him to learn the trade of printing, which was then
considered a stepping-stone, as it undoubtedly is, to a liberal education. He
made the best possible use of his opportunities; his progress in overcoming the
handicap of his defective education was phenomenal, so that, his apprenticeship
ending, he was employed as foreman in the "Union Flag" office, at Jonesboro. He
never relaxed his studious habits, always forging onward and upward. In 1874 he
was offered the place of foreman on the "Bakersville Independent," in North
Carolina.

    His small wages, part of which his mother shared, did not enable him to
accumulate a bank account. The entire journey of thirty-five miles was made on
foot, he arriving at his new post with not a cent in his pocket, and only the
clothing that he wore. For a seventeen-year-old youth he was making a decided
advance. The talents and capacity he had already developed, with the same
determination to succeed, soon made him assistant editor and joint owner of the
"Independent."

    To enlarge his knowledge he attended the Odd Fellows' Institute for one
session and Martin's Greek Academy, in Tennessee, for two sessions. Taking up
his residence on a farm in Madison County, North Carolina, he was at once
identified with the State. He became well known as a Republican leader, and was
elected member of the Assembly in 1885, and again in 1887.

    The clearness of his views, and the intellectual vigor with which he
maintained them, caused him soon to attain prominence. Much of the physical
labor of the farm devolved upon him, yet, with the same indomitable
perseverance, he determined to study law, and no hardship could swerve him from
his intention. Having no instructor he was naturally at a great disadvantage,
and his method of learning was unique. He would study a chapter, digest it
mentally, lay the book aside, frame questions covering the whole subject, and
compare his answers with the text of the book.

    The old trite saying, "Poeta nascitur, Orator fit," is a truism. So the
lawyer is not only so born, but he is also made. Evidently Judge Pritchard is a
"born lawyer;" no other succeeds. Pursuing his studies until he was master of
his books, Judge Pritchard obtained his license, and in 1887, entered upon a
practice that soon yielded him more than a support.

    His course in the Assembly extended his acquaintance throughout the State,
and he was recognized as the chief among the Republican leaders. In 1888 he was
nominated as the Republican candidate for Lieutenant-Governor. The campaign he
made enhanced his reputation and increased his popularity. Again, in 1891, he
represented Madison County in the Assembly. He was now considered the strongest
of the Republican leaders, and became the caucus nominee of his party for the
Senate of the United States. At the next election Mr. Pritchard was nominated
for Congress from the Ninth District. The Republican strength of the district
had been considerably diminshed by the fact that Mitchell County, its
stronghold, had been placed in another district.

    By taking this County out of the district the Democratic majority which
confronted him was about forty-five hundred. At that election there were three
candidates in the field, one being a Populist, who received about seven hundred
votes. As a result of a strong canvass, he ran ahead of his ticket in almost
every County, and reduced the majority in the district by two hundred and fifty,
his opponent having only a plurality of nine hundred votes. His was the only
district in which any substantial gains were made by a Republican candidate in
1892.
    The establishment of the Farmers' Alliance, and its coalition with the
Populist party, brought about a change in the political situation, and the
disorganization of the Democratic party, owing to the general dissatisfaction
with the Cleveland administration, which had become particularly obnoxious to
the people of North Carolina, gave opportunity to the Republican party to regain
its lost prestige. Mr. Pritchard succeeded in consolidating the Republican and
Populist leaders in a co-operative campaign. It was thought probable that, in
those Counties where the Populists were in the majority, the Republicans would
support the Populist ticket, and the Populists, in turn, would support the
Republican nominees, where these latter were more numerous. The plan succeeded,
and the State was carried by a strong anti-Democratic vote, which resulted in
the election of the State ticket and the Legislature by an overwhelming majority.

    There were two Senators to be chosen at this session of the Assembly, one to
fill the unexpired term of Senator Vance, lately deceased, the other to succeed
Senator Ransom. Mr. Pritchard was elected to serve the balance of Senator
Zebulon B. Vance's term, Honorable Marion Butler for the full term.

    At the next election, the co-operation tactics again brought defeat to the
Democrats, and Senator Pritchard was chosen to succeed himself. He also served
as chairman of the Kepublican State Committee and as a National Committeeman. He
took an active part in all the campaigns in his State, establishing a reputation
as the best equipped and most efficient leader that had been known in the State
for many years. Senator Pritchard being the sole representative of his party
from the Southern States found himself, consequently, in a position of great
influence, with a corresponding weight of responsibility. He was called in
consultation by the President and his Republican associates on all questions
touching Southern affairs. He sustained himself well under these trying
conditions; his just discrimination and careful recommendations winning for him
the confidence of both parties. His speeches on the floor of the Senate
commanded the attention of the ablest Senators of the respective parties.
Notable among these speeches were a discussion of the protective tariff from a
Southern view-point, and a discussion in favor of seating DuPont. of Delaware,
in which a number of his colleagues participated. This question involved many
nice points of law.

    The campaign of 1900 brought the Democratic party again into power, and
Honorable Lee S. Overman was chosen to succeed Senator Pritchard, whose term was
to expire in 1903.

    Senator Pritchard, upon retiring from the Senate, accepted the position of
Assistant Division Counsel for the Southern Railway, with headquarters at
Asheville, but he did not remain long in this post. On April 1, 1903, a vacancy
occurred on the Bench of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, which
President Roosevelt appointed him to fill. The incumbency of Judge Pritchard
gave great satisfaction to his friends, and won for him an enviable reputation
as a jurist. Upon the death of Judge Simonton. the President appointed him Judge
for the Fourth District, April 29, 1904, for which position he qualified on June
1. Judge Pritchard is now the Presiding Judge of the United States Circuit Court
of Appeals for that Circuit.

    Judge Pritchard's rulings have been almost invariably sustained on appeal,
and some of the most celebrated cases in modern criminal annals were tried
before him while on the Supreme Court Bench for the District of Columbia. One
case, that of Machem et. al., tried by him while on the District Bench, was
fought on both sides with great bitterness and astuteness. Presiding in a
strange jurisdiction, while many new questions were raised, yet all his rulings
were affirmed when appeals to the higher courts were taken.

    In his still more elevated judicial position he has displayed great
capability and profound learning. His keen insight, almost constituting another
sense, still assists him to unravel knotty questions, and to administer
impartial justice. Shortly after his appointment to the Circuit Judgeship, he
granted a writ of Habeas Corpus to Honorable Josephus Daniels, who had been
adjudged by the Judge of the District Court guilty of contempt. When the writ
was returned two days later Judge Pritchard discharged Mr. Daniels, and wrote an
exhaustive opinion in the case, making a clear explanation of the general law in
the premises, applicable to every State in the Union. This opinion gained wide
publicity, being commented upon, not only by the press in America, but in
foreign countries as well, and always with a most favorable opinion of his
decision.

    The cases of Folsom vs. Ninety-six Township, and of Folsom vs. Greenwood
County, aroused considerable interest and attracted much attention in general,
but more especially among the legal fraternity. Many novel principles of law
were involved in his decisions, there being no direct precedent to guide him as
to some of the questions presented. His adjudications, however, have been
received by the profession as sound, and based upon the foundation principles of
the law. These suits, caused by the action of the Legislature of South Carolina
in abolishing the corporate entity of certain townships which had issued bonds
in aid of the construction of a railroad. By Legislative enactment, also, the
territory originally embraced in Township Ninety-six was transferred to a new
County, known as Greenwood County, for the purpose of invalidating the
securities issued. Judge Pritchard sustained the validity of the securities.

    Courteous as he has ever been, he is fair and impartial on the Bench. During
his term as Judge of the District Supreme Court, Judge Pritchard served on the
Faculty of Georgetown College as Law Lecturer.

    Judge Pritchard is a staunch Baptist, to which denomination his parents
belonged. He received, from reading the life of Henry Clay, the strongest
impetus towards a public career, and he considers that the influences most
potent in bringing him success were the training he received in Sunday-school,
his contact with active men, and his observations and reflections on the lives
of distinguished characters. The Bible, Shakespeare, Scott and Dickens are his
favorite books, and he has ever been a great reader as well as a student. He
believes that the young men of the country would benefit by the practice of the
following precepts: "Be diligent and prompt. Do not use any intoxicants
whatever, and in all matters, be entirely frank and honest."

    Judge Pritchard has, on several occasions, been the recipient of handsome
tokens of appreciation without respect to party affiliations. When his
Senatorial term expired he was presented with a beautiful silver service and a
chest of silver. The Honorable Richmond Pearson made the presentation speech. On
his retirement from the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, the members
of the Bar unanimously adopted resolutions expressing appreciation of his course
as a jurist, and presented him, through its chairman, the Honorable Henry Davis,
with a handsome punch-bowl.

    On September 18, 1878, Senator Pritchard married Miss Augusta L. Ray. Four
sons and one daughter were the result of this union, all of whom are living
except Lieutenant W. D. Pritchard, who died in the Philippines. After the death
of Senator Pritchard's first wife, he married Miss Jennie Bailey, of Erwin, East
Tennessee, 1889. After her death, in 1891, he married Miss Melissa Bowman. One
son was born as a result of this union. After her death he married Miss Lillian
S. Saum, of the City of Washington.

    Still on the Bench of the United States Circuit Court, Judge Pritchard is
rendering valuable service to his country, and is adding new laurels to those
already won in other fields of public usefulness.

    On the 28th day of November, 1914, Judge Pritchard became the chairman of
the National Board of Arbitration to settle the differences in the controversy
between all the railroads and employees west of the City of Chicago. "This," to
use the language of one in intimate association with Judge Pritchard in this
matter, "was an arbitration of a controversy between ninety-eight Western
associated railroads and their engineers and firemen, aggregating fifty-five
thousand, involving rates of pay and conditions of service, and attracted
nation-wide attention. The Arbitration Board was composed of six members—Mr. H.
E. Byram, Vice-President, Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company, and
Mr. W. L. Park, Vice-President, Illinois Central Railroad Company, both selected
by the railroads; Mr. F. A. Burgess, Assistant Grand Chief of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers and Mr. Timothy Shea, Assistant President of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engineers, selected by the employees;
Honorable Charles Nagel, former Secretary of Commerce and Labor, and Judge
Pritchard, both selected by the United States Board of Mediation and
Conciliation. The Arbitration Board at its first meeting for organization, on
November 30, 1914, elected Judge Pritchard chairman of the Board. The sessions
of the board continued until April 30, 1915, when its award was rendered.

    The selection of two gentlemen to perform the exceedingly difficult service
required of neutral arbitrators, devolved upon the United States Board of
Mediation and Conciliation upon the failure of the four arbitrators chosen by
the parties to the controversy to agree upon two neutral arbitrators, to
complete the membership of the board, within the fifteen days allowed by law for
that purpose. Judge Pritchard was thereupon persuaded to accept the appointment
and perform an entirely voluntary public service, the importance of which is not
generally appreciated. On two occasions since rendering its award the
Arbitration Board has been reconvened upon request of the parties, Judge
Pritchard presiding upon each occasion. His fair and impartial conduct of the
sessions of the Arbitration Board not only increased the already high respect of
all parties concerned with the controversy for his well-known reputation as a
fair-minded man of broad views and strong personality, but justified the
conviction of the Board of Mediation and Conciliation that no mistake would be
made if he could be induced to undertake the arduous duties, which he so well
performed.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

MAKERS OF AMERICA
BIOGRAPHIES OF LEADING MEN OF THOUGHT AND ACTION

THE MEN WHO CONSTITUTE THE BONE AND SINEW OF AMERICAN PROSPERITY AND LIFE

VOLUME II

By
LEONARD WILSON,
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ASSISTED BY PROMINENT HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WRITERS
Illustrated with many full page engravings
B. F. JOHNSON, INC.
CITY OF WASHINGTON, U. S. A.
1916

Copyright, 1916
by
B. F. Johnson, Inc.

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