Goochland County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Miller, Henry Watkins September 1862 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carolyn Shank Carolynshank@msn.com August 5, 2007, 2:46 pm The Standard of Raleigh, N.C.: Sept. 24, 1862 The Standard of Raleigh, N. C.: 24 Sept. 1862 DEATH OF HENRY WATKINS MILLER We have never recorded any event with more sorrow than we do that of the death of HENRY W. MILLER, of this City, on Wednesday night last, in the 49th year of his age. HENRY W. MILLER was born in Goochland County, Va., and would have been 49 years old if he had lived until February next. He removed to this place when about twelve years of age. He received here the rudiments of his education, and at the proper age entered the University of this State, where he graduated in 1834, with high honors. Soon afterwards he studied law and commenced the practice of his profession. The eminence he has since attained, as a lawyer, orator, and statesman, is known to all our people. The writer of this formed his acquaintance in 1838. He had just made his appearance in the Courts as a practictioner. He was remarkably laborious, and found time frequently to write for the press. His productions, even at that time, were marked by his unusual force, clearness, and ability. Subsequently, and indeed up to the period of his death, he took an active part in politics, always making a profound impression on the people by his writings and speeches. Through all the mutations and heats of parties, whether with the minority or the majority, he uniformly commanded the respect of his opponents; and not only this but the enthusiastic admiration and confidence of his immediate neighbors and friends. It is a fact, for example, that he never addressed an audience here, where he was best known, without rousing an enthusiasm which carried his friends irresistably with him, while his opponents regretted that they were compelled to differ with such a man and to range themselves against him. The vote which he recently received for the House of Commons in Wake, and especially his vote in Raleigh, show the estimate placed upon him by those who knew him best. We happen to know that he was very proud of this expression of confidence in him by his immediate fellow-citizens; and if his life had been spared, he would have given abundant evidence in his place as a legislator, that this confidence was not, in any respect, misplaced. With all his varied gifts, and with his deservedly high reputation as a scholar, jurist and orator, he was one of the most modest men we ever knew. He was never known to thrust himself forward for office or honors. He had no taste for contests for place, and no turn for intrigue. Sincere, straight- forward, determined in his character, and scorning every thing ignoble or base, he stood forth as if modeled after the best of the Romans, or their equals, the Pinckneys, and Knoxes and Shermans of our Revolutionary days. He would have filled and graced any position of these Confederate States; and yet such of his distinctive modesty, and such his deference for the claims and attainments of others, that a suggestion of this kind, even from an intimate friend, would have: "O'erspread his manly check with maiden tint." And yet this modesty of disposition was no impediment to the displays of his master mind. It rather helped than hindered these displays. He was, indeed, an orator. We have often thought, when listening to hims, of those line of Shakes- peare, describing Coriolanus, in which he says: "I have seen the dumb men throng to see him, and the blind To hear him speak; the matrons flung their glasses, Ladies and maids their scards and hankerchiefs, Upon him as he passed: the nobles bended At to Jove's statue: and the commons made A shower, and thunder, with their caps and shouts." It may be truly said of him that he was a kind neighbor and devoted friend. His hand was open as the day in works of charity. Many of his most attached friends were among the poor and humble, whose necessities he had relieved, or for whom, without reward or the hope of it, he had raised his voice in our Courts of Justice. In the throng of those who pressed up to look for the last time upon his noble face, were some of these; and the warm tears that fell from their eyes attested their affection for their departed friend. But the orator, the scholar, the friend and the statesman is no more! the heart, whose out-gushings filled others with its noble sentiments so finished and so rich in utterance, are both dumb in death. Those who were near and dear to him are not alone depressed and sorrowful at this event. -- Our whole people will mourn the untimely departure of a great spirit from our midst. He had his faults, as all others have; but he was possessed of many, many virtues. The former will be buried with him in his grave, but the recollection of the latter will survive him, and be kept fresh and green by his famiy and friends. He has gone down to the grave in the meridian of his usefulness, and with the measure of his fame unfilled. What he would have been, if his life had been prolonged, -- what greater intellectual heights he would have scaled, and what new fields would have been opened before him for the exercise of his constantly improving faculties, is left only to conjecture. But judging his future by his past, his career would have more than realized the expectations of his most ardent friends. But this could not be; yet "Death makes no conquest of this conqueror, For now he lives in fame, though not in life." The funeral of MR. MILLER will take place from his late residence this afternoon (Friday) at 4:30 o'clock. His friends and the citizens generally are respectfully invited to attend. He will be buried with Masonic honors. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/goochland/obits/m/miller34gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/vafiles/ File size: 6.3 Kb