devotion. It is said that when absent his daily duties were not ended till his heartfelt and devotional letter to his mother was written. A daily letter to his fond mother! What a testimonial of his character and his worth! "Another reference is required of the journalist in chronicling the death of the third and last son of the Hon. Alex. H. H. Stuart. It is a duty we cannot omit, because in the affliction of that eminent citizen many hearts all over Virginia and throughout our broad land deeply sympathize with him in his great sorrow. His friends and neighbors mourn the loss of his son, so cherished and so beloved, and know how sorely grief-stricken is the father's heart. This community will feel deeply for the parents, whilst they will ever cherish with fond remembrance the memory of their noble son.'" ''Archibald G. Stuart,' only son of Hon. A. H. H. Stuart, died at the residence of his father in this city on Friday morning last, aged 27 years, having been born on the 20th of January, 1858. No death that has occurred in Staunton for years has created a more widespread sympathy for those whose loss is irreparable. Young, highly educated, talented, warm-hearted and true, he has been called hence just as there opened before him a career which gave every promise of usefulness and distinction. He was educated at the University of Virginia, carrying away the highest honors of his class, and receiving the debater's medal. After leaving college, he commenced the practice of law in Staunton, and soon took a prominent stand at the bar. The insidious disease which finally terminated his life-consumption—had even then begun its ravages. On account of his health, he left Virginia and established himself at St. Paul, Minnesota, where he soon formed an advantageous partnership in the practice of law and conduct of the real estate business. During his few months of residence in the West, his native gifts and fine business capacity won to him staunch friends, and enabled him to enter upon a career of rare promise. Valley Virginian, February 10, 1885. But neither talents, nor energy, nor worthy ambition, nor acquirements could stay the fatal arrow in its flight. Gradually the system began to yield to the effects of the disease, forcing an abandonment of business and return to Virginia. For several months prior to his death, Mr. Stuart had been confined to his room, and the final summons was not, therefore, unexpected. But its shock was none the less severe. It bore away the last of three worthy sons, and shattered the idol of the household. Few have lived who better deserved the love and affection lavished upon him than Arch Stuart. A thorough gentleman in every respect, a character chivalrous, without fear and without reproach; talents that marked for him a high place in any sphere toward which his.ambition might lead; and withal a warm, generous heart, and sterling qualities that measured up to the full statue of manhood.' Mrs. Stuart never recovered from the sorrow occasioned by the death of her last son and youngest child. Her health gradually failed, and she passed away on November 17th, 1885. Thus Mr. Stuart, when in the seventy-ninth year of his age was left, after a happy married life extending over fifty-two years, "solitary and desolate, to mourn the loss of the most affectionate wife who ever blessed the long life of a devoted husband." CHAPTER XXXIX IN RETIREMENT-DEATH JR. STUART passed the remainder of his life in retirement, though for several years he retained his law office, which he visited regularly and where he transacted his private business and met his friends. His own home was kept open as it always had been. His daughters who lived away from Staunton made frequent visits with their children, and his youngest daughter, who lived in a cottage in the same yard with him, was practiaclly a member of his family. His general health was good and his eyesight excellent. He had a valuable library, which was an unfailing source of pleasure. For many years before his death he was a regular subscriber to the New York World, the Baltimore Sun, the Washington Star, the Richmond Dispatch and the local papers. He also read the leading magazines and popular novels of the day, and almost the last entry in his diary is payment for Harper, Scribner, Century and Flower de Hundred. He had always been a fine whist player, and his friends, knowing his fondness for the game, gave him much pleasure in this way. He realized, however, that according to the laws of nature he must very soon join those who had preceded him to the grave. To this end no man ever put his house in more complete order for the final summons. He resigned from all honorary positions he held, and re-wrote his will with his own hand, to conform to the changed conditions in his family. As far as possible he closed up all unsettled business matters, and, as he expressed it, administered his own estate. While Mr. Stuart was interested in public matters and the people about him, and thus lived much in the present, yet he unquestionably felt the loneliness of age. On June 17th, 1890, he wrote Rowland D. Buford, who for thirty years had been clerk of the Circuit Court of Bedford County: Rowland D. Buford, Esq.: My dear Sir: I was gratified to receive a few days ago the friendly messages of remembrance and the acceptable present of a nice box of cigars, which you were kind enough to send me, through Dr. Carter Berkeley. I am now in my 84th year and in feeble health, and very much cut off from intercourse with the world. Most of my contemporaries have passed away, and the circle of the associates of my early and active life has been sadly narrowed by death. There is not a lawyer now living in Rockbridge, Augusta or Rockingham who was at the bar when I commenced the practice of law. You are the last link that connects me with the days when I attended the Rockbridge courts, and I was inexpressibly gratified to learn that you retained so kind a recollection of me, and the associations of "Auld Lang Syne," which are so cherished in my memory. I am now a stranger in the place of my nativity and my active career. Strange faces greet me at every turn. I do not recognize one in ten of our people I meet on the streets as I ride through the town. It is natural, therefore, that the sight of an old friend, or a message from one who has been associated with my earlier and happier life should excite a warmer glow in my breast. I thank you for your welcome present of cigars, which I have no doubt I shall enjoy, as they will recall you and your remembrance of me every time I smoke one. Cordially reciprocating every kind feeling you have been kind enough to express in regard to me, I am very truly, Your friend, Alex H. H. Stuart. After Mr. Stuart's death, Mr. Buford sent a copy of this letter to the Staunton Vindicator and wrote that paper the following account of his early recollections of Mr. Stuart: Bedford City (formerly Liberty), Va. Editor Staunton Vindicator: Dear Sir: I deeply regret my inability to be present today in your city to pay the last sad tribute of respect to the memory of the late Hon. A. H. H. Stuart. In 1845 I was sent to the county of Rockbridge, and entered the Clerk's Office there in my eighteenth year, as assistant to the late Colonel S. McD. Reid, who was for many years clerk of Circuit and County Courts, where I continued until 1854. It was my good fortune the whole of my sojourn there to be thrown into close business relations with such lawyers as the late D. E. Moore, J. D. Davidson, John Letcher, S. McD. Moore, Charles P. Dorman and others of the Rockbridge bar; Hon. A. H. H. Stuart, Thos. J. Michie, J. B. Baldwin, H. W. Sheffey, David Fultz and others of the Augusta bar; Wm. H. Terrill of Bath and the Andersons and others of Botetourt. All were men of a high order of talent,—some were giants in their profession,-all the pink of honor, and stately and courteous in demeanor. Like autumn leaves all have passed away. I recall them all in my memory with great pleasure. There was, however, one amongst them, who, by his unsolicited and unselfish kindness, placed upon me a debt of gratitude I could not repay. I refer to Mr. Stuart. I was in a great degree a stranger amongst strangers When I went to Rockbridge I knew no one there nor in Augusta, tho' I was a great-great-maternal grandson of the late Captain John Mathews, who emigrated from the northern part of Ireland and settled on James River in Augusta (now Rockbridge) in 1737, two of whose sons, Sampson and George, afterwards resided in or near Staunton, and I knew of no descendants in Rockbridge. For some reason, I know not what, Mr. Stuart became possessed of a kindly |