24
\IR<;!X1A lUOCRAPHY
Keith ami Juliet (Chilton) Keith, his wife.
In early childhood he was feeble, but his
youth was robust. The influence of his
mother was salutary in directing his cdu-
cction and shaping his life. He was pre-
I'ared for college in the schools of his neigh-
lorhood, and took his law course at the
University of \'irginia, under Professor
John U. Minor. On April 16, 1861, he en-
listed as a private in the famous Black
Horse Cavalry, and in December, 1863, was
made adjutant of the Fourth Virginia Cav-
alry Regiment. He saw service on many a
field, under Payne, Wickham. Fitzhugh
Lee and Stuart. The last scene was near
Appomattox Court House, where his com-
mand drove the enemy back nearly two
miles, but was finally intercepted by the
Federal (Jen. Ord with an overwhelming
force. .After the war he engaged in the prac-
tice of law. He was a member of the Vir-
ginia legislature. 18^9-70. He was elected
circuit judge in the latter year, and by suc-
cessive re-elections was continued in that
position until January i. 1895, when he was
elected to a seat on the bench of the su-
preme court of appeals of Virginia, and was
soon made president. In January, 1906, he
was re-elected for a term of twelve years.
He is recognized as a most able lawyer,
and most competent judge. He has receiv-
ed the LL. D. degree from the W'ashington
and Lee University. He was married, Feb-
ruary 16, i8«7, to Francis P.arksdale Mor-
sf-n. of Warrcnton. \'irginia.
Cardwell. Richard Henry, born at Madi- son. Rockingham county. North Carolina, AuRust I, 1845. son of Richard Perrin Card- well and Klizal.cth Martin (Dalton) Card- well, his wife. In bis y.,„fh he labored on
the farm, and in winter attended school in
a nearby village. Losing his father in in-
fancy, he met with difficulties in obtaining
iiu education, but his mother was an in-
spiring influence upon him. He attended
the Beulah Male Institute and the Madison
Male Academy, but this was the extent
of his educational advantages. From 1863
until the close of the war between the
states, he served as a private soldier in a
North Carolina company, acquitting him-
self with soldierly courage and fidelity. At
the close of ihe war. he returned to his
North Carolina home but in 1869 removed
to Hanover county. Virginia, to 1)0 near his
wife's people, and engaged in farm work,
ami reading law in his spare hours. In 1874
ho was admitted to the bar, and entered
upon practice, and had soon drawn to him-
self a considerable clientele. From 1881 to
1895 he was a member of the house of dele-
gates, and from 1887 to 1895 was speaker.
In 1884 he was a Democratic presidential
elector, and displayed fine talents as a cam-
paign orator. In 1892 he was a meinber of
the state debt commission which settled the
public debt of Virginia. lie was chairman
of the joint committee of the legislature to
adjust and settle with Maryland the con-
troversy over the boundary line between
the two states, and he prepared the report
which was adopted by the legislature of
Virginia, and accepted by that of Maryland.
In 1894 he was elected a member of the
supreme court of appeals, for a term of
twelve years, and in January, 1906, was re-
elected for another term of twelve years. He
is known as an admirable jurist — able, in-
dustrious, and entirely faithful to his trusts.
He was married, February 9, 1865, to Kate
Harwood, of Richmond, \'irginia.
