University of Virginia Library

COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEYS.

SAMUEL LOGAN.

Born October 19th, 1799. Educated for the law. Settled at Abingdon,
where he practised his profession. Was Commonwealth's Attorney for
Washington county for more than fifteen years. He died at Prince
Edward Courthouse, Virginia, July 15th, 1855. He was an excellent citizen
and a lawyer of distinguished ability.

GEORGE EAKIN NAFF.

Was born at Jonesboro, Tennessee, July 3d, 1829. Educated at Emory and
Henry College. Won the Robertson prize medal in 1847, in his junior year,

George E. Naff.

having John Goode, Wm. E. Peters, Everett, Clayton,
Ridgeway, et als., for competitors. Studied and practised
law until 1855, when he took charge of a female
college at Athens, Alabama. Was elected to the presidency
of Soule Female College, Murfreesboro, Tennessee,
in 1858, which position he held until 1862,
when he died of erysipelas. In 1850 he married Margaret
Elizabeth Hope, of this county. Was appointed
and served as Commonwealth's Attorney for this
county in 1855, upon the death of Samuel Logan.

JOHN HENRY ERNEST.

John Henry Ernest was born May 7th, 1825, in
Hanover county, Virginia, and died at his home,

John Henry Ernest.

Brook Hall, in 1868. He graduated at William
and Mary College in 1847, and married Amanda J.
Byars, daughter of Colonel Wm. Byars, of this
county. He was elected Commonwealth's Attorney
for Washington county in 1855, and served until
1863. Was provost marshal at Abingdon for two
years during the war. After the war he retired to
his farm and devoted himself to farming. On
March 3d, 1868, while directing some laborers on
his farm who were moving a log, he was crushed
by the log and killed. Colonel Ernest's pastor
says of him: "The writer of these lines knew
him well, and does not hesitate to say that he
never knew a more liberal, kind-hearted and humane man. His liberality
dispensed with the most profuse and lavish kindness the earnings of his
own labor. When the war ended he found a poor man in the mountains who
had lost an arm in the service. Instantly his generous heart was moved
with pity, and he clothed him in genteel apparel, sent him to college, and
assumed the whole cost of his education."

REES B. EDMONDSON.

The subject of this sketch was born in Tazewell county, and died in the
city of Washington on February 13th, 1901. He was a lawyer by profession,

Rees B. Edmondson.

and practised in Abingdon, Virginia, Memphis,
Tennessee, and Washington, D. C. Entered
the Confederate service as second lieutenant, and
served throughout the war. He was elected Commonwealth's
Attorney of Washington county in
1865, and served for several years.

JOHN L. ROWAN.

Son of Colonel John M. and Virginia Summers
Rowan. Was born in Monroe county, West Virginia,
February 25th, 1862. Graduated at Washington
and Lee University in June, 1883. Practised
his profession in Abingdon for several years.
Was appointed Commonwealth's Attorney for the county, and served in that
capacity for some time. Removed to Union, Monroe county, West Virginia,
where he has since practised law, serving as prosecuting attorney for that
county for a number of years.

PETER JOHNSTON DAVENPORT.

Peter J. Davenport.

The subject of this sketch was born near Lindell,
in this county, on the 14th of February, 1863. He
is the son of Elijah P. Davenport, a native of this
county, and Adelia H. Hall, daughter of Dr. John
Hall, of Russell county. Educated in the schools of
the county. Studied law in the office of Colonel
John C. Summers, Abingdon, Virginia. Was licensed
and began the practice of his profession in Abingdon.
Was elected Commonwealth's Attorney for
Washington county in the year 1895, which position
he has since held, and the duties of which he
has discharged with marked ability.