The Memphis Daily Appeal
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Description: Judge James Garland Died
Date: August 11 1885Newspaper published in: Memphis, TN
Source: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov
Page/Column: Page 1, Column 1
JUDGE James Garland, probably the oldest judge in the world, and it is believed the oldest member of the Masonic fraternity in the United States, died at his home in Lynchburg, Va., Saturday night, in the ninety-fifth year of his age. He served as a volunteer in the war of 1812 and was twice elected to Congress. During Jackson's administration he was a warm friend of the President's, and made a notable speech in defense of the latter in the House, for which Jackson thanked him, both in person and by letter. He was prosecuting attorney of Lynchburg for nearly twenty years, and judge of the Corporation Court for fifteen years, and has been altogether at the bar and on the bench seventy-three years, having only retired in 1883, when in his ninety-second year, and after he had become totally blind. In all his official life he never had but two of his decisions reversed. He became a Mason in 1812. He voted for James Madison for President, and for every nominee of the Democratic party since, having gone to the polls in a carriage last November and cast his ballot for Cleveland and Hendricks.