Library of Congress Memoirs and sketches of the life of Henry Robinson Pollard; an autobiography H. R Pollard Memoirs and Sketches OF THE LIFE OF Henry Robinson Pollard AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY LC PUBLISHED BY LEWIS PRINTING COMPANY RICHMOND, VA. F231 .P78 COPYRIGHT, MAY, 1923 BY HON. H. R. POLLARD LC ©ClA705590 MAY 28 '23 no 1 Os. 7R May 31, 23 TO The one to whom I long ago dedicated my life, and to whose sweet companionship and gentle, loving helpfulness is due whatever of good I may have accomplished; who has been an inspiration for all of my best successes and achievements, I now lovingly dedicate this little volume of sketches of that life—to My Wife, JESSIE GRESHAM POLLARD. “ I thank all who have loved me in their hearts With thanks and love from mine. ” Memoirs and sketches of the life of Henry Robinson Pollard; an autobiography http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbcb.10851 Library of Congress vii INTRODUCTION At one time, under the influence of Sir Walter Scott and other such writers, I supposed that the history of no other country could equal in charm and interest that of the little land sometimes called North Britain, but a closer study of the people of my own Virginia and of the vicissitudes through which they have passed with credit to themselves has led me to alter this opinion. What better support for this change of view could I offer than to point the reader to these vivid sketches selected by my valued friend, Hon. Henry R. Pollard, from interesting and thrilling scenes and experiences of his long and active life? No important events have taken place in Virginia during the last sixty years in which he has not taken an active and often a leading part. The narrative begins, indeed, at a more distant period, for he unfolds a delightful view of those halcyon days of the former state of society in which we lived, and in which he was reared, when Virginia was, as it were, younger and stronger and brought forth from her fertile bosom those states-men, and heroes, and noble matrons whose names have given her a place amongst the nations. If the proper study of mankind is man, Mr. Pollard has met this requirement, for, in the course of his long professional and political career, he was thrown almost daily with men of all classes and of all shades of opinion, and being a keen observer, he acquired a wonderfully viii accurate knowledge of every phase of the character of our people. The reader, for all his learning, will be able the better for reading these pages to understand the many-sided Virginian, his mirth, his wit, his seriousness, his sturdiness, his patriotism, his patience, his courage, his deep religious faith. Who of the present generation can picture to his mind the matchless fortitude with which those lads and young men of General Lee's army, who having fought to the last ditch went home, as did Mr. Pollard, to earn a living and repair the ruin in a land not only desolated and ravaged by the iron heel of war, but turned upside down by stunning disaster and by a social revolution of a darkly threatening nature? Whose heart will not be moved when Memoirs and sketches of the life of Henry Robinson Pollard; an autobiography http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbcb.10851 Library of Congress he reads of the joy in Col. John Pollard's house in old King and Queen County when our young veteran appeared at the front door as if come back from the dead, fresh from Appomattox County, where he was one of the immortals who there surrendered and received that badge of honor of which his children may well be proud, his parole? We now see the young man with a fixed determination to prepare himself for the Bar, a step which even in times of peace and abounding prosperity requires a heart not only stout but impervious to all discouragement. But, blessed with a clear mind, the strictest integrity, and that unflagging industry that has marked his life, barrier after barrier was pushed aside, and while yet a young man we find him called to take part in important litigation in various parts of the State, and regarded as one of its first lawyers. Business came to him in such volume and such was his ix well-earned reputation that he left his native county of King and Queen and fixed his office in the City of Richmond. He was not destined to remain much longer, however, in an exclusively private practice. The City of Richmond required as its attorney a lawyer of wide experience and well prepared not only to advise on corporate questions, but to conduct warmly contested cases in all the trial and appellate courts, whether State or Federal, and, a vacancy having occurred in that office, the choice fell upon Mr. Pollard. His friends and supporters had high hopes of the reputation that he would win for himself in the new office, but it is no exaggeration to say that the zeal, ability, and industry with which he devoted himself to his duties as the legal officer of a large and expanding city exceeded what could reasonably have been expected from the labors of any one man. This office he held until the finger of time was laid so heavily upon him that, at his request, he withdrew from all duties except such as are advisory. An important part of this little book is devoted to the arduous labors performed for his State in the political field. Virginia had dangerous foes without, which her people could not control, but there were foes to be fought for many years within; and it was due to the patriotism, firmness and sagacity of her faithful sons, in whose ranks Mr. Pollard was Memoirs and sketches of the life of Henry Robinson Pollard; an autobiography http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbcb.10851 Library of Congress always numbered as a distinguished and tireless worker, that the Government of our State was finally placed upon a safe and honorable footing. No man can hope to be exempt from misfortune and sorrows, and these Mr. Pollard mentions with no repine. Political and judicial honors that might have x been bestowed upon him with perfect propriety were withheld, and in the death of a brilliant young son the light seemed for a while to have gone out of his life. His inward strength supported him in all these trials, and his perfect composure of manner concealed the struggles of his heart. I should mention Mr. Pollard's religious faith. He is a Baptist and comes of a Baptist ancestry, and he strongly upholds, as have done his forefathers, the integrity and authority of the Holy Bible by precept and example. During the many years that he taught in a Sunday School, he urged upon the young men of his Bible Class the importance of making God's Word the rule of their lives. I wish for others the pleasure and information that I have received in reading the manuscript. I expect to read and re-read it in printed form. Daniel Grinnan. xi AUTHOR'S PREFACE Feeling that my long and varied experience in political and civic affairs of my State, both in rural and urban communities, had given me much information that might be of interest to the public, my friends have for several years urged me to write a history of my life, or rather my personal recollections of important events of my time and the men who have made the history of this State. Of these latter, I have been fortunate enough to have known many, and my destiny has been cast during a most intense and critical period of Virginia's political annals, when her very existence as a State was at stake and, even more important, the continuance of white supremacy and Anglo-Saxon dominance was Memoirs and sketches of the life of Henry Robinson Pollard; an autobiography http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbcb.10851 Library of Congress threatened. However, it is proverbially said that the Law is a jealous mistress, and my legal and political activities have hitherto occupied my time so fully that I have had no time for loitering in the by-paths of other lines of endeavour, no matter how attractive they may have seemed. Now, however, since my impaired health has made it imperative that I retire from such strenuously active participation in civic affairs, I have found more leisure, and thus, at the insistence of some of the more persistent among my friends, I have followed their suggestion to some extent. But I have not undertaken a formal biography in this, my maiden effort in literary fields, believing that a more informal and conversational xii presentation would better suit the subject mater that I had to present, and also that it would be more agreeable to me to work in this fashion—just chatting, as it were, with old friends, “reminiscing” and spinning yarns with them. It is also a pleasant thought to me that in this way my spirit may still be with them even after I have lifted the curtain and passed on into the Next Room; that thus I may always remain with my dear children, especially with my very dear little daughters—Julia, and Josie, and Elizabeth, and Mattie, and Sherrod, and Mary, and Jane, and Helen—giving them my love “unto the death, and out beyond into the dream to come”; that, by this little book, grandfather may always gather around the hearthside, one of the family circle, and thus supply the demand of even the littlest grandchild to “tell me a story.” For, whatever reception my little volume may have from the general public—and I offer it with some trepidation and misgivings I know that this inner circle of loved ones and friends will not only take pleasure in reading it but will treasure all these things in their hearts.