MAJOR H. A. LONDON, TAR HEEL VETERAN, DIES AT PITTSBORO

Major Henry A. London, veteran editor, lawyer and Democrat, died at his home at Pittsboro, Chatham county, Sunday morning, Jan. 20th, 1918, shortly after three o’clock. Major London had been ill for several days and since Friday his death had been momentarily expected.
The funeral was held from St. Barthlomew’s Episcopal church in Pittsboro Monday at one-thirty o’clock, conducted by Bishop Joseph Blount Cheshire, of Raleigh, assisted by Rev. H. O. Nash, of Southern Pines. Despite the three-inch snow that had fallen Sunday, the church was packed over its capacity by friends who gathered with sorrowing hearts to pay their last tribute of respect to their friend. The floral designs were especially beautiful, among the handsome ones being those from the Trustees of the University, from the State Press Association, from the Commercial National Bank, from the Bank of Pittsboro, Internal Revenue Department at Raleigh, Daughters of the Confederacy, etc.
Few, if any, deaths in North Carolina during the past decade have caused such universal sorrow as the announcement of the passing of this typical Tar Heel patriot. Confederate veterans over North Carolina will learn of Major London’s death with a peculiar grief, for none held dearer than he the traditions and sacrifices of the four years’ struggle.
Major London is survived by his wife and seven children. The children are Mrs. J. H. Anderson, Fayetteville; Mr. Henry M. London, U.S.N.; Mr. Isaac S. London, Rockingham; Mrs. J. H. Cordon and Miss Camelia R. London, Pittsboro.
BORN MARCH 1, 1846
Henry Armand London was born in Pittsboro, Chatham county, on the 1st day of March, 1846. His parentage was of the highest respectability and he was connected with many of the Cape Fear families who from the earliest settlement have been prominent in the councils of North Carolina. One of his ancestors, Sir Robert London, was knighted by Charles the Second for services rendered to his unfortunate father, and another, Sir John Yeamans, was the first Governor of Carolina appointed by the Lords Proprietors in 1663. His grandfather, John London, was private secretary to Governor Tyron in 1769 and 1770, secretary of the Province in 1771, and clerk of New Hanover from 1773 to 1775. Other ancestors and connections played a distinguished part in the Revolutionary War and he inherited a spirit of patriotism that had formed one of the most striking traits of his character.
EDUCATED AT UNIVERSITY
His father, Henry Adolphus London married Sally Margaret Lord, of Wilmington, and was a merchant widely known for his purity and integrity, as well as for his public spirit and benevolence. For a quarter of a century, he presided over the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of Chatham county and managed the affairs of that county with remarkable sagacity. At the early age of eleven years, young Henry was unhappily bereft of his estimable mother, but still the influences of his home life were most salutary in the information of his character. Not robust as a boy, he became fond of books and was an apt pupil. He received his preparatory education at Pittsboro Academy, and in 1865 graduated at the University of North Carolina. In the meantime however, he had at the age of eighteen entered the Confederate army as a private of Company I, 32nd North Carolina Regiment, and was detailed on account of his health as a courier for Gen. Bryan Grimes, whom he joined at Petersburg and swerved with until the surrender at Appomattox. It fell to the lot of this young soldier to carry the last order issued on that fateful field, directing General William R. Cox “to cease firing” because General Lee capitulated to General Grant.
Returning home in April, he resumed his studies and finished his course at the University, receiving at that time the degree of A.B. and three years later his Alma Mater conferred on him the degree of A.M. Studying law, he obtained his first license in June, 1866, before he was twenty-one and entered upon the practice at Pittsboro, and to this vocation he soon united the business of editor, having Sept. 19th, 1878, established the Chatham Record which he had ever since continued to do.
ACTIVE IN POLITICS
In 1870, the Democrats gained control of the Legislature, and Mr. London was elected reading clerk of the State Senate, which position he filled for two sessions with remarkable satisfaction. In the campaign of 1872 he participated as Presidential Elector of the Fourth Congressional district and made a brilliant campaign of his district. As an editor and lawyer, and as an active member of the State Democratic committee ever since 1872, Mr. London had long exerted a strong influence in public affairs. Careful, painstaking and accurate, his long service rendered him familiar with all the details of public movements and he was an authority on all matters of public interest occurring in the State for more than forty years. In 1876 acting on the suggestion of the President and at the request of the local authorities, he prepared a centennial address delivered on the 4th day of July, covering the Revolutionary history of Chatham county, which is a valuable contribution to the Revolutionary literature of the State. Ten years later, at the death of Major General Grimes, he prepared a sketch of that distinguished officer which received the highest commendations. The next hear he delivered a memorial address at Wilmington that gave treat satisfaction to his friends. As a member of the North Carolina Press Association he had attended all the meetings of that association and had wielded an influence among the editors second to no man in the State; and his papers prepared for that body were of particular advantage to it. At the last session of that body, he was accorded the honor of President Emeritus, an honor that never before had been conferred upon a North Carolina editor.
A graceful and effective speaker, with a fine delivery and rare command of choice language, he had excelled as an orator and was distinguished as one of the readiest and happiest speakers of the State.
Although one of the most active and serviceable members of the State committee, Mr. London never sought to use his position to secure political preferment, and always had the courage of his convictions.
SERVED IN GENERAL ASSEMPLY
In 1900 he was elected to represent Chatham county in the State Senate, and again in 1902. Familiar with all party measures and public matters, he at once became one of the most useful members of that body and was elected President Pro Tem. His first session was marked by the passage of the “London Libel Law,” remedying some of the evils of the old law of libel, and in the second he was the author of the “London Bill” intended to eradicate and exterminate the evils of the liquor traffic in North Carolina. This bill which was much more stringent and far reaching than the Watts bill, stirred the State most thoroughly. Every community took sides and the strength and vigor with which Mr. London and his associates pressed it awakened the widest thought on the questions involved. At the very last, however, Mr. London consented to accept the Watts bill, which although not so stringent as his own measure, was a great step towards the accomplishment of the reform he was advocating.
While his vocation had led to an intellectual rather than to a business career, yet Mr. London had been an intelligent promoter of local enterprises, and he was a director of the Commercial National Bank at Raleigh, and of the Bank of Pittsboro; he was also the president of the Pittsboro Railroad Company, and as such built the railroad from Moncure to Pittsboro in 1896.
Always a patriotic Southerner, he took great pride in his record as a Confederate soldier and on the organization of the United Confederate Veterans he was appointed adjutant general of the North Carolina division, and zealously discharged the functions of that position. Mr. London was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and had been a vestryman and treasurer of his parish at Pittsboro ever since 1868.
MARRIED TO MISS JACKSON
On June 22, 1875, Mr. London was happily married to Miss Bettie Louise Jackson, a lovely lady in his native town, and a granddaughter of the late Governor Jonathan Worth, and their union was blessed by seven surviving children.
Mr. London’s contributions to literature bearing on the war period were second in importance t that of no man in the state. He had been zealous in season and out of season to keep the record of our people straight and to perpetuate the facts of North Carolina’s war history. He contributed to the Regimental Histories, the History of the 32d Regiment, and Judge Clark in preparing is Review and Conclusion of the whole matter in the fifth volume adopts the admirable summary of the services of North Carolina’s soldiers made by the “eloquent Henry A. London in a recent speech.” As Judge Clark observes, “his words deserve preservation,” and the high compliment is paid him by the editor of that important work of embracing them in his Review.
When the historical committee of the camps of the Virginia veterans, under the leadership of Judge Christian in 1904, questioned the accuracy of some of the claims of North Carolina, a committee was appointed to reply to Judge Christian’s pamphlet, one of whom was Mr. London. His particular subject was to sustain the proud claim that North Carolina was last at Appomattox, which he did admirably. And he associated a few gentlemen with himself and obtained title to a spot on the field at Appomattox and there he cased to be erected an appropriate monument in commemoration of the fact that North Carolina fired the last gun at Appomattox. Indeed, the services of Mr. London to the cause of the people of North Carolina in these matters have been invaluable. At the annual meeting of the State Literary and Historical Association in the fall of 1916 he was elected President, a deserved recognition and an honor to the body.
HIS SINCERITY OF PURPOSE
The keynote of Mr. London’s conduct in life has been sincerity of purpose, while steady application and punctuality have marked his career. He had always been a constant attendant at the commencements of the University, of which he was a trustee, and with fidelity discharged the duties of secretary of the Alumni Association for many years. He never failed to attend any church convention, any political convention or meeting, press convention or bar association which it was his duty to attend. In the observance of such duties of he was indeed so constant and punctual as to have won the merited commendation of his associates. Speaking of him one of the editors of the State has said: “He wears the white flower of a blameless life,” that “he is a most charming orator and one of the most lovable men,” and to this may be added that he was faithful in his friendships and always earnest in his endeavors to promote the political fortunes of his friends.