Judge Bailey’s Law School
ll na« located in a one-room, mud-daubed
cabin, but some outstanding North Caro¬
lina lawyers obtained tlieir «‘duration
within the confines of its four humble walls.
NAM ES flint brighten the pages
of North f'nrolinn history are
to Ik* found no the roll of law
students who attended classes in n
one-room mud daubed log eahin
still standing several miles up the
headwaters of the north fork of Swan-
nanoa River, northeast of Asheville.
More specifically, the cabin is one
mile beyond the Illaek Mountain Rod
and Gun Club, stands on the Ashe¬
ville watershed, and is used as a ham
by Craig
Пишем,
warden on the wa¬
tershed, who lives nearby in a cozy
modem cottage.
Such was the reputation of this
school, conducted by the eminent ju¬
rist, .fudge John Lancaster Bailey, a
native of Pasquotank County and pi¬
oneer superior court judge, that stu¬
dents reading law there were con¬
sidered outstanding in their communi¬
ties and in their profession. Among
those who gained places of public
prominence were Judge Bailey's son.
William II. Bailey, who became at¬
torney general of North Carolina and
was Inter prominent in Texas; J. K.
Connallv. Washington Hardy. Thom¬
as D. Johnson, congressman for many
years for the Buncombe district : John
L. Henry, James A. Patton. John
Brown low, and one woman student.
Grace Hallyburton.
Born in Pasquotank
Born on August 13. 1705 in Pas¬
quotank County, Judge Bailev at¬
tended schools of that section, entered
the University of North Carolina in
tho class of 1819 and studied law un¬
der James Iredell, one of the most
accomplished and intellectual men of
his day.
After practicing law with outstand¬
ing success in Elizabeth City and be¬
coming a lender in the town’s political
affairs, Judge Bailey was elected to
represent Pasquotank in the house of
commons in 1824. and then served in
«he state senate from 1827 to 1S2S,
and was returned to the senate in
1832 for a second term. During this
period, and longer, he served as at¬
torney for the University.
In 1837, he was elected a judge of
superior court, and then became in-
Bi/ J. II. IIICKIJft
(crested in teaching his profession.
Although there were at the time a
number of other siudi ilistitui ions in
the state. Judge Bailey established his
law school in Kliuilietli City and soon
made it outstanding, rivaled only by
the Yadkin school conducted hv Chief
Justice Pearson. memlsT of the state
supreme court and father "f the late
Richmond Pearson, prominent in
Asheville in the days following the
War Between the States.
Moved to Hillsboro
Some years later, Judge Bailey’s
growing school was moved to the
more central locution of Hillsboro,
and was conducted jointly bv him and
Judge F. N. Nash, of the North Car¬
olina Supreme Court. Then in 1*59.
Judge Bailey decided to move the in¬
stitution to Black Mountain, and have
bis son assist him in the enterprise.
Although there were no railroad* west
of Salisbury at the time and the few
wagon road* that existed were unfit
for travel most of the year, lie em¬
ployed pack horse* and mules to
transport such material and supplies
as were needed to build and open the
school. On a tract of mountain land,
then known a* the Ernest Walker
farm and now incorporated in the
Asheville watershed, he conducted the
school until the outbreak of the war.
Students from other sections of the
state, ns well as the Asheville area,
followed him to the remote school.
Many of them traveled daily for con¬
siderable distances on foot to get the
benefit of his wise counsel and un¬
failing courage.
One of hi* students, the late Gen.
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Theodore F. Davidson, who became
attorney general of North Carolina,
expressed well the esteem in which
Judge Bailey was held by hi* -In¬
dents.
“He was one of the sweetest and
noblest characters who ever lived."
said General Davidson, “and in hi'
day exercised more influence over
young men than perhaps anyone ex¬
cept Judge Pearson, who operated the
Yadkin school."
Judge Bailey remained judge of
superior court until his resignation in
1863 and continued hi* law «eliool
after the war when it was moved to
Asheville in what was to become the
Y.W.C.A. plant «m Biltmon Avenue,
and at present is the White House
Гии.
For 10 more years the -elmol
Ilonrished, increasing it- student body
and attracting young men who went
out into public life In win high
honors.
Some of the Students
Some of these student* who at¬
tended the school after it wa* moved
to Asheville include: M«dvin Carter,
Calvin McLeod. Capt. Ell-rt Weaver,
father of Congressman Zchulon Weav¬
er: W. B. Martin, for 39 vear* judge
at Norfolk. Ya.; Judge W. L. Nor¬
wood, of Wavnesville; Washington
King, who became profe-sor of math¬
ematics at the University of North
Carolina: A General Martin, who
won fame at the Battle of ( 'hcriibu*co
in the Mexican War and at Drewry'.*
Bluff in the War Between the States;
Aldcn Howell, Emory H. Mo mi non.
a brother of the late Chief Justice
Merrimou; Capt. John Gudgcr, Cunt.
W. Pink Welch, Capt.
С.
M. McLeod.
Jarvis Buxton, J. S. Adam*, father
of Judge Junius F. Adams, of .\*ho
ville: S. H. Reed, General Davidson.
С. Л.
Moore, S. V. Pickens, Janie-
Robertson, of Franklin, and
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Elias, father of Don S. Elia*. Ashe¬
ville publisher.
Judge Bailey established hi* home
on a site now include»] in Ashton
Park of Asheville, and actively di¬
rected the school until his death on
June 30, 1877.
7
