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elder more than thirty-five years. He is by the results of the great civil conflict, and charitable and unostentatious. He has risen he began life anew. by his own exertions, and by dint of talent He was elected to the Convention of 1868. Many of the most important provisions of and a determination to succeed. The bench elected to go into office at the the Constitution adopted by it are due to his end of Judge Reade's term was Democratic, pen or his active support. To him is espe and reduced by constitutional amendment to cially due the credit of the provision that the three in number. He was succeeded by tax on $300 of property shall never exceed

the tax on the poll. The object of this Judge Thomas S. Ashe. clause, known as the William Blount Rod "equation of taxation" man was born at Wash clause, is apparent, and ington, N. C, June 29, 1 8 17. The founder originated with him. of the Rodman family It was not in any other was John Rodtpan, a State Constitution. Messrs. Rodman, Quaker, who went Tourgee, and Victor from Ireland to BarbaBarringer were the does in 1686. His sons emigrated to Commissioners who Rhode Island. Judge prepared and reported Rodman's father was to the legislature our a native of New York. present Code of Civil He removed about Procedure. Judge 1800 to this State, and Rodman also prepared married a daughter of a Code of Criminal John Gray Blount, to Law and Procedure. whose care Judge Rod Unfortunately this lat man was left by the ter was not adopted. early death of both his He also drafted the parents. He gradu Landlord and Tenant ated at the University Act, the Act concern with the first honors ing Marriages, and the in 1836. He read law Drainage of Swamp W. P. BVNUM. with Judge Gaston, lands Act, and many and was licensed to others. In 1868 he practise in 1838. He soon acquired a large was elected by the people a Justice of the new practice. Among numerous important cases Supreme Court. His opinions will be found in which he was of counsel, he appeared for in seventeen volumes, 63 N. C. to 79 N. C. the defendant in the famous trial of Geo. W. inclusive. The judicial term of office is Carrowan for murder. He entered the war eight years, but it was held (Loftin v. Sowers, as captain of a company, and was in the battle 65 N. C. 251, and opinion 64 N. C. 785) that of Newbern, 14 March, 1862, and went with the term of the judges first elected ran for Branch's Brigade to Virginia as quartermas eight years after the next general election, ter. He was soon appointed, by President which was two years after the adoption of Davis, presiding officer of a military court, the Constitution. The effect was to make with the rank of colonel. He served in this the term of the judges first elected ten years. capacity till the close of the war. His con Judge Rodman served the full term of ten siderable estate was almost entirely destroyed years, which expired Jan. 1, 1879. He and