On the walls of American homes no portraits are more cherished than those embalmed in the affections or elevated in the common estimate by reason of heroic lives. Art preserves their features and expression, and history traces their struggles and triumphs in the upward course to useful service. The record of such men is to humanity the intellectual and moral treasure house from which kindred spirits of successive generations draws inspiration and courage.
     Among the first comers of the Old World to the American Republic just then established was James Stockdale. He settled in Pennsylvania and was married to Miss Weir. The issue of this marriage was one son, William and four daughters. In the second war with Great Britain, during 1812, William, at the age of eighteen, responded to the call for troops to repel the invasion. At the close of the war he married to Miss Hannah McQuaid. She was of Scotch-Irish descent, a lady of more than ordinary culture. To them were born four sons and three daughters. Of these sons, James removed to Maryland and represented the county of his adoption in the Lower House of the General Assembly; John M. twice represented his native county (Green) in the Legislature of Pennsylvania, and in 1814 was the Democratic nominee to Congress from his district; Robert P. Stockdale removed to Iowa; and Mrs. J. B. Wise, the surviving daughter, is a resident of Washington County, of Pennsylvania.
     Thomas Ringland, the sixth child of this marriage was born February 28, 1828. His early boyhood was spent on his father's farm. He experienced the hardships incident to a life which forbids 'elegant' leisure. Industry, purpose, determination, and constancy were his guiding characteristics. His early educational opportunities consisted of a few weeks in a winter school, but he had a superb educator in his mother, who, after the work of the day had been finished, directed him in his studies and in the habits of diligence and application which stimulated and developed him into a vigorous manhood. In 1853 he matriculated as a student of Jefferson (now Washington and Jefferson) college, and was graduated in 1856. During that year he became a citizen of Mississippi.
     He first engaged as an instructor of youth, teaching in Covington and Pike Counties. While teaching, in 1858, he began to study law under the instruction of Hon. John Y. Lamkin, a prominent lawyer who in later years represented his district in the Confederate Congress. In the fall of that year he entered the University of Mississippi, where he pursued his legal studies and also finished both the junior and the senior course in one year. He graduated in the summer of 1859. He located at Holmesville, Pike county, where he began the practice of law.
     When war clouds darkened the Southern sky Mr. Stockdale did not consult the tender ties in Pennsylvania nor the chances of preferment in the Federal army, with all its advantages, but he deliberately concluded that the cause of the Southern States was just, and to them he gave his utmost strength.
     In April, 1861, Mr. Stockdale enlisted as a member of the Quitman Guards, and was elected lieutenant of the company, which became a part of the Sixteenth Mississippi Infantry Regiment, and he was appointed adjutant. Before the close of the year he was elected major of the regiment.
     In the succeeding year he returned to Mississippi, recruited and organized a company of cavalry, and took the field as captain. He was soon after appointed commander of a battalion of cavalry, and in 1863 was commissioned major of volunteers. Later he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the fourth Mississippi Cavalry regiment. During the battle of Harrisburg, near Tupelo, Miss., on July 4, 1864 while commanding the regiment, he was severely wounded. After four years' record without a stain he was paroled from Gen. Forrest's army May 12, 1865.
     Col. Stockdale returned to Holmesville and resumed the practice of law. In February, 1867, he married Miss Fannie Wicker, only daughter of Mr. Adam Wicker, a planter of Amite County, who was related to a large circle of influential families in south Mississippi. Five children were born to them, two of whom are living, a daughter and a son.
     After marriage, Col. Stockdale with his family resided at Summit, in Pike County. In 1869 he formed a co-partnership with Judge Hiram Cassidy, Sr., a gentleman of eminent ability both as a lawyer and jurist, and the firm had uninterrupted and successful existence for twelve years.
     Intellectually Col. Stockdale was a strong man. Physically he was tall. His friends gave him the sobriquet 'The Tall Pine of Mississippi.' His industry and energy were extraordinary. This is illustrated by his having spent twelve hours in the State library at Jackson, from the hour after supper until the hour of breakfast, in examining decisions and law references applicable to an important case to be argued before the Supreme Court the next morning. Again, he was the attorney in a matter involving a considerable sum of money. It was on Saturday. The case was set for trial on the following Monday. To the surprise of his client, Col. Stockdale immediately after the announcement went home; many miles away, and at nine o'clock Monday, when court opened and the case was called, Col. Stockdale stepped into the court room. He had traveled the distance of fifty miles over rough piney woods roads in seven hours.
     As a lawyer he was true to his oath and loyal to his client. His elevated conceptions of duty rejected every suggestion to use surreptitious methods in the defense of a client.
     In 1886 he was elected to the Fiftieth Congress, and reelected in 1888, 1890, and 1892. Here, as in every public trust, fidelity to duty characterized his conduct. During the Fiftieth Congress he was a member of the committees on Public Lands and on War Claims. Out of seven thousand claims before the latter committee, he reported all from Mississippi and many claims from other States and in not a single case so reported was his decision reversed. During the Fifty-Second and Fifty-Third Congresses he served as an active member of the committee on Levees and the Improvement of the Mississippi River, and on the Judiciary Committee.
     At the close of his Congressional career Col. Stockdale was appointed by Gov. A. J. McLaurin a member of the Supreme Court, to fill an unexpired term.
     His temper was uniformly placid and his manners eminently courteous and gentleman like. In the home circle he was the considerate father and tender husband.
     During the weary months of his painful illness he uttered no complaint, and gave no sign of impatience to add one iota to the solicitude of his family. During the last year of his life he made a public profession of his Christian belief, and united with the Presbyterian Church.

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Note: William Gatlin, son of James S. Gatlin and brother of Zebulon B. Gatlin was a member of Stockdale's Cavalry, Company I, 4th Mississippi Calvary, organized at Holmesville, Mississippi, on the July 1, 1862. William was one of six men killed on the field at Harrisburg (now Tupelo), Mississippi, on June 14, 1864.
Christian (Kit) Hoover was also a member of this unit. He joined Stockdale's Cavalry upon returning to Mississippi after being wounded while serving with the 16th Mississippi in Virginia.    ************************************************************************************