The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1857-12-12
OBITUARY.


/ Died, in Appomattox county, at the
residence of DR.. K. d. Palmer on The 18th
of November, Mrs. JUDITH L. WATKINS,
wife of Mr.. Robert X. Watkins of Lynchburg,
and daughter of the late VIM. I. Walker
of Prince Edward, in the Both year Of her
age.
In her removal we have striking illustra-
ton of the uncertainty of all earthly enjoy
ments. Just six months from the date of her
marriage, death sundered the ties that bound
her to an affectionate husband and an inter-
esting family of children, to whom she had as
sumed the maternal relation. How fully she
had gained their confidence and affection, was
manifested by their heartfelt expressions Of
sorrow, as they stood around her open grave
and saw her earthly remains committed to
the dust. In this sore bereavement, her
I friends are cheered with the assurance,
that their loss, is her unspeakable gain
In immediate prospect of death, she ex-
pressed both to her husband, and her pas
tor, an mistaken reliance on the perfect
Righteousness of Christ and the tranquility
of her whole demeanor, showed that the
anchorage of her hope was within the veil.
To disposition of rare loneliness, was SUI
peradded in an eminent degree, the beauty
of the Christian character. Her memory
will long be cherished in the hearts of all
who knew her. At her request, the session
of Buffalo church, had granted her letter
of dismission to join the 1st Presbyterian
church in Lynchburg, but before the certif-
cate reached her the great Head of the
church, had transferred her relation from
the church on EARTH to the church of the
first born in Heaven. Z.
Died, in Roanoke County, on the lSt day
of December 1857, Col. ELIJAH MCCLANA-
HAN, in the SSth year of his age.
When one leaves this world w6o,Effke
Col. McClanahan, has so long and SO well
fulfilled the duties of a citizen and of Chris
tan, it is not only becoming but highly
proper that some friend should make
public record of his virtues. Even in a
worldly point of view, few men have lived
to better purpose. For more than sixty
years he has been associated with the pub
lie men and with public measures in Bote-
tourt and Roanoke counties, during the
whole of which long period he has enjoyed
the confidence and regard of his fellow citi-
zens. lie was a respected magistrate and
member of the Court, for perhaps forty
years; and represented the county OF Bote-
tourt in the General Assembly Of Virginia,
at time (1S06) when that was not an empty
honor-when the Barbours, Giles, Taze-
wells, Breckinridges, and other leading
men of the State controlled her public cOun-
ellis; and while Col. McClanahan had not the
advantages of education, yet he possessed
a native vigor of intellect, and dignity OF
manner that won respect even among the
more cultivated and refined. He was also
an officer in the war of 1912, and marched
to Norfolk when danger from disease was
greater than from active service against the
enemy.
He was an afectionate husband anC
father, a cordial, generous friend, an ener
getic and useful citizen, greatly beloved by
his immediate friends and neighbors for hi
uniform kindness; and was judicious coun
sellor to all who sought his advice. In fac
he was never better pleased than when act
ing in the blessed Office of peace-maker, il
which character he was eminently successful
But valuable as such qualities are, it wa
as a Christian that Col. McClanahan's cha
racter shone brightest No higher evidence
can be given of his earnest, devoted piety
than the fact that of family consisting O
nine daughters, all have been for man,
years active and useful members Of tn
church of their honored father; and hi
children's children (ef whom the number
, very large) enjoy the blessing promised t
the seed of the faithful. Among the hal
, lowed memories of the writer connected wit
his visits to his aged friend in his last sick
7 ness, one of the most pleasing is, that Q
| seeing seven daughters ministering with al
fectionate interest around the bedside c
their venerable father, and joining in tn
songs of Zion that were so precious an
comforting to the dying saint.
: About forty-slX years ago, Col. McCIana
: han connected himself with the Presbyte
rian Church, under the ministry of Re,
l Robert Logan, who was then the only Pre-;
byterian minister in this part of the Vale,
4. Soon afterwards he was elected a ruin
elder, the duties of which Office he di.
=, charged with great fidelity, being "read
to every good work" In him not only hi
S own church, butthe of Religion in it
largest sense, has lost a most liberal frienC
He was one of those cheerful, giyers
n whom "the Lord .loveth," and was neye
j. weary in well doing. Long looked up t.
and venerated as Christian Patriarch, h
y has now 'come to his grave in full ag'
like as a shock of corn cometh in his season.
: The circumstances Of his death were sue
as we might expect from one who had keI
S life's highest and noblest end in view. n
one could be with him in his last days, an
: hear his expressions Of humble, but unw'
II vering trust in the Lord his Redeemer, Will
out feeling that
> "The chamber where the good man meets his fate
Is mi ,ilaoad hpXOnd n walks of COMMON life -