Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-12-16
By-Gone Days.
DECEMBER I, 1871.

DECEMBER /, 1871.
My 10Th birthday anniversary brings up
some pleasant and many sad memories. In
scanning The obituary lists through 6f:y years
Of the FREE Press, I find the names Of hosts
Of friends who have Joined the innumerable
caravan, aud marched to the dusty realms Of
death" To name them would engross much
Of your space. At Harpers Ferry, most Of
the citizens who were my contemporaries be-
tween 1921 and 1927 are no more. Coils.
Stubblefeld and Lucas, Majors Gtephenson and
Broadus, William Price Craighil, the Beck
hams, the Wagers, Duke, Weed, Dudley, Win
tersmith were among the early patrons Of the
FREE Pass. Hundreds Of the industrious
armorers Of that period inscribed their names
on the list. Not one Of my own age is now
recollectsd as living.
Since 1927, the period Of my location in
Charlestown and Of the junction Of the FREE
PREss and FARMERS REPOSITORY, / know Of
but few Of the inhabitants Of that day now
living. OF those who have passed away,
may name Richard Williams as the first Of my
acquaintance, Thomas Grggs, David Hum
phreys, George w. Humphreys, Patrick
Dougherty, DR.. S. J. Cramer, Dr. Lee Grigss,
James Brown, William Brown, Cato Moore,
Willoughby W Lane, Joseph +. Lane, An
drew Kennedy, Robert Fulton, Matthew Ran
son, James L. Ransom, VIM. F. Lock, Robert
Worthington, Samuel Young, Henry Haines,
Samuel Holl, Samuel OGutt, Thomas Rawlins,
John Stephenson, Thomas Likens, the Islers,
Matthew and John ]. Frame, Dr. David Hun
ter. DR.. VIM. Yates, Judge Douglas, Geo. W,
Sappington.
The names Of departed friends in other sec
tious Of the County would fll columns-At
Smitbfeld and nsighborhood, Wm. Grantham
Sebastian Eaty, Henry Smith, Dr. Scolay
Benjamin Wilson, the Watsous, James Shirley
and James Griggs were among those grateful
ly remembered
at Shephsrdstown and neigbbOrhoOd, Ben
jsmin T. Towner, Baker Tapscott. Henry
Botolef, Joseph McMurran, George Reynolds
Daniel and Jacob Morgan, Charles Harper
John T. Cookus, John F. Hamtramck, Henry
Berry, Daniel Entlsr, George Unseld Conrad
Shindler, Geo. Fayman and Albert Humrick-
house were early friends and supporters.
/ must not omit tribute to the memory Of
John Yates, Henry S Turner, the Washing
tons. John Moler, the Moores, EiChelbergers
Hursts, James Hite, VIM p Flood, Thomas
Briscoe, Samuel W. Lakeland, William Crow,
Leonard Sadler, Nicholas Starry, the Buckmas-
tsrs, Andrew Woods, Hamilton Jefferson, Mi
cbael Wysong, James Jones Samuel Howell,
David Howell, Vim. Morrow, John Lamon,
John and Vim. Avis, James Ash, Ezekiel
Dean, Ephraim Beller, Moses Wilson, Cyrus
Hibbens, VIM Hooif, the Sl0ans, Michael
Sheetz, John Hafer, Henry and William Ely,
VIM. Cleveland, Daniel Snyder, C. G.. Stewart,
John Cunningham, Braxton Davenport, Jo-
seph 7. Daugherty, Sebastian Medlar, Beuja-
min johnson, Abram and John Snyder, Sam
uel Wright, VIM. Little.
These and many others have gone before,
whilst l and few Of my own age remain as
" monuments Of mercy" soon to follow.
have no doubt most Of my friends yet
spared viii readily join me in rehearsal of the
following stann;
sI would were a boy again,
When life was full Of sunny years,
And all the heart ere felt OF pain
Was washed away In transient tears
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