Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-09-27
OBITUARY.



By the death OF WILLIAM BATTLE. Eso.
another breach has been made in the thiu
ranks OF the venerable pioneers and pstri
arehs OF Shelby county.
Whose was the dauntless heart, the hand
That bade the desert blossom and rejoice"
This sad event occurred on the I4th day OF
september, lol4, at the residence OF his daugh.
ter. Jrs- i. J. TGrley, IA Memphis.
Esquire RATTLE (as he was famillarly called
was born in Nasn county, North Carolina
IA april, A-D., l7sO, and was, therefore, IN bis
eighty NTH year at his Geata. When twenty.
two years old he was married TO Chloe
5odGie member OF one OF the best
families in North Carolina. AFTER his
marriage he moved from Nash 70
10 Wake county, and settled In the vicinity o.
Raleigh. North Carolina. He served his coun.
try as soldier in the war Of 1872. fact which
cannot be proved By the a. Pension Lis,' OF our
country On 1861 The soldiers OF the same
coanty arrested him, and cruelty dragged
MIN MN from MS home upon no charge whatever,
and held him or several days at the rjsk ol
life from Indictment weather.
ne moved 70 Shelby county, Tennessee, as
early as $50. and was at his death, perhaps,
the oldest citizen In the county, having re-
sided within its borders for forty four wears
He settled in the northeast corner Of me
county, which being then an unbroken viii
derness, he called II the Dark Corner" from
the dark, outrageous shadows cast BY It's
dense forests The farm which ne opened in
this dark wilderness continued TO be his home
uH MS de2Ln. Here he and his faithful wife
iVed most happily together till Nav 1884
when she died, sixty-nine years OF age. Theirs
v as golden i0edding, lasting for nfty-two
years
" In fast wedlock Joined, like two vessels
launched
Erom the same beach one ocean 70 explore
win mutual help and saillng-to their
True, as inexorable winds, or bars
Did allow"
LIES voyage being over, they bot b lie, side
oy side, In country graveyard, az Gratitude
Church, near the old homestead, awaiting a
glorious resurrection. They were both long
and faithful u embers OF the Baptist Church
Thirteen noble sons and daughters were born
unto thems all or whom, except one, grew to
years OF maturity, and became eltgibly To-
Gated In life. Ofthese only six suryfve-tbrea
sons and three daughters. -Four sons were in
casualties and hardships OF war except one
The grandchildren Of this venerable couple
are now forty six a numb 7.
Esquire Battle has two brothers and A sister
surviving, and he and they furnish reTnarka-
ble instances Of longevity. We have mem
TONED that he was himself four-score and five
years OF age al his death. His eldest brother
Rey. Thomas Battle, OF Georgia, still survives
and nun bars four-score and ten wears Alfred
Battle, OF Tuscaloosa, Alabama, ia a junior
DrOtner, but numbers over fOur-scOre years.
His sister, Mrs. Forte. OF Columbus Missis-
sippl, still survives, at about eighty years OF
age.
The old maxim, memo ante obitun Jeliz-
call no man happy before his death-hoWever
appropriate in Its application to kings and
emperOrs, WarriOrS and statesmen, was wholly
false and inapPlicable TO the late William
Battle, for he was happy IN his life and happy
Ia his death. His tastes and occupations were
OF a rural character. He was ut
lerly devoid Of political ambition. Though
qualified % I'LL almost any civic station In /
life, he never aspired TO any position of honor |
Dr. pront. He sought enjoyment in peaceful |
leisure and In the cultivation OF the social af- |
ections. His motto seemed to be- 'srhe post |
)i honor Is the private station" Like Diecle-
sian OF old, he would not have quit his farm
and garden to mount throne. He loved to |
ilspense the fertile treasures of his farm in |
lcts OF hospitality. He was eminently social |
n disposition, and his conversation was full |
II FiVacity and spnghtliness. He seemed /
never TO grow weary Of the presence OF a 1
riendi and one withdrew from the sweet |
harm OF his society always with reluctance.
he was the very impersonstiOn of truth and |
loDor. In all respects he was a model man, a /
model husband, a model parent, a model 1
leighbor, model master in the days of /
lavery, model citizen and a model chris
ian.
Charity mid the multitude OF sins
mat she does cover, left n Z his few exposed,
% an unforgiyiDg Judgment from just
heaven"
He enjoyed the use OF all his faculties,
ihysieal and mental, almost TO the last, and
cath
"Llke an opiate slumber stole,
oft Ger his senses ana whelmed his willing
SOUL
o, he was good, If ever a good mar lived.
J. Y. L.