The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-05-14


ed and sincerely esteemed. The father
of General Sheridan led peaceful and
uneyentful life. He early identified
himself with the material interests OF
his adopted home, and settled down to
the quiet industries of the place, with
the single purpose of raising his family
in the we'll proved principles of life
which crowned his own with the bright
est ornament of manhood-an honest
name. He and his boys, Philip H.
and Patrick, labored as contractors on
the public works of the county and
earned their bread-nothing more. and
there are old men shuff1ing around the
unpaved streets of the decaying village
to-day who talk about that time, recall
ed to memory by their old friends de-
parture, and say that he might have
been rich If he hadn't been so honest. /
have lust heard characteristic arec-
dote of Mr. Sheridan. He engaged his
turkeys at a certain price last season to
village store keeper; in the meantime
the price advanced, but Mr.. Sheridan
had not, and refused in the settlement to
receive a cent more than his word was
given for.
OF late years he resided in a hand
some cottage on the outskirts of the vii
Iage with native woods for background,
a pretty lawn in front, with evergreens,
l. III loft yuh
was his delight to tend and show his
friends. Here he spent the evening of
his days, and contemplated, no doubt.
with fathers pride the splendid record
| of his best known son, and drank in
with fathers pride the we'll merited
praised that no lover of the country
could withhold.
Mr. Sheridan was an undersized man,
slightly built, of very CHEEKY, happy
disposition, and warm, cordial manners.
In looking at his features, composed and
fixed though they were under the
sovereign and soothing hand of death,
the casual observer could not fail to
trace the mold of the countenance,
strong and eagle-eyed, that commanded
the entangled hosts in the valley of the
Shenandoah, and set them in a blaze of
victorious enthusiasm.
He enjoyed his usual good health and
activity until a few months ago. when
an injHry to one of his arms, sustained
by the kick of an untamed colt, super
| induced inflammation that caused great
pain. His form was familiar about the
streets of the village up to few days
| before his demise, and only on Tuesday
last he superintended some work on his
place, but was then made fearfully con-
scious of his rapidly approaching end.
He remained in the open air but brief
time when he was obliged TO return to
the house, where he was seized by a
chill, and sank down to rise no more. He
passed peacefully away on Thursday.
There were present at the closing
scene, his venerable partner and his
son John. His other sons, General
| Philip H. Sheridan and Colonel Mich
ael Sheridan, were Immediately "dis-
patched, and arrived in time to pay the
last tribute of flial respect and affec-
tion to their honored fathers remains.
And here let it be noted, that whatever
sense of worldly greatness General
Sheridan may have, whatever whisper
ings of hope and visions of ambition, he
never forgot his father and mother. His
love and devotion for them were unceas-
ing. From the first outburst of his mil
itary glory to the last act of devotion,
he was their comfort and their stay.
His noble nature never knew hRw to
slight parent, and when the big world
was rcsounding with the fame of his
deeds, it was his custom to slip quietly
away from the fiattering scene, and seek
the obscure village where he first real
ized the sense of home, that he might
sit bv the side of father and mother in
the mutual affection that made them
happy. When greatness came upon
him, and the eyes of the Nation were
directed to the man, the plain villagers
of Somerset proposed to honor him at a
public demonstration, but he put it gent
ly aside. Whatever he was to the
world outside, to them he was plain
"Phil. Sheridan" their friend and fell
low-citizen, who recognized no personal
distinction as due him, nor would he al
low any to be shown by them. The
funeral of his father was postponed on
his account. 1t was impossible for him
to be present on Saturday morning, and
next to impossible to proceed with the
ceremony in his absence. A great many
friends in the adjacent towns, and sever
al from Lancaster, all coming by rail,
were, therefore, disappointed yesterday,
and on account Of the non-running of
trains on Sunday, could not attend the
funeral to-day.
The burial ceremony took place in
the Holy Trinity Catholic Church at 10
o'clock this morning. The church was
crowded to excess with the people of the
place, irrespective of creed, and owners
of pews considerably gave them up, or
afforded sittings 10 strangers to the
"household of faith"
Rev. Father Noon, priest of Holy
Trinity, celebrated mass. Rev. Father
Higgins, Of the adjoining parish of ST.
Joseph, the oldest Catholic Church in
the State, delivered the sermon and pro-
nounced brief eulogy. The deep re-
ligious sense that had always been man.
ifest in the venerable parishioner was
pointed out as the safe anchor of his
life, and his devotion to the Catholic
faith was indicated az an example
worthy to be followed, because it prov
ed that he lived in the fear of God and
gave assurance of his hope for heaven.
The interment took place in the family
lot in the burial ground Immediately
adjoining the church. The black wal
nut casket containing the remains was
borne to the last resting place by M. F.