Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-07-28
Death Of a Valuable Citizen.

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On Friday last it was announced on the
VINDICAToR bulletin-board, that Capt.
Thomas X. Menifee, whose illness at the
Capon Springs was spoken of in the issue
of that morning, had died the night before
at IL O'Clock. He was well-known, re-
spected and valuable citizen. A native Of
Jefferson county, Virginia, he died at the
age of AZ years, after a life Of unspotted
integrity and great usefulness. His history
is that of truly self-made man. His father
died when the children were very young,
leaving them life of work before them. At
the early age of eleven years young Meni-
fee became cart driver in the employ of
J. Humbert & Co., the great railroad con-
tractors who were then building the Par
kersburg extension of the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad. He rose so rapidly in the
estimation of his employers, that at six
teen, when they took a contract on the old
Virginia Central Road, he was the super
intendent of the whole work. In 1858,
when the firm took the contract for the
Dom Pedro Railroad in Brazil, they sent
Mr.. Menifee out as their superintendent
While there, some Of the native workmen
became dissatisfied with the paymaster and
attempted to assassinate him, and would
have accomplished it had not Mr.. Menifee
shot the would-be assassin in the act. This
created great excitement. and a riot re-
suited. Dom Pedro, the present Emperor,
heard the case and took great interest in
Mr.. Menifee's safety, seeing to it that be
was protected by the government until he
left the country. On returning to Amer
lea, he went to work getting coal out of
the Loaconing mines by the ton. In 1861,
at the commencement of the war, Gen.
JOS r. Anderson made him the superin-
tendent of the iron mines in Botetourt,
where he remained in charge during the
war. At it's close, he again went into rail
road building, constructing the Clover Hill
branch road in Chesterfield, the Cumber-
land Valley Road in Tennessee, and su-
perintending for Humbert q Co. the dress
ing up of the G. & 0. Road from Coving-
ton west. He had contract on that road
and also on the Valley Road, but his last
active work was the contract for the Staun-
ton Water Works. He was partner Of
the Staunton Iron Works; and Director
in the Augusta National Bank. He was
man of rugged sterling worth, without
suavity of manner, but with great kind
ness of heart. Though dying at an early
age, he had set up more young men in bus
mess than any man Of greater age and
means in this community. His generosity
was proverbial, and he was a large con-
tributor to religious objects. The Metho-
dist chapel at West End here was built
largely by his liberality, and but few days
since we saw notice of his hberality in
the same direction in Southwest Virginia.
He leaves fortune Of over $3.50, 900, &C
cumulated solely by hard work and good
judgment.
His health had been failing for some
months, and a few days ago he went to
Capon Springs for relief, and there met
death with perfect calmness and resigna-
ton, being in possession of his senses al
most up to the moment of dissolution.
His remains were received at the Valley
R. R. Depot at P. M. Saturday, by a de-
tachment Of Stephenson Commandery,
Knights Templar, a committee from Staun.
ton Lodge A. F. and A. NJ, of which or
CARNATIONS he was member, and a COM
mittee from the Directors Of the Augusta
| National Bank, of which he was a Direc
| tor, and escorted to the M. E. Courch
South, where it remained during the night
in charge Of committee from both the
Commandery and Lodge, where it was also
visited by number of persons who desir-
ed to see their friend for the last time.
At 81 Am. Sunday, the Masonic Lodge
with a number of visiting brethren from
Greenville, followed by Stephenson Com
mandery, K. T., and preceded by the Stone
wall Band, marched to the church, where
Rev. DIR. Martin performed the funeral
services. DR.. M. took occasion, most ap-
propriately, to speak of his character as
man and Christian.
He also alluded to the fact that 80 years
ago he had preached the funeral Of Reuben
Finnel, of Front Royal, the grandfather
of Mr.. Menifee, who was a man of such
sterling traits, that when killed by fall,
though living some miles from the town,
every place of business in Front Royal was
closed that the public might attend his fu-
neral. At the conclusion of DR.. M re-
marks, the procession was re-fo rmed as
| before, the Masons under their Marshal,
J. c. Marquis. and Knights Templar under
| their Captain General, W. L. Blu mgardner,
preceding the hearse, which was followed
by the employees OF Staunton Iron Works
! and a large procession of citizens on foot
and in carriages. and moved on to the
cemetery, the Stonewall Band playing
Trout's Fun eral March. At the grave the
remains were received by Commander W.
FL. II. Lynn, of the Knights Templar, who
deposited on the coffin Sir Knight Meni-
| fees chapeau and sword; the Knights
Templar then escorting them to the grave
through the open ranks of Staunton Ma
sonic Lodge, the Lodge following, and
after prayer by Rev. Martin, performing
a portion of their funeral ceremony, Past
Master W. L. Balthis acting as Master and
Rev. R. II. Phillips as Chaplain, both
Lodge and Commandery uniting iii this
ceremony. The Lodge then gave way, and
the Commandery, after forming a triangle
around the grave, performed a portion of
their ceremony, in which the Commander,
being handed the sword, described the use
| of it in the hands of Sir Knight; the
Prelate, Rev. R. II. Phillips, after the
coffin was lowered into the grave, commit
| ted the body to it's mother earth and the
spirit to the Grand Commander above, and
being handed the cross-that symbol of
! the Christians faith-read the beautiful