Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-08-18
DEATH OF L.. y. LEE, ESQ.


ing away! And it is, this week, our
melancholy duty to chronicle the death
of our respected friend aud neighbor,
Mr.. EDMUND JENNINGS LEE;
who, for more than half century, has
been prominently identified with this
community.
He died on Friday night, the 10th
inst, after an illness of less than an hour,
and in the eighty-frst year OF his age.
Although the summons was no less
sudden to him than sad to his surviving
family and friends, it was not altogether
unlocked for by those who had noticed,
with increasing solicitude, how his
strength had lately failed him and who
naturally feared that the evening of his
days would not be heightened many
months beyond the allotted four score
years to which he had attained.
But sudden as was the summons to
himself-coming at an hour when ne
dreamed not of tit did not find him
unprepared For, having been, for ma
nv years, consistent Christian and hay
ing dedicated the morning and evening
of his last day on earth to the love and
service of his Lord and Master, he died,
as be had lived, relying upon the divine
promises given TO those who are faithful
to the end and rejoicing in the hope Of
a blessed Immortality beyond the grave.
Mr.. Lee was born in Alexandria, Vir
ginia, and belonged to distinguished
family. His father, Edmund |. Lee, was
prominent lawyer of that city and his
grandfather was the illustrious patriot
of the Revolution, Richard Henry Lee,
who, on the 2nd of June, 1776, intro
duced into the Continental Congress the
celebrated resolution, which, when adop
ted on the 2nd of July following, was
the act that really made us independent
of Great Britain and which was in these
immortal words:
Resolved, That these United Colonies
are and of right ought to be, free and in
dependent States; that they are absolved
from all allegiance to the British Crown
and that all political connection between
them and the State of Great Britain is and
ought to be totally dissolved.
Francis Lightfoot Lee (who like his
brother Richard Henry, was signer OF
the Declaration of INDEPENDENCE. Ar
thur Lee, (who was Minister of the
United States to the Court of Versailles,
Attorney General of the United States
under Washington, &c., and William
Lee (who was a London Alderman be-
fore the Revolution and in 1873 one of
the Sheriffs of that city, were grand I'M
cles of our deceased fellow citizen and
General Henry Lee-'Iight Horse
Harry" also of Revolutionary fame and
the father of the great and good Gener-
al Robert E. Lee, was likewise his near
kinsman.
But it was not on account Of his lin
cage that Mr.. Edmund J. Lee was re-
spected and beloved.
1t was because of his individual mer-
its and intrinsic worth in. all the rela-
tons of life.
AS citizen he was public-spirited,
independent, persevering aud courteous.
As lawyer he was Jealous, painstak-
ing, upright and prompt. As hus-
band he was faithful, affectionate and
considerate. As father fond, self-sac-
rifcing and indulgent And as a friend
genial, kind, hospitable and sincere.
Those who knew him best whilst liv-
ing, now, most lament his loss, and SYM
pathize most deeply with his afflicted
family in THEN bereavement.
The funeral which was largely attend
ed took place Oh Sunday evening.
The services at Tie Church were con-
Quoted by the Rev. Mr.. Hubbard (the
rector assisted by the Rev. Messrs.
Duncan and Levill. The pail bearers
were Messrs. Andrew Hunter, Thos. a.
Moore, Alex. r. Boteler, VIM.
A, Morgan, c. T. Butler, VIM. Right
slime, Geo. w. Hall, Lorenzo Etchson
and just as the sun was going down the
mortal remains Of our departed friend
were consigned to their last resting
place in Elmwood Cemetery.