Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-07-23
OBITUARY.


quaintances on the 10Th of June, 1881,
holy Sabbath afternoon, Mr.. John P.
kearfott, aI the age Of seventy-six years,
six months and five days, passed away TO
be with God. For two or three years he
was threatened with symptoms Of apo
plexy, and whatever the original cause,
from the complaints made of trouble in
the left side, it was quite likely suple-
mented by hypertrophy of the heart. He
complained of trouble in the left side; ey-
cry ministration of affection was rendered
but suddenly there is pail upon all at
affiectionate husband, children a noble
father, the State worthy citizen, and all
his acquaintance good friend.
Mr.. John p. Kearfo:t was born in
Frederick county, Va, just south of Win
passed his childhood. His youth was di-
vided, it appears. between clerking in a
Winchester store and attendance At the
Winchester Academy, where he made
such rapid advancement, especially in
mathematics and Philosophy that some
time between his seventeenth and eigh-
teenth years, upon the removal Of the
principal TO Boston, OH account of bad
health, young kearfott was invited by the
trustees TO take charge OF the Academy.
Thirteen days less than twenty-one
years of age he married Miss Cynthia ).
Bales, of Frederick county, by whom he
was left widower before he was twenty
two.
The old family Bible shows that lie was
In ia1 Ipu 20
ter Lemen of Kearneysville, jefferson
county, with whom he lived 4 long and
happy life and whom he has now left i'll
the fecbleness of age to mourn his loss.
After leaving Winchester, Mr.. Kearfott
taught school for eight years on Mill
Creek near Henshaw's Mill, then at Pit
zer's Chapel, and finally removed to his
late residence about three miles east Of
Martinsburg where he lived twenty-scven
years, till his death. Although beginning
early and following up the profession OF
teacher, Mr.. kearfOtt developed very
early II love for and Il skill in practical
surveying. lie began in 1880 without
preceptur, and WAS so successful that he
was soon elected county Surveyor and
continued TO fill that office until the war,
and after the General Amnesty, was elect
eel again and again, being popular on ac-
count OF his genuine honor and ability,
with both parties, and held the office un-
interruptedly until his death.
Beside the general land surveying OF
his own and other counties, where he was
looked upon rs authority in disputed
points, we may note some special works
of his engineering in the turnpike from
WIllamSpOrt, Md, to the Frederick coulI-
ty line, the B!oomery grade, from Mar
tinsburg to the Morgan county line, adj
ditions TO the town Of MartinsburS, and
the beautiful Grccnhill cemetery, where
his remains now lie, which he laid out in
1854.
In 1S47 he prepared the map of Berkeley
county. David Srothcr, Esq, present L.
:. Minister to Mexico, and who under the
NOM DE PLUME OF Port Crayon, has delight
ed so many homes, being the Lithograph-
er. With regard to Mr.. Kearfott's rclig-
iouS life, we find that he, with four others
were baptized in the year 1880 and conSI-
tutcd Zion Baptist church, of which he
was chosen clerk and treasurer, i'll the
same year also he was made Il Deacon, all
of which offices he held for fOrty-SiX years,
till the time of his death, with perfect fl
tIclitv-ncvcr having a single criticism
upon their conduct. In all his practical
life he truly adorned his profession
faithful TO God and man as he was able.
1t has been said that he settled up more
estates than any man in his time and
place, yet he could say with the Apostle
Paul: Did make Il gain of any ofyou:"
OF Il true. philanthropic spirit in all his
surveying, dividing and settling up of es-
tatcS, lac acted like n father, careful OF the
fathcrlrs3 and widow even to his own
loss. The poor will remember him, for,
often "for their sakeS he became poor
blessed is he that considcreth the poor.
The Lord shall deliver him in time of
trouble, the Lord will preserve him and
keep him alive, and he shall be blessed
upon the earth" Truly the righteous
shall be in everlasting remembrance. Mr..
Kearfott had eight children, four o. whom
survive him, with nineteen grand-chlld-
rem and five great grand children to the
blessing of 4 memory that ripened full OF
integrity and goodness-the simple fruit
Of life that was daily led with God i'll
Christ Jesus our adorable Lord, to whom
be all the glory.-Martinaburg Indcpcn-
dent