Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-07-09
Obituary

The world grew darker and sad
der to the numerous relatives friends
and acquaintances on the 10th of
June, 1881, when amid the peace and
quiet of the holy Sab bath afternoon.
Mr.. John z. Kea rfott, at the age of
seventy-six years, six months and
five days, passed away to be with
God. For two or three years he
had been threatened with symptoms
of apoplexy, and whatever the origi-
nal cause, from the complaints made
of trouble in the left side, it was
quite likely supplemented by hyper
| trophy Of the heart. lie ate dinner
as usual, but not long after COM
| planned of trouble in the left side:
| every ministration of affection was
rendered, but suddenly there is a
| pail upon all attendants support,
and wife has lost an affectionate
husband, children a noble father,
the State worthy citizen, and all
his acquaintance a good friend.
Mr.. John T.. Kearfoot was born
in Frederick county, Va, just south
| of Winchester, on his fathers farm,
where he passed his childhood. Ills
youth was divided, it appears be-
tween clerking III Winchester store
and attendance at the Winchester
| Academy, where he made such rap
id advancement, especially in math-
ematics and Philosophy that some
time between his seventeenth
and eighteenth years, upon the re.
moval of the principal to Boston, on
account of bad health, young Kear.
fott was invited by the trustees to
the charge of the Academy.
Thirteen days less than twenty
one years Of age he married Miss
Cynthia S. Bales, of Frederick coun-
ty, by whom he was left a widower
| before he was twenth-two.
The old family Bible shows that
he was again married Aug. %, 1897,
to Miss Hester Lemen OF Kearneys-
vile, Jefferson county, with whom
he lived q long and happy life and
| whom he has now left in the feeble
ness 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 Pliers Chapel, and finally
removed to his late residence about
three miles east Of Martinsburg
where he lived twenty-seven years.
till his death. Although beginning
early and following up the profess
sion of teacher, Mr.. Kearfott de-
| veloped very early, love for and
skill in practical surveying. He be-
gan in 1880 without a preceptor, and
was so successful that he was soon
| elected county Surveyor and contin-
| ued to fill that Office until the war,
and after the General Amnesty, was
elected again and again, being popu-
lar on account of his genuine honor
and ability, with both parties, and
held the Office uninterruptedly until
his death. Beside the general land
| surveying Of his own and other
| counties, where he was looked upon
as authority in disputed points, we
| may note some special works OF his
engineering in the turnpike from
Williamsport, Md, to the Frederick
county line, the Blocmery grade,
from M9rtinsburg to the Morgan
county line, additions to the town
OF Martinsburg, ana the beautiful
Greenhill cemetery, where his re-
mains now lie, which he laid out In
1854.
In 1917 lie prepared the map Of
Berkeley county. David Strother,
Esq. present U. ). Minister to Mex
leo, and who under the nom dc
plume of Port Crayon, has delighted
so many homes, being the Litho-
grapher. With regard TO Mr.. Kear-
fott's religious life, we find that he,
with four Others, were baptised in
the year 1885 and constituted Zion
Baptist church, of which he was
chosen clerk and treasurer, in the
same year; also be was made a Dea-
con, all Of which Offices he held for
forty.six years, till the time OF his
death, with perfect fidelity
having single criticism upon their
conduct. In all his practical life he
truly adorned his PROFESSIONALISM
full to God and man as he was able.
1t has been said that he settled up
more estates than amy man in his
time and place, yet he could say
with the Apostle Paul: did make
gain off any of you ~ OF a true,
philanthropic spirit, in all his sur
veying, dividing and settling up of
estates, he acted like a father, care
full of the fatherless and widow even
to his own loss. The poor will re-
member him, for, often "for their
sakes he become poor" BLESSED is
he that considereth 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 tie