Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-04-25
Death Of James +. Byers.

The sensibiiity Of city or community has
rarely been 20 stirred as was that Of ours on
last Saturday by the unexpected and prema-
ture demise OF the subject Of this notice. The
awful suddenness of the visitation, the entire
absence of any OF those dismal prem onitions
and sombre foreshadi' gs which precede the
hand OF the terrible reaper, added to the vio-
lence Of the shock, and carried with the intel.
lieence almost feeling Of incredulity.
Moving about among his acquaintances with
all his habtual vivacity and cheerfulness, the
dread summons came to him az by lightning
flash. Seated in front Of the store Of Crawford
4 Jones on Augusta street. engaged In CONVEX
sation with his brother. whom he had just met
and with his business associate standing near
him, ne suddenly. and without a groan or ex-
clamation, fell prone ON his face. and though
eager hands bore him promptly into the house
and medical attention was Immediately pro-
cured. he never spoke or moved, aid few
minutes, filled with dread suspense and walt
ing, proved that the stroke was fatal. and that
here his brief and busy life had forever ended.
There has never a man been removed from the
business or social circle OF our city, who will
be more missed or whose taking-o6 will leave
q more widely spread and sensible void than
that Of James T. Byers. While yet very
young man. and without that profound hold
which the maturity Of life gives to men upon
their fellow-men, he had nevertheless wider
area OF acquaintance and more uniform per-
sonal popularity than any man OF his age we
have ever known. There was something 20
unafYec' eddy cordial, 80 winning and gentle
in his habitual manner and address. that the
bitterest cynic could not remain proof against
the charm of his personal magnetism. We
have heard it said by one who knew him
daily in the perplexities and amid the irrita-
tions Of laborious business. that he seemed
actually to desire contact with the captious and
fault-fnding customer. and never was he
more jovlal and more serene in his admirable
temper than when confronted by a contentious
and unbearable patron.
Bitterness and unkindness, injustice or re-
sentiment, seemed utterly foreign to his nature
and II ever human heart brimmed over with
all patient forbearance and gentle human
sympathy for his kind, the great heart Of oul
dead young friend coz tanned them all.
II he manifested not always IN his daily life
the practical essentials of the Christian thar
acter he held in his breast those factors of re-
ligion, without which mot all the uttered music
| of the Anglican Litany can lift Us above the
narrowness OF our little humanity. and that
WEE y I8r.r68c0InR anu IuuQlb6 &uu eOuuO6nt
charity and love for his fellows.
II In all things he was not steadfast, he never
reproached the failings or the weakness of 9TH
ers. and we doubt II ever in the experience Of
those who knew him most intimately and best,
An ungenerous unkind. uncharitable. or cen.
serious word was ever uttered by him Of any
citizen or neighbor.
Too large.hearted and self-forgetful not 10 be
do Ctodo nd Ia tn hi Aov~ oIoein
| he leaves young widow and two little chill.
dren to that desolation and WEAKNESS OF grief
which comes to forever enshroud the hearth
stone. AS a Councilman, public spirited
| and always honest In his efforts for the gen
eral well, he leaves US community to
| mourn a serious loss; and In the ranks OF the
military Organization OF which he was a COM
missioned officer. 9 memory that Will long sur.
| vlve him, as an efficient soldier genial
| whole.souled comrade, and q faithful friend
TO all the wide circle Of relatives, where his
| death has carried such honest mour ming, we
| tender our sorrowfui coincidence.
His funeral was one OF the largest that has
been witnessed in Staunton for many years,
| and the funeral 0bseQuies were conducted by
Rev. w. E. Baker, assisted by Rev J. M. Frost
| His mortal remains were buried in Thorn
! rose Cemetery last Sunday evening, attended
| by large concourse Of citizens and by the
| West Augusta Guard, Staunton Artillery
| 5tonewall Brigade Band, and the Knights Of
Pythias. The pall-bearers were: Col. VIM. L.
Bumgardner and Lieut.. w. A. Logan. Of the
We Augusta Guard; Robert W. Burke and
g. g. Gooch. of the City Council of staunton
A. E. Miller and Ed. Echols. OF the knights OF
Pythias; and citi2 ems, Ed. Jones and Robert
Holiday.