The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-06-29
Death of Alyan II. Head.

Tuesday, June 81, 1882, shortly after
IL NJ. our citizens were startled by the
announcement that ex-Sheriff Head
was no more For months he has been
in feeble health, having had a paraly-
tic stroke, but no one dreamed that
the end was so near During the fore
noon of the day of his death he was
on the street, going down Main street
to Derhy's corner, thence by the plain
ing mill up Powell's alley and home.
Parties on the street noticed that he
walked with great effort, but attrib-
uted it to the fact of his great age
and iniirniities.
Reaching HE residence on Depot
street a few minutes before Il NJ. he
complained Of being tired, and having
a hard pain in his breast Laying
down Oh the lounge he said to his
wife, Il ain feeling better now" and
requested her to finish the work she
was engaged at, and return as soon as
possible. In short time she returned
and saw at Il glance that he was sink
ing. Calling in u near neighbor, Mr..
Nichols, the discovery was soon made
that Ii fc had departed. The supreme
moment arriving at few III inutes past
twelve. He had not been on the
street for two or three weeks before
his final walk on Tuesday, and il
seemed as though an inward prompter
urged him to take his last look on the
green earth, the blue sky, faces of
friends, and the radient beauty of the
June morning, ere he departed to take
his place among the innumerable
throng, and see the mysteries of tter
nifty unfolded to his vision. Quietly and
peacefully, us the last leaf on the tree,
he sank to that senblance of sleep
called death. Conscious to the verge of
the dissolution of body and soul.
Avian Fl. Head was born among the
granite hills of New Hampshire, at
Pembroke, on the 23rd day of June in
1906. AT tue age of Il he left home
going to Mobile, Alabama. In COM
pany with John Humbert and others
he contracted for and built a portion
of the Baltimore and Potomac rail-
road. During the Florida Indian war
he was Colonel of Volunteers. Later
he came to Brookville (about ls39) and
engaged in the business of lumber
ing until lS47. On Nov. IA, 1917, at
Ridgway, he was united in wedlOck
with Miss Adaline M. Crow, who sur
wives him. He was the first Odd Eel
low in Brookville, and was also u
member of the Masonic order. In 1850
he and his wife moved to Bear Greek,
where he was engaged in the business
of numbering, and where he built the
Bear Creek Mill. Having been
elected sheriff of Elk County in 1858
he moved to Ridgway, and has made
his home here ever since. He held
the office of supervisor of Ridgway
township after his term of office as sher-
if expired. Again in 1859 he was re-
elected sheriff defeating Mr.. Jacob
McCauley for the office, having been
a candidate but three weeks before the
election. During Grants first term he
was assistant assessorof Internal Reye-
nue., continuing in that position until
the office was abolished. He had held
besides the position of enrolling officer
during the first draft, besides numer-
Gus other Township offices. A man
of vigorous constitution his deeds of
prowess in the strength of manhood
have many times been told. His
judgment was sought by many men
in his time on important matters, and
was always safe guide to follow. In
physical and mental powers Nature
showed a masterpiece in Aav n H.
Head. A wife and two sons are left to
mourn their loss He was great
lover of Burns poems and with his
favorite poet we will say:
"Iam q bending aged tree
That long has stood the wind and rain;
But now has come the cruel blast
And my last hald OF earth Is game;
Nae leaf 'omine shall greet the spring
Nae simmer sun exalt my bloom.
But main lie before the storm,