The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-10-27

DEATH OF AN OLD CITIZEN OF BEL AIR.-Mr
VIM Nee. Jeffery, the Oldest male inhabitant
of Bel Air, died at his residence, in this town,
on Tuesday night, in the s1st year of his age
He was born on Rock Ridge, Hartford county,
April Goth, 1902 In 1909 his mother, then
widow with several children, removed to Bel
Air. Mr.. Jcffery's father, intending to remove
to the West had gone out there planted u crop
and after making arrangements to have 1t saved
started on his way back to take his family
out. Near Uniontown, Fayette county Pa, he
was captured, and after horrible tortures was
murdered by the Indians.
Mr.. VIM. G. McJeffery learned the shoemaking
business with his oldest brother, the late Vim
cent Jeffrey, and has been living in Bel Air, en-
gagged in the same business, with one or two
short intcrmssions, for upwards of seventy
years.
His shop was favorite lounging place for
the Bel Air Academy boys, when that Institution
was first started by Rev. Reuben II. Davis, in
1876 Among the Academy students who fire.
quented his shop and came to see him when
ever business or pleasure brought them to Bel
Air, were J. j. Chapman, who afterwards be-
came celebrated as an artist the late ex-Gov
A. w. Bradford, ex-Gov. Joseph Kent, John
Philpot, of Baltimore county, and others whose
names he could sometimes recall
In later days John Wilkes Booth was fire.
quent visitor to Mr.. Jefferys shop and the old
gentl, man was fond of recalling the memory of
the bright, high-spirited boy, whose handsome
FORM courteous manners and considerable DISPOSE
ton made him welcome visitor everywhere.
No one knew, in those farof days, the fate in
store for Booth, nor the tremendous conse-
quences of the fatal act by hich the history Of
our country is darkened.
Mr.. Jeffrey was also well acquainted with the
elder Booth and his father. The latter he de-
scribed as an old English gentleman, of courtly
manners, who held but little intercourse with
the neighbors around the home of his son, near
Bel Air. He was barrister in England, but
abandoned his profession upon his removal to
this country. He lies buried on the farm now
owned by Mr.. 8. A. s. Kyle ~ miles from Bel
Air, the property having been owned by the
elder Booth, by whose heirs 1t was sold to Mr..
Kyle. Booth being foreigner, could not hold
fee simple title to land in this country, and
accordingly leased the farm for 800 years, re-
Movable for ever, at nominal rent of one cent
q year. About SO years of the lease have cxpir-
ed and the original owners of the tract are not
likely to give any trouble TO the present posses
sor or his successors.
Mr.. Jeffrey was an industrious man and had
accumulated support for his old age. His
mind, until within year past, was clear and
vigorous on all subjects, but for some months
before his death his memory became at times
/ -
quiet, unobtrusive life and was universally
esteemed. He built the house on Main street,
in which he died, "a years ago, and had been liv-
ing on the same lot for half century. When he
first removed there no houses stood between his
and Col. Israel d. Maulsby's, now the residence
| Of Major William ii. Dallam.