West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-07-07
AT REST

! The subject of this brief memoir, Eli
! Jah Shsffer, departed this hfe June s9i
1888 in the Sist year OF his age. The
deceased was born in Maryland, not far
from the city OF Baltimore, and whilst q
boy OF nine or ten years of age his faith
er enlisted in the war of 1912, and left
the principal care OF the family with Eli
lah. Ga returning home at the close of
the war, he found thar the boy had more
than filled his expectations in the dis
charge of his duties as protector OF and
provider for his mother and some young
er children. Having saved some money
while In the defense of his county, be
thought It best TO emigrate westward,
where lands were cheaper. He bought a
track of land ia the little valley OF Salt
Lick. The farm now owned by Mr..
Thomas Beatty. Knowing his own
weakness and dissolute habits contracted
whilst In the army, aud wishing TO give
the boy, Elijah, some token ~ reward
OF meIi, for his noble conduct in cup
porting The family, be had the deed for
the land made 10 the boy, believing that
he could take care of II better than him
self AMI succeeding years proved the
impression true.
After spending few years on the farm
and whilst yet boy. he sought aud OBJ
tanned employment at Rock Forge, IN
Monongalia :county, and whilst there
learned the blacksmith trade. After
spending few years there he come to
Klngwood, and worked at HE trade with
Mr.. Whetsell, then a smith in our town,
but who was shortly succeeded 10y Mr.;
Thos. Source, man well remembered by
the old and middle aged of this commu-
nifty. We are not sure whether he
married while with MIR. Squires or not,
but IL not he was shortly afterwards,
and commenced housekeeping in the OLD
courthouse at the foot of main street,
where he rested short time. While yet
young man he bought the land and
built the house In which he resided for
over half centaary.
At the time of his death he was the
oldest rosiden OF our town (but not the
Oldest inhab,tsnD having spent over
sixty years of his life in Kingwood, in &c.
tive toll and labor, earning bread by the
sweat of his brow. Nature had endowed
him with a stroug constitution and muscu
lar frame, which fitted him for vast deal
Of labor He loved to labor and loved to
see the reward-reaping where he had
sown and gathering in the sheaves as the
Pm arI Of 70 e,n a
amount Of labor last spring in putting on /
his crop, and strained himself in trying 10
remove a stump, from the effects of which
be never recovered.
How few are left who were associates
and companions with him In YOUTH Yet
there are some. We could not keep back
the tear that moistened our eve when we
beheld three of his associates in early man
hoOd-but who are all older, all having
passed four score year-as they gaZed for
the last time on the lIfeless form of the
associate Of their youth The eye mois
tened, the client tear coursed is way
down the furrowed cheek, as they revereni
ly returned TO their seats We know not
VIM 'I' N""Nbh'o "S'O an 'hCy NlcWCh
tie remains OF him who had passed his
four score years in their midst, but we
could not suppress the thought, you three
are his seniors
The Rev. Samuel Graham preached an
appropriate sermon on the occasion, in the
Presbyterian church. The remains were
viewed oy the large assembly of neighbors
and friends, who had assembled TO pay this
last tribute OF respect 10 him who was
familiarly called uncle Lie whose kind
disposition had endeared him to all. lie
now sleeps in yonder cemetery--and may
be rest in peace.