Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-05-15
Death of Mr.. John Paris.

|
the death OF one of our most esteemed fellow
citizens, Mr.. John Paris. He died at his resi-
dence, about two miles southwest of staunton,
on the morning of Saturday, the 18th inst, after
| a long Illness, which he endured with Christian
fortitude His health had been frail for more
| than twenty years, and besides other ailments.
| he was the victim of cancer in the face. But
| his death was caused by an attack OF dysente-
ry, and he was carried off after an illness of a
| few days only. during which he suffered com
paratively little. We are not accurately in
formed as to his age, but believe he had attained
| his sixty fourth year.
| Mr.. Paris was native of Augusta county,
and had spent almost his entire life within her
| borders. He was descended from one ofsthe
oldest and most respectable families OF our
| county. His father was a man of intelligence
and high character, who enjoyed the confidence
| of all who knew him. Properly approaching
| the advantages of a good education, he spared
no pains to bestow them on his only son. At
an early age he attended the school of Rev.
DIR. Hendren, and was pupil ut the Stanton
Academy, where he was the associate of the
best youths of the day. Subsequently, he was
sent to what was then known as Washington
College, (now expanded into Washington and
Lee University where he completed his
course of instruction.
After leaving College. he lived, for short
| time in Mississippi, which then presented SO
many attractions to the enterprising young
| men of Virginia. But, in consequence of the
| death of his father he returned to Augusta
| county to take charge of the patrimonial prop
erty Soon afterwards he intermarried with
Miss Henderson, a daughter of one of his faith
er's ola neighbors. and settled down as an in
dustrious and painstaking farmer, an oceupa-
ton which he continued to follow until his
| death. His proximity to Staunton, however,
enabled him, from time to time, to engage in
| other occupations, which varied the monotomy
| of his employment and added to his revenue
| For many years he was the assistant Of Mr..
| Nicholas c. Kinney and his successors in the
| office of CLERK of the Circuit Court of Augusta
When by law it was provided that an annual
| session OF the Court of Appeals should be held
| at StauEton, Mr.. Paris was elected by the
Judges the first Clerk OF that Court and for Six
years he performed the duties of the office
diligently and faithfully to the entire satsfac-
ton of the Judges and of the public Failing
health compelled him to relinquish the posi-
tfon and to resort to more active pursuits.
But the people of Beverly Manor District.
knowing his sound judgment, high integrity,
and capacity for business, were not content that
| he should be entirely withdrawn from their
| service; and by neral consent he was elected
| Supervisor for that District, and he continued
to serve in that office as long as his health
would allow him to perform its duties, and was
President of the Board for about ten years.
| For many years before his death Mr. Paris
was afflicted with a cancerous affection, which
| he knew to be incurable But notwithstand-
| ing his knowledge that he was dying by inches,
1 he preserved great equanimfty of temper and
| spirits, and bore his burthen as became true
Christian. Many years ago he became member
| ofthe Presbyterian church, and was afterwards
| chosen one of its Elders-first in the Hebron
church, and afterwards in the First Presbyte-
rian church of Staunton. His whole life was a
| beautiful illustration of his Christian profess
sion.
| Mr.. Paris was man that could be depended
upon; judicious, laborious. and steadfast to
truth and duty; of clear perceptions, of I'M
| questioned integrity. and of fine business Ca
pacity. He was universally respected and con
fded in, singularly modest and unobtrusive in
his manners and department. He manifested
no ambitions for the honors or wealth of this
world. He never thrust himself on the public
as candidate for office. He was content to
| live in retirement, although, On various occa-
sions, it was the wish of his friends to elect
him to the General Assembly. His tastes were
| for domestic life, and his whole life was spent
| in the fulfllment of his family and social du-
| ties. He was true friend, kind neighbor, and
| an honest man.
In the death of John Paris, Augusta county
| has lost one of her most valued citizens. 1t
| was but a few days ago that we heard one of
| our patriarchs, who had known Mr.. Paris as a
| man and boy for more than half century, re-
| mark, in view of Mr.. Paris's extreme illness.
that he doubted If, when Mr.. Paris died, he
would leave more estimable aud upright cit
izen behind him. This is high praise. but 1t
was justly bestowed.
On Sunday his remains were inferred in
Hebron church-yard beside the dust of his only
child, who died many years ago. His wife SUR
| wives him.
| The funeral sermon was preached at his late
residence by Rev. W. E. Baker, of the First
Presbyterian church of this city, from the 3rd
chapter of John, 3Oth verse: HE must increase,
but we must decrease
| The services at the house and at the grave
were attended by a large concou1se of sorrow
ing friends. The pall-bearers were VIM T.
Rush, W. A. Burnett Hugh F. Lyle, Thos. C.
Elder, VIM. ]. Nelson, Jos. A. Waddell, DR.. N.
Wayt, and Thos A. Bledsoe.