Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-02-26
Death Of an Old Citizen.

We are panied to announce the death OF Mr.
James L. A. Trotter. He died on Friday morn
ing. the 22nd inst, at the idence Of his BROTH
er. Mr. Arch. D. Trotter, In Staunton, at the
ripe age of 70 years.
Mr.. Trotter was a native of Augusta county.
and, when quite young man, came to Staun=
ton in the employment OF the late John Church
man. who was, for many years. Deputy Sheriff
OF Augusta county. Under the old County
Court system, the Magistrate who was oldest
in commission became High Sheriff, and held
the office for two years. He was permitted by
law to farm the office out to one or more Depu-
ties, who performed the duties of the office
The amount paid by the deputies was the COM
pensatirn which the Magistrate received for
many years of official service.
For probably twenty years or more, Mr..
Churehman 1armed the Sherifalty in the up
per end of the county, and employed sub-dep
uties to aid him in the performance Of the du.
ties. 1t was in that capacity that MIR. Trotter
came to Stanton. near half century ago.
At a later period he was Constable, and we
believe, at one time Sergeant of the corpora
tion Of Stauntoh
After he had lated some property, he
became a contractor for the transportation of
the United states mail from Staunton to Park
ersburg, and was interested. with other parties,
in various stage lines. In this latter capacity,
he was well known to the travelling public by
the familiar name of Uncle Jimmy!"
Mr.. Trotter was man of singuarly kind
heart and obliging disposition. Meditating no
wrong to others, he was unsuspicious, aud Of
ten the victim of misplaced confidence in men
who abused the trust he reposed in them. This
guileless simplicity of character was the cause
of most of the pecuniary difficulties whicn
embarrassed the latter years of his life.
While he was the contractor to carry the
mails on the Parkersburg route. 1--WE think in
the year 1887 the road became much sb-
structed by snow, which had fallen and drifted
In most unprecedented manner. that he found
it utterly impossible to get through the noun.
tain hollows, either with a vehicle or on horse
back His failures to deliver the mails were
duly reported to the Postofhce Department at
Washington, and for each delinquency fine
was imposed on Mr.. Trotter, of which he was
duly notified. Finally, the old man, worried
by the frequency of these notices, wrote
characteristic letter to the Postmaster General,
in which, after speaking of the many difficult
ties he had to encounter and the physical i'm.
possibility Of complying literally with the
terms of his contract, he informed that distin-
SuIsueO IuucLiOnATy. IudL III Iuduy pidccs III
the road leading through Cheat and other
mountain ranges. the snow had drited to the
depth of sixty feet. and that he believed that
If the gable of He'll was knocked out and
Cheat River turned into the flames. it would
not generate steam enough to melt the snow
before the 1st of April!'
This novel and eccentric style of making an
official communication to the Department
| made strong impression on the Postmaster
General. who happened.to have keen sense
of the ludicrous, - we'll rs soun+ Judgment
| and kind heart, and he Immediately ordered
the fines to he remtted!
Mr. TrOtter was never married. although he
was a man of warm and affecionate feelings.
His amiable department won for him the kind
regard Of ali who knew him. and we doubt if
he had an enemy in the world. He has cone
from among Us! We shall no more look on his
familiar and genial face! Every one felt k ndly
for him. and all will unite in the prayer that
he NAV rest i'm peacei