Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-11-26
OBITUARY.
+ From the Kanawha Gazette. ]
DIR. SPICER PATRICK.

On the morning OIL the SlSG Gay OI Octo-
Der, 1884, there died, and on the Wednes-
day following was buried, noted man in
his State and the Kanawha Valley, DIR.
Spicer Patrick. He was born in Oneida
county, New York, on the 2Sth of July,
1891, removed to Kanawha county, Va, in
1916, resided in Charleston until about the
year 1S4S, and afterwards at Rose Hill, a
few miles below Charleston, where he
died. He had passed the ninety-third year
of his life, mercilessly spared the bodily
infirmities of his many years, till within
the last few months, and when he passed
away in that early morn, was fully pos
sessed Of his mind and memory, and, as
his friends hopefully trust, with the entire
belief that his conduct in life was not only
sufficient unto himself, but to his Christ.
Before he came to Kanawha county, DR..
Patrick had been thoroughly educated in
his profession of Doctor of Medicine, the
practice of which he pursued in his new
home all his life, ardently in his early and
ripper manhood, and never relinquished in
his declining years whenever his great
skill was sought for his friends, or the
weak and poor Of his neighborhood. As
physician, his reputation was not surpassed
by any, his success remarkable, and the
trust and confidence in him By the COM
munity unbounded.
DR.. Patrick early became member of
the Protestant Episcopal church, in St.
Johns Parish, and COMMUNICATE Of that
church; served as one of its Vestry and as
Senior Warden for near sixty years, and
held the latter Office at his death.
DR.. Patrick was admitted a member of
the Old Kanawha Lodge, 104, of the Order
of Masons, on the 9Th December, 1916, and
lived Jealous supporter of its precepts,
filing offices of high trust and honor, both
N the Grand Lodge of the State and its
subordinate Lodges.
OF his life as a Christian, his devotion to
the church Of his choice, his protracted and
consistent work therein, his fellow men,
bers have spoken in terms, to which moth
ing can be added, either to console his fam
lily or the unfailing trust of his friends,
that he has entered upon that rest (which
remaineth to the people of God"
His brother Masons, too, have paid an
eloquent tribute to the entire performance
of his duties, both as member and officer
of high trust in that ancient and most hon
orable Order.
DR.. Patrick's first marriage was with
Lavinia, the daughter Of Major James
Bream, native of England, well remem-
bered by the older citizens as one Of the
"Worthies of Kanawha ~ The ceremony
was performed by Rev. DR.. Chaddock,
many of whose descendants still live among
us, among them Mrs. Laidley, wife of Ma
jor A. T. Laidley. Of this marriage were
born several children, of whom still sur
vive Mrs. r. G. M. Lowell, of Covington,
Ky, Mrs. II. D. Ruffner, Mrs. L. Gramm,
of Charleston, and DR.. A. s. Patrick, OF
Lewisburg. Another SOD, John, was a
member of the Kanawha Riflemen in the
late civil war, was captured at Cold Har-
Dor in 1864, and killed by that fearful rail-
road accident at or near Elmira, N. Y,
whittier he was being conveyed as pris-
oner of war, and by which so many Con-
federate soldiers lost their lives or were
made cripples. Brave John! How well
do his comrades in the army remember the
gallant young soldier, the generous, loving
and beloved boy, and still shed tear over
his untimely fate.
A few years after the death of his first
wife, DR.. Patrick married, in 1S48, Mrs.
Steele, widow of Col. Robert M. Steele,
formerly of Kentucky, by which marriage
there were no children. Again bereaved
in this sacred relation of life, he married
in the city of Richmond, in April, 1852,
Miss Virginia Harvie, granddaughter of
the eminent Chief Justice Marshall of the
Supreme Court of the United States OF
this marriage were born one daughter and
three SONS, who with their mother, live to
mourn the loss of fond and devoted hus-
band, and most considerate and affection
ate father.
Although actively engaged in the .prac-
tice of his profession, DR.. Patrick's earnest
patriotism and warm temperament led him
to take an active part in the politics of his
State and national government. In 1916
he was elected from Kanawha a member
of the House of Delegates of the General
Assembly of Virginia, in which body he
consecntively served until 1852 He was
elected from the same county to and served
in the Convention of Virginia of 1e60-61,
the memorable body that passed the ordi-
nance of secession in 1861. Born soon af-
ter the organization of the government of
the United States, intelligently familiar
with it's early trials and contests, he, like
SO many of that time, was imbued with
an intense devotion to the Constitution, an
ardent love and admiration of the young
Republic, the highest appreciation Of those
who had shaped it's organic laws and the