The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-12-16
heath IF HUGH +. Galtaher.

Death of Hugh L. Galiaher.
Intelligence reached Staunton last week
that Hugh T.. Gallailer. Esq, OF Waynes-
boro. had been stricken with paralysis, :
The severity of the shock was not genef-
ally known until Monday. the 18th, when
it was announced that he was dead. lie
was taken sick in his room, falling Oh the
floor. but members of Instantly speedily
came to his assistance. and placed him in
as comfortable position as possible, until
medical aid was summoned He was uneon-
scious until the 9th, when the power OF
speech partially returned. but his mental
faculties seemed greatly confused. he
fingered in this condition until Sunday,
when he fell into a slumber. which con-
tinued until life gently ebbed away on the
18th, surrounded by most of his family,
whose tender ministrations were laylshed
upon him until the last bre ath.
Mr.. Galaher was born in Gettysburg,
Pa, Nov. 81. 1872, and had consequently
just rounded his 74th year. He came to
Virginia early in life to reside. and mar
ried IN Jefferson county within lew
months of fifty years ago. Early III ME
he engaged in contracts on public works,
and in 1889 constructed "a portion Of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad sssnear flar-
per's Ferry Subsequently he was con-
tractor on other public works in the South,
having built part of the canal, and com
pleted large contracts on the Virginia
Central Railroad. now the Newport News
and Mississippi Valley Railroad. In De-
cember. 1850 he purchased delightful
home in Waynesboro, in which vicinity he
had large railroad contracts. His great
energy, business foresight and capacities,
rewarded him with handsome fortune,
up to the beginning of the war between
the States, but the wastes and mistortunes
of that fearful struggle, added to unfor-
tunate investments, left him but a rem
nant Of what was AL abundant competen-
cy. The loss of the accommodations Of
many wears of active usefulness effected
very little change in his disposition. lie
bore his losses with philosophic composnre,
~
| high character maintained 1y his children
and the affection they uniformly bestowed
upon him. He had often referred to
them as. one of tie greatest comforts u
his declining years, and the source OF fal
m ore pleasure than the possession of
wealth.
Several times within the past few years
| he suffered from sunstroke, and 1t is
| thought never eni rely recovered from the
effects. His health was SO precarious dur
| ing the past summer that lie had to be as
sisted TO and from the cars, when going &c
| the Augusta Springs for his health. While
there he recovered rapidly, and had been
| in much improved health until suddenly
stricken down on the 9th lnst.-hayiug
been engaged in cheerful conversation a
few moments before. The warm friend
ships he had formed during his long resi-
dence in Waynesboro, were manifested
during this fatal Illness in the solicitude
! shown by his neghbors, and friends from
distant portions of the county, unit
"life's !itfnl fever closed on the 18th. an6
until his remass were conveyed to tht
cemetery on the l4th. accompanied 10y 8
large concourse of friends. He was barred
with tile rites of the Catholic Courch, Of
which he was a devoted and consistent
member. isey. John McVerry officiating
Tne following gentlemen acted a; pail
b carers John Smith, J Booker Il &
Wright Elliott Fishburn, Richard Bodin
and G. Alexander.
Daring Mr.. Gallaher's activity and pros
perity as a business man he was noted fol-
his liberality, andlmany are the gratefa
hearts that viii miss him and mourn hi
lloss His house was the seat of the mos
unstinted hospitality, and during the wa
was a home 10 hundreds of Confeder
ate soIdiers-his family giving a gen
erous welcome to those whose fortan
it was to need the kindness of strangers
and to accept their generous tender 0
comfort and relief. Though consisten
| Catholic he at all times, when prosperit
SIN lied upon him. contributed literally t.
! the support of all other denominations, il
respective of sect or creed.
He leaves surviving him a widow, seyel
children and number of grandchildren
his children being, w. B. GalIaher. Mrs
Salle. wife of Mr.. A. w. Morris. D.
Galaher. of Charleston. w. Va, G. M
Gal!aher. Hugh l.. Gallaher, Mrs. Levy
! wife of John w. Levy, of Louisa CO., an
Miss Jeuaie Gallaher.
Thus has passed away one who had bee
useful in his day and generation, con
tributing largely TO the material progress
of the State, and leaving to represent hir
a family of culture and much more thai
r usual Intelligence and relineme Mt.
: CHAMBER OF CONFERENCE.-THE Chan
Der of Commerce of Stanton was in SEES
sion Tuesday night, with Maj. Hart in th
: chair. Among the propositions of intel
, est considered, was that of estabfishin!
: telephone relations between this city an
: Highland county Mr.. Henry Hutchir
!. son and Mr.. NJ b. Hamrick were appoin
Q ed to investigate the subject and report
!. such scheme was feasible and :the SCI
e rotary of the body was directed to confe
(. with the City Council, and urge upon it {
the sense of the Chamber Of Commerc
D that an electric lamp should be placed 6
+ each of the passenger depots in the city,
The last recommendation, especially. is
!. wise one. and we trust it will be acted "a