The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-09-16
Heath of Rob't G. Bick,e.

Death of Rob G. Bickle.
On Thursday morning. last, the 9th inst
Robert G. Bickle, Esq, one of the most
prominent and respected itizens of Staun-
toa, died at his residence in this place of
acute Bright's disease, aged SIS years. He
was son of Adam Bickle, decd, and was
born in Stanton. where he spent his entire
life, filling many important and responsible
positions in local affairs, and exercising
much influence in business circles AT a
very early age he entered the store of Phil
| lip Hopkins, then one of the leaC ing mer-
chants of Stanton and afterwards was
employed with Mr. May, in the same Ca
pacity, When quite a young man he EN-
barked i'll the mercantile business for him
self in connection with Mr.. Frank Geiger
father of w. G. Geiger, under the firm
of time he became the sole proprietor of
the store and successfully conducted it un
til he reached middle life, when he retired
on an ample fortune. Since then his time
was occupied in attending to his personal
business, his large real estate possessions
and his rental returns requiring close APP
plication. His residence was situated on
a commanding eminence, overlooking the
Valley, and surrounded by many attrac-
tions and comforts, and if these could
have brought contentment, it would have
| been his in an exceptionable degree. Many
years ago he was married to Miss Mary
| Rush, sister of VIM. and John T. Rush,
near Greenville, who died about year
ago, leaving no children. Delicate and Of
retiring disposition. Mrs. Bickle pre-
ferred the comforts of home to the ex-
element of society, and in the elegant
seclusion of her home every want was
cheerfully administered to and every de-
sire that wealth could meet, gratifed. AT
ter her death, the retiracy Mr.. Bickle had
imposed uprn himself became intensified.
and it was rarely that he left his home.
| except when pressing business required
him to do so. His friel .dships were strong
and his attachment to persons for whom
he formed a liking almost phenomenal
This in Later years, caused him heavy
financial losses, and clouded the close of
his life with vexations and distrust.
| For many years Mr.. Bickle served as Il
| justice of the peace, and for some time as
| Presiding Justice of the County. His
| acute and discriminating mind and reten-
tive memory impaired to his opinions and
decisions more than ordinary force and
| in cases where he gave careful attention.
| he was scarcely ever wrong. He also
served in the Board of Directors of the
Western Lunatic Asylum, of which he
| was President for number of years, and
as member of the City Council, of which
he was presiding officer, until theedeath Of
| Mayor n. K Trout, when he was chosen
| to fill that vacancy by vote of the council ].
At the subsequent election before the peo-
pie he was defeated by Capt W. L. Balthis,
after one of the bitterest and most vim
dictive party contests we have ever known.
In politics he was a Republican, and be-
cause of this many whom he had be-
| friended voted against him. This he new
er could forget. and it was the cause of
arrangements which lasted until death.
He was a man of strong mind, strong
convictions and aggressive nature, and
these characteristics manifested them
selves in all the relations of life,
For several years Mr.. Bickle had been
in declining health. but serious apprehen-
sion of a speedy death were not enter
tanned until about ten days before that
event. when evidences of acute Bright's
disease We're manifested. From that time
it was known that his days were numbered,
and this fact he himself recognized. The
nature Of The disease at times clonded his
! mind, but up to the last hours of life there
were intermittent rational moments and
he would respond by signs to familiar
voices. He passed off without strug
gle. He was buried on Friday, Rev. DR..
Mcfarland officiating in the burial ser
vices at the house and the grave, and the
following persons acting as pall-bearers
W. E. Craig, Geo. M. Cochran, J. A.
Waddell, Arista Hoge, S. M. Yost. J. G.
Shields, J. A. Templeton. w. A. Burnett,
T. A. Bledsoe, and A. II. Fultz. The fu=
neral was largely attended by the citizens
of town and county.
He leaves three brothers living-Y. NJ.
and w o. Bickle, of this place, and Jas.
Bickle, of Wytheville, and two sisters.
Mrs. VIM. Mote and Mrs. John S. Par
rent John Bickle, Mrs. Hugh Noon,
mother of John A. Noon, Mrs Benz.
Fifer. and Mrs. Robert Evans, were de-
ceased brother and sisters of Mr.. Bickle.
whose children are numerous.
Mr. Rickle's life was insured for $22,-
900. He left a will, with Mr.. w. T. Rush,
as executor. and Z M. Bickle, his young
est brother, who is blind, with large fam
ly, as the principal beneficiary. The estate
he left consists largely of realty. includ-
ing some so or 60 houses and lots, embrac
ing some of the most valuable in the city,
several farms, and large amount in indi-
vidual bonds. Twelve years ago his city
realty was assessed at $3.50 ,000. Since then
he has sold some of it and purchased other
property, and under a more recent and
lower assessment it is estimated at $780,
600. Within the past six or eight years he
has had to pay large security obligations,
and how far this has affected his estate,
cannot be stated until his affairs are all
adjusted by his executor.
OPERA HOUSE TONIGHT. -Commenc-
ing this Thursday evening. the Zera Semon
and Royal MarionetteS begin a three