The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-07-08
The Late VIM. C. Eskridge.

On June 18th, 1856, it pleased Almighty
God to take off, by death equally unex-
pected and equally deplored. the venerable
and highly esteemed VIM. g. Eskridge.
With the writer and the late Mr.. Eskridge
there had existed. since boyhood, a warm
and disinterested friendship, and for many
years intimate social relations. AS one OF
the earliest and most steadfaSt of his
friends he takes a sorrowful pleasure in
paying this tribute to the memory of one
who in many ways had few equals and no
superiOrs He was the son of George
Eskridge by his wife, Margaret Chambers,
worthy descendant OF the famous Scotch
family of that name, and now represented
in the mother country by VIM and Robt
Chambers, who are classed among the
public benefactors of their country by
their wide distribution Of valuable knowl
edge in their publications, and by the
respectable position they have taken in
the ranks Of authors. He was born in
Staunton, Nov. 10th, 1917, and was educa-
ted at the Academy, which has sent forth
so many distinguished men, among them
Hon. A. Fl. H. Stuart, Col. VIM. Madison
Peyton, of Roanoke, Rev. w. w Trimble,
Col. John B. Baldwin, and others too
numerous to mention.
Shortly after reaching his majority he
moved to Mississippi, where an uncle had
preceded him. AT Shongla, in that State,
he married, June 9th, 1912, Mary Eleanor
Randolph Peyton, a daughter of the late
G. Peyton, Esq, of Monteagle, Albemarle
CO., Va, by his wife, Lucy Jefferson, a
grand neice OF the great Jefferson, author
Of the Declaration of Independence and
Sd President of the United States. Not
long after his marriage Mr.. Eskridge re-
sumed his residence in his native State.
The return of one SO loved and respected
was hailed by all who knew his worth, and
by none more than the writer. By his
wife he left an only child, namely, VIM.
Peyton Eskridge, ESQ.,, one of Staunton's
most energetic and talented young men of
business.
The late Mr.. Eskridge's tastes early led
him into commercial pursuits, and in the
year 1S47, he was elected teller of the
Bank of the Valley in Virginia, at Staun-
ton, and held the position until 1865, when
he became connected, as teller, with the
First National Bank of Staunton. These
or similar positions he held in these banks
until his death, performing his duties with
perfect satisfaction to their directors and
customers. To all this ample testimony
has been borne in a series of resolutions
passed by the board of the First National
Bank on the occasion Of his death, in which
they REFER III FEELING terms TO The loss they
had sustained in the death of "a long
and trusted officer, a loved and faithful
friend''.
Mr.. Eskridge was a man of much prac-
tical sound sense, and Of sturdy principles
His entire reliability made him at once
fayorite with his friends and the public
generally, and obtained for him the appro-
baton and confidence of those above him
in authority. He was thus connected with
kindly feelings of friendship to the Direc-
tors as we'll as by official relations.
His manner of life was quiet and unos-
tentatious he soon became the friend and
confident of those brought into close rela-
tions with him-more especially of those
whose habits were his own. In the
country he had formed large acquaint-
ance-was known to many, and, it may
be said with truth was respected by all.
To humility and general benevolence he
united generosity. sincerity, spirit and
integrity-was always DESTROYS of doing
good and probably did more in this way
than he took credit for, and than will
eyer be known till that day when the
secrets of all hearts shall be made mani.
fest.