The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-12-25
Death of DIR. WeIfiy.
CUMBERLAND. Nd. Dec. 20, 1886.

ant as May" But in reality this is
winter Of discomfort" to many
here. His arctic blasts has brought
speedy death alike to the strong and
the weak, even where there might
seem to be exemption. and, that too,
in the near view of the days when
ffstivity and gladness are wont.
Our city has not been so smitten
for series of years as in the death
of DR.. David Peter Welf1y, on the
morning of the 10Th of December,
1856. In his illness of nearly three
weeks there were many days of anx-
iety and encouragement. then came
brief season of happiness, but
this was followed by abrupt death.
A generous but feeble heart finally
stopped its life giving functions.
1.-THE silver cord was loosed and the
golden bowl broken at the fountain"
Seemingly, at least, premature
death had happened, when the young
est of Il large family leaves surviving
the oldest of all in his approaches to
his four score years. Yet in all this
Aess unfolded wisdom. There are
expressions of regret from the lips,
and grief in the hearts of all. None
to dispute that good, true, and USE
ful man has passed away, and. tina!
too. in the line of duty to his profess
sion and humanity. He did not stop
to diagr 0se the results to his own
yielding constitution when even a
sick child-With storm and distance
between-wanted his mild, wise and
conservative treatment. Had he most
likely now would he be in his newly
finished study, and yet for large
share of life which was suddenly
cut off, when its usefulness was most
plentiful and diffusive.
His family and numerous kindred
are the chief loosers and mourners,
and next, the learned profession. up
on which he reflected honor, charac-
ter and confidence. His death has
caused a vacancy in the medical fac.
uIty not to be readily or easily filled.
His wisdom and lparning-the pro.
duet of wide and deep reading and
study. will surely be missed where
they had appreciated weight and con.
sideration. A generous and grateful
public Will bear the loss regretfully
and hope for another of his like.
DR.. We'f1y was born on the 9th of
February, 1882, in Salisbury, Penn,
the youngest child of Peter Welfly, a
potter by trade and school teacher
by profession ; always a true man
and gentleman Of the olden kind. A
wife, seven sons and two daughters,
ali without stain or blemish, constitu.
tsdlhe family. The sons all noted for
virtue, sobriety and seriousness.
The family were poor, but industri-
Gus, and managed to obtain more ed
ucaion than their neighbors. One
u hn)became Lutheran clergyman.
David was put to primary school
early. His studious and thoughtful
nature brought education with more
perlnanency than rapidity. His
means (mostly his own earnings) for
education were scanty. hence his pro-
gress could not be like the rich mans
son. who usually hurries through his
courses, and comes out with super
fetal training. Not so with him who
has to hew his way through thicken-
ed difficulties.
His education was completed at
Gettysburg College, Pa. Began the
study of medI, le in 1866, with DR..
H. c. Stewart, recently deceased.
Graduated as au A. d. at the Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania. He began the
practice of medicine at Accident,
Garrett county, then in his native
village. Subsequently in Grantsville,
then Centreville, Pa. thence to Cum
berland in 1878, where he remained
in full and lucrative practice till his
death.
The Doctor was a great reader-nOt
hasty or superficial. but a careful re-
fiecting one. His annotated volumes
tmany of which we have used show
he pondered as well as read. His
reading in its wide scope took in all
branches of thorough information
and knowledge. His library among
the very hest and extended in West
ern Maryland. The wonder is how
he could read and study so much
amid his large practice. His very
appearance indicated the sch0lar-as
much or more suited to the prOfes
sor's chair than the profession he
chose and hOnored. He took time
enough by way of recreation from a
busy life to write and publish mum
her of essays or papers on scientific
questions, which indicated research,
care and skill. He was good writer
and engaged for the last year or two,