Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-03-08
Death Of an Old Citizen.-Death is SO

| DC6tn Va an Ohu ShthLCh.-DcdLu is 81
common in our midst that we can but sci
dom, if ever, truly apply the lesson it would
teach, or give passing thought how soon i
may knock at our door. 1t may in an nstan
blight the beauteous rosebud, wither til,
fairest flower of the garden, SILVER the gan
oak of the forest, tear away the venerable
forms of our households, snatch from oul
embrace the tender idols of our hearts, Oh
strike down at our side splendid manhood
In the death Of Mr. Samuel Il. Stonestreet
which occurred at his late residence, in this
town, on Monday morning last, at the adj
vanced age of SO, one of the most venerable
and prominent land marks in the county
succumbed to the ravages Of time and has
gone down to the dust from which it came
Mr.. Stonestreet was born in Loudoun
county, Va, August 18th, 1903. In 1920
when but mere youth, after some expert
ence in merchandising, he came to this coun-
ty. His prepossessing manners, general bear
ing and marked fitness for business attracted
attention, and he was soon thereafter ap-
pointed to deputy clerkship in the Clerk IS
Office of the county under the late Col.
Bell, who was at that time Clerk. Mr.. Stone
street was continued as first deputy clerk
under Mr.. Brice Selby, performing all of
the most responsible and intricate duties of
the office with an ability and dispatch that
brought from the late Chief Justice Thos.
j. Dorsey the merited compliment as a
clerk, "for thorough knowledge of the
duties appertaining to his office, coupled
with an accuracy, ease, rapidity and cor
rectness, he was equal to any in the State
surpassed by none" 1t was this handsome
endorsement Of Mr.. Stonestreet to Gov.
Thomas G. Pratt that had much to do with
his appointment of Clerk, which he held
with the same marked efficiency until the
year 1858, when under the adoption of the
then new constitution, the appointment was
taken from the Governor and the office
made elective.
| Pending the first years of Mr.. Stonestreet's
deputy clerkship, he made the acquaintance
OF Miss Adelaide A. Hall, OF Brookeville,
sister of Mr. +. j. Hall, and they were mar
ried as early as 1929 Their union was u
long and sunny one, but the first cloud of
sorrow has come, aud the aged widow, with
her two children, DIR. Il. l.. Stonestreet and
and Mr.. Thomas W. Stonesreet and large
number OF relatives and friends in the com
| ty and in parts Of Virginia, remain to mourn
his death and emulate his virtues.
Throughout Mr. Stonestreets long resi-
dcnce in Montgomery county, from beard
less boy To the intirm and tottcrng old man,
he remained bright exemplar in all OF the
vocations and avenues of life. A constant
and active member Of the Methodist Epis
copal Church South from its pioneer days,
he was known to its itinerancy Tor his zeal
and marked hospitality, and it was through
his efforts that the first Sunday Scho was
organized in this town. 1t was held at the
Academy, Mr.. Stonestreet being its first
superintendent and continuing as such for
a number of years.
Mr. Stonestrcet did not contine his zeal
and energy either to his church, Sunday
School or official duties, but was at all times
and energetic promoter of every movement
and enterprise that locked in the direction
of the religious, moral, social and material
development of the county Whilst he could
not be termed an active partisan, his poti
cal views were pronounced-an Old Line
Wing, he lived devoted to its policies until
| the breaking Of the war, when his sympa-
thies naturally turned to those among whom
he had been raised, and who ever delighted
to respect his views and to crafty his wishes.
Mr.. Stonestreets love of agriculture dis
played itself in the very earliest days OF his
official life in the cultivation and improve
ment of a small body of land contiguous to
Rockville, and long before the expiration
of his official life was devoting all of his
leisure moments TO the improvement OF his
| farm some two miles distant from Rockville
on the Darnestewn road, and in the estab-
lishment of improved and advanced methods
of agriculture Mr.. Stonestreet was one OF
the projectors OF the first agricultural meet
ing held in this county This meeting was
held in Poolesville Mr.. J. g. p. Peter was
President. The late Chief Justice Richard
j. Bowie made an address. Many of the
leading citizens of Medleys district, HIS well
as from other parts Of the county, were pres
ent So pronounced was the interest in the
furtherance OF an improved system of agr-
culture at this meeting that the idea was
then aud there conceived OF organizing the
Montgomery County Agricultural Society,
Mr. Stonestreet becoming one Of its found
ers and remaining until enfeebed by age
of one OF its most energetic and determined
members Indeed, much of the earlier sue
cess of this organization can be attributed
to his untiring interest and energy in its be
halE-probably its best exhibitions were
made when he was able to give it his per
sonal aid and individual influence.
In the social circle, Mr. Stonestreet was
genial and agreeable. Those who knew
him sought and loved his society. Or later
years he contributed to the interest of his
| conversation from his "reminiscences of the
early days of the earlier leading men of the
county We recall now with melancholy
interest the last moments we spent in com
pany with him on the street-when bid
ding US good by and congratnlating him on
his being out again-he replied, 81 am only
waiting-all Of my old contemporaries have
passed away and am alone; these old walks
that have known me SO long and along
which SO many pleasant memories cluster,
will soon know me no longer-the old house
which you see standing over there, but which
cannot IRON here discern, was being built
when | came ~ this town. 1t is like me,
falling to pieces-passing away-going into
decay" The old gentleman, like some aged
,oournar trad mud WARY nf life moved