Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-09-11
Death of Hon. A. B. Llghtner.
\ MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES
FROM AUGUSTA COUNTY PASSES

~
FROM AUGUSTA COUNTY PASSES
AWAY.
Hon. Alexander Brownlee Lightncr,
member of the House of Delegates from
Augusta, died on Sunday morning last at
his residence near West View, Of typhoid
fever, in his sixty-seventh year. His ven
cradle wife is lying ill of the same disease.
MI. Llghtner's life was typical one
among the lives Of those men who, with
undaunted courage and tireless industry,
work their way unassisted to public
prominence. He was a son of Samuel
Lightner, blacksmith at Greenville, and
was born there on February 10Th, 1924, and
was one Of large family of seven sons and
two daughter, which the Industrious father
had to provide for. For a short time he
worked i'll his fathers shop, but believing
in getting away from the homestead and
making his own way, he went to Middle
brook, a village nearby. From there he
came to Staunton and learned the tailor
trade with Graves, Il well known tailor of
that day. Having served his time. he went
back to Middlebrook in 1874, and started
and successfully conducted tailoring es-
Enlistment there for fifteen years. He
was appointed a Constable in that district,
and was afterwards appointed Deputy
Sheriff under High Sheriff Rudolph Turk
In the mean time he had, shortly after he
reached the age of nineteen, married Miss
Sarah A. b. Gardner. She died in year,
leaving him, little over twenty years old,
widower with one son, w. T. Lightner
In three years he married again, this time
Miss Sarah E. Wayland, daughter Of Maj.
Albert G. Wayland Of Swoope's. His fam
lily grew, and he turned his attention to
farming, and moved to the old Edison farm
in 1859, where he remained seven years,
when he bought the Cochran farm near
Churchville. He lived there until he bought
the Calhoun farm near West View in 1881
the place at which hedied. He was men,
Der of the old congregation of Mt. Tabor
church when Dr.. D. T. Bittle was pastor.
He was first elected to the House of Del
egates when Augusta was entitled to three
members, and his colleagues were Maj.
Marshall Hanger and Chas. S. Roller
in the House and A. B. Cochran
in the Senate. In 1885 he was again
elected to the House, this time
with Edward Echols as his colleague,
and in 1889 was again elected with Geo. M.
Cochran as his colleague. He had also
served as Sheriff three terms, first by the
appointment of the Court, next elected by
m r 1oc+
elected by the people over w. H. Shields.
In the legislature he was a model repre-
sentative, always at his post, and by his
strong common sense making his influence
felt. He was placed on many important
committees, and not long before his death
had been to the Eastern part Of the State
as a member Of committee appointed to
serve during the recess. He was always
in any movement gotten up to advance the
farming interests, and when the Grange
was in existence was Chairman of its State
Executive Committee. When the Farm
ers' Alliance reached Virginia he became a
member and took prominent part, presid-
ing at their meetings and introducing their
National speakers. Not long ago he form
ed a cooperative company and purchased
property to start Farmers Alliance Fer
tilizer factory near the city. In private
life MI. Lightner was a good neighbor and
kind hearted man, and husband and
father without reproach. He had worked
his own way up and sympathized with all
young men who are in the same path.
Mr.. Lightner left widow and five sons,
W. T. Lightner, John A. Lightner, George
S. L1ghtner, James S. Lightner and Char
les A. Lightner, and two daughters Mrs.
D. O'Rorke and Mrs. NJ. w. Butcher.
The funeral took place on Monday after
noon at the residence, Rev. J. E. Booker
of Hebron Church, conducting the service,
and the following gentlemen acting as pail
bearers-Maj. L. G. Elder, Capt. E. A.
Fulcher, Capt. James Bumgardner, Capt
J. n. Mcfarland, Judge J. L. S. Kirby,
DR.. n. Wayt, Messrs. Jos. A. Waddell,
Geo. M. Bear, John Christian and w. W.
Newman. The interment took place at
Thornrose Cemetery.