The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-22

his last shortly after O'Clock Sunday
morning, surrounded by number of
faithful friends and relatives who had
watched by his side for several days
and nights.
While the announcement carried sad
ness to .the hearts of Mr.. Chalmers
many friends in Roanoke, Salem and
throughout this section, 1t was not un-
expected.
About six weeks ago Mr.. Chalmers
suffered from an attack of malarial
fever. DR.. Leigh Buckner, his physi-
clan, sent him home and he was confined
to his room about ten days. Soon after
he recovered from this. he had the grip
and was again in bed for four days.
He was out for several days at his
place of business, apparently having re-
covered. He got wet Wednesday, De-
cember in, the storm Of that day, and
by Thursday morning pneumonia had
developed, appearing first in his left
lung. Four days later he was attacked
by neuralgia of the heart He was by
this time critically i'll, but revived con-
siderably, getting along very we'll till
last Tuesday, when heart failure threat
onoQ MS lie.
He revived again and seemed to be
doing very we'll until o'clock Satur-
day night, when he was again troubled
morning he was attacked by neuralgia
of the heart, and died within less than
five minutes. His suffering was severe
all Saturday night, and death relieved
him of indescribable agony. DIR. Buck
ner, his physician, said yesterday that
he never saw q man suffer more intense
pain than did Mr.. Chalmers from tho
time neuralgia last attacked his heart
till he died.
DR.. Buckner, Frank Chalmers, brother
OF tho deceased; Mrs. Frank Chalmers,
Mrs. w. A. Ferguson, his sister, and j.
d. Ferguson, his nephew. and w. w.
Dunlap, of the firm of Priddy e. Dunlap,
were with him in his last moments.
Mayor Evans, his partner, and G. L..
Stevens, an intimate friend, were sent
for az soon as it was seen that the end
was near, but they did not arrive in
time to see him breathe his last.
DR.. Buckner yesterday, speaking of
Mr.. Chalmers illness, said that he
would have recovered but for the heart
trouble, pneumonia having passed the
dangerous point.
Mr.. Chalmers had been an inveterate
cigarette smoker for some time and the
doctor gave it as his opinion that nico-
tine poisoning caused the heart trouble.
MIR. Chalmers heart was irregular even
before his last sickness. Dr. Buckner
says his pulse was 100 one day not long
ago when he was about his business and
not feeling unwell.
Mr.. Stevens drove over to Salem
early Sunday morning and broke the
news to Mr.. Chalmers parents Though
their son was known to be very i'll, the
news was quite a surprise, as thew had
heard the previous morning that he was
much improved.
The remains were taken to Salem
Sunday afternoon to the former home of
the dead man, accompanied by a large
number of his friends from this CITY.
The funeral will take place this after.
noon at O'Clock from the Methodist
Church. of Salem, conducted by Rev.
j. w. Duffy, of Trinity M. E. Church
south, of which Mr.. Chalmers was a
leading light.
The pallbearers will be Messrs
Linwood Buckner, G. T.. Stevens, w.
e. Evans, and r. S. Williams, of Roam.
oke; Messrs. l. G. Hansbrougb, Jacob
s. Baer, w. Lee Brand, and FIetch ar
Clements, of Salem.
Peasants Lodge and Bayard Com
mandery meet to-day, the former at -
o'clock and the latter at 1890, to ar.
range to attend the funeral of Mr..
Chalmers.
John Chalmers was born in Pickens
county, Ala, 81 years ago. His father
settled in that county after emigrating
from Scotland short time before, and
purchas ed fine plantation. He was
very wealthy, and added greatly to his
fortune by cotton growing.
In 1870 he moved to Salem with his
family and settled. John was then a
youth fourteen years old, and was
placed at Roanoke College, whe re he
graduated with distinction a few years
later.
To prepare himself for business Mr..
Chalmers accepted a position in the
hardware store of Jones. Watts g. Bell.
where Mayor Evans was then employed.
Young Chalmers won for himself an
excellent reputation by his integrity
and application to business. He was
always sober, Industrious and prompt.
He loved to keep things neat and in
order, and soon made an excellent book.
keeper.
After he had acquired acknowledge
OF the mercantile business in the hard
"oro Aihe, MS iaIler Set nlm up In DuSt-
ness in Salem, which he conducted very
successfully until he and his friend, w.
G. Evans, of Roanoke, formed q CO part
nership to go into business in this CITY.
Mr.. Evans had been in Roanoke every
since it was changed from Big Lick,
being partner in the firm. of Watts,
ID. II & Evans.
When the copartnership was formed
about four years ago the interest OF
Messrs. Watts & Bell was bought out by
Messrs. Evans & Chalmers each hecnin-