Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-05-13
DEATH OF COL. BOTElER.

in ShepherdstoWn last SUNDAY InOIn
ing. after an illness of about one
week OF heart trouble, at the age OF
- years. His three daughters, Mrs.
Angelica Didier, of Baltimore, Mrs.
Charlotte Johnston, OF Washington,
and Mrs. Helen Pendleton. Of this
place. were with him and ministered
10 his last wants. His son, Mr. a. Il.
Boteler. Jr.. who lives in Virginia,
was unable to be here on account OF
his own bad health.
The funeral services were held In
the Episcopal Church on Tuesday
aud his remains were laid TO rest III
Elmwood Cemetery beside those OF
his wife. who died about year ago.
Rev. DR.. Nelson read the burial ser
vice. The honorary pail bearers were
Messrs. c. T. Butler, David Billmyer,
John l.. Richard, Geo. w. Hall, J. II.
little, b. F. Harrison, DR.. J. q. Glib
son, John keplinger, John AGlionby,
]. :. Bragonier. The active pail
hearers were Messrs. (. l. Lee, Lee II.
Moler. \. 5. cambridge, Towner
Schley. II. L. Snyder, J. B. Lucas.
The Confederate Veterans OF the
Shepherd.town Camp attended the
funeral in body.
Alexander Robinson Boteler was
born near ShepherdStown May l6,
1915. He was son of DR.. Henry
Boteler, a physician of reputation in
this section. On his mothers side he
was the great-grandson OF Charles
William Peale, the famous patriot
and artist OF the Revolutionary peri
Cd. From his distinguished ancestor
Col. Boteler inherited considerable
talent. and though he never devel-
oped bis taste for painting, he never
theless performed for his own amuse-
ment some excellent work with his
brush and pencil. He graduated at
Princeton College in 1888.
In 1886 he married Miss Helen
Stockton. daughter of DIR. Eben
Stockton. distinguished surgeon OF
the Revolutionary army. For fifty
five wears these two lived happily
together. Mrs. Boteler having de-
parted this life in 1891.
Col. Boteler was engaged in literary
and agricultural pursuits until 1880
when he entered the political field.
In that year he was nominated for
the State Senate as Wing, but was
defeated. In 1852 and 1855 he was
upon the Wing electoral tickets. In
1852 he received the Wing nomina-
ton for Congress, and was defeated
bv Hon. Charles James Faulkner In
1857 he was again unsuccessful in
similar contest. but in 1859 he once
more ran against Mr.. Faulkner and
defeated him. When he took his seat
in the Thirty-sixth Congress he was
nominated for the Speakership, his
competitors being John Sherman for
the Republicans and Thomas S.
Bocock for the Democrats. After a
ak weeks contest William Penning-
ton, Of New jersey, was chosen
Speaker. Col. Boteler resigned from
Congress at the breaking ont Of the
late war and sided with Virginia when
that State seeded.
He WAS man Of great eloquence,
and some Of his speeches in Congress
are .till remembered for their beauty
and power. On the stump or on the
rostrum he was equally at home, and
10 the very last he was IN demand a.
a speech-maker.
Col. Boteler was a member Of the
provisional congress, and was elected
10 the first regular congress Of the
Confederate States. During the war
he served upon the personal staff Of
General Stonewall Jackson with the
rank of colonel and also on that Of
Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. He finally sur
rendered with General Lee at Apo
mattoI.
Col. Boteler was one Of committee
appointed by the Confederate con-
gress TO design a seal for the Confed-
crate government. The seal that he
himself designed was the one that
was adopted, and the original is now
in possession Of his children.
Col. Boteler was appointed by Pres
idept Grant as a Centennial Commits
sioner for West Virginia. President
Arthur made him a member Of the
Tariff Commission, and he served
with signal ability in that body. Dur
Ing the Arthur administration he was
al the request of his old friend and
classmate, Attorney-General Brew
ster, made pardon clerk OF the De.
psrtment Of Justice at Washington, a
position he he'd throughout Presi,
dent Cleveland's term of Office. This
was the last public position he held.
Upon his retirement from that office
he returned 20 Shepherdstown, where
he spent his last days in peace and
quiet, engaging only in those literary
pursuits that were so congenial 10 his
cultivated taste.
Col. Boteler was always intensely
interested in the industrial develop,
ment Of this section. He was one Of
the promoters of the Shenandoah
Valley Railroad and served as di'
rector as long as the company re
manned in existence. He was ever
enthusiastic about the resources OF
the Shenandoah Valley, and he lived
long enough 10 see the beginning OF
the era OF prosperity that he had pre-,
dicted for so many years.
o. Il =