Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-07-22
Hon. Frapklln Maxwen.
G aFksbUrg AtWs

tttNheDWy -icAos
Hon. Franklin Maxwell is no more
of earth. He was found dead in his
garden on the afternoon of July 4th,
Oy his grief stricken wife His domestics
had gone of to Join in some neighborhood
picnic or celebration. Feeling dizziness
that morning he concluded to remain at
home with Mrs. Maxwell, but at their noon
lunch he spoke Of riding out to salt some
cattle in the afternoon. Mrs. Maxwell, as
was her custom, being IN falling health,
laid down for a nap, and when she
awoke she saw his sack Of salt, his
horse in the stable and his ever falth-
full dog, his constant attendant ABOUT
the farm, at the house, and Immediately
instituted search for him which resulted
in finding him as stated, dead in the gard
en-. The agony Of her despair can be bet
ter imagined than described. She care
fully covered his face to protect 1T from
the SUMS rays and as the evening wore on,
some passing neighoors went to her relief
and removed the remains TO the house.
The indications were that death came
without struggle and probably from
heart failure. His busy hands have been
folded in deaths repose, and thus has pass
ed away one OF the most prominent ana re-
marka6le OF West Nirgnia's sons.
Born on Browns Creek, this county,
June 10, 1914, he had rounded up a we'll
spent, conspicuous and successful fife OF
more than seventy-eight years, reaching
beyond the space usually allotted to man.
"Our age TO seventy years is SET
And if to eighty we survive,
We rather sigh and sob than live"
He commenced life's busy struggle when
a boy upon his own responsibility with a
very limited education and without dol
lar.
Early in life he married his estimable
wife, Miss Frances, daughter of John Rey-
nolds, Esq, prominent and worthy far
mer Of this county For more than half a
century, except a few years, he lived
where he died, on Bluestone in Dodd-
ridge county, several miles from West
Union. He became by far the largest and
most extensive erazier and dealer IN the
State and the most extensive owner OF farm
ing aud grazing lands, and it is supposed
accumulated a larger fortune from those
pursuits than any man in the State. His
attention was never diverted from these
pursuits beyond the ordinary duty OF citi-
zenship except once, and that was in the
year 1880 when he was nominated and
elected a Democratic Senator in a Repuo-
lican district In this new field he deYel-
oped talent and ability and served mis- con-
stituency ana the State so well and so salts
tactorily that he was nominated by his par
" for reelection without consulting him,
but advancing years ana a large unsettled
business caused him to decline the prefer
red honor. 1t has been the subject of COM
ment most favorable to him, that he should
have closed up so much business Of various
kinds, much of which was beset with diff
culties and complications, with so little re-
course to law. He did all that an honora-
BILE business man could TO avoid law suits.
His demands were reasonable, his conces-
siOns just and his dealings always fair and
honorable.
Those who knew him best DOUBT not that
with proper educational advantages, he
would have made one Of the distinguished
Judges Of the Supreme Court Of the United
States, or a great statesman in either
branch of Congress. His mental grasp
was very broad and hence he was regarded
and courted as a safe, judicious adviser
He seemed to have followed up his bust
ness pursuits almost with an eye that
never slept and wing that never tired
Industry, temperance and fair dealing in all
the walks of life were the chief character
istics of the man His four surviving
sons, Lewis, of Doddridge county, and
Porter Lehman and w. Brent. Of this
county, all highly respectable gentlemen,
will inherit his vast estate. OF course it
will be their pleasure to consult every
comfort and contribute by every means to
the happiness of their aged mother
His family and friends can point with
comfort and pride to the fact that he lived
and died an honest man, 1.-THE noblest
work of God w.