The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-07-07

William Allen Chcatham

William Allen Cheatham, oldest son
of James and Rebecca Cheatham, was
born in the county of Granville, about
five miles from Oxford. on the 18th day
of May, 1886, and died of consumption,
in the town OF Henderson, on the LIST day
of June, 1892, aged So years and Is
days.
He married Miss Asenath f. Parham
of Granville county, on the 9th of Octo-
Der, 1856. By this marriage there were
born to them nine children. Of these,
five have died and four are left behind to
mourn the loss OF father, who, far
beyond the average father, was deeply
interested in his children and did all that
he could in every way to promote their
welfare. One OF his sons has entered the
Presbyterian ministry and it afforded
Mr. Cheatham peculiar JOY to see this
son engaged in this sacred work. His
daughter, and two remaining sons are
living in Henderson, and will try to do
those things which they believe would
have given their father Joy.
After O married life of nearly twenty
one years his wife died on the 23rd of
March, 1887, and he was, on the 23rd of
Hicks of Henderson, who survives him,
decline that always accompanies the
dread disease of which he died, and during
the last weeks and days of his final sick
| ness, q most faithful, helpful and pa
tent ministrant to all his needs in the
midst of his sufferings
He made q profession of religion at
| Old Plank Chapel, when only Is years Of
age, and Joined the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, of which he remained a
member till the fall of the year 1885.
| at which time for reasons good and salts
| factory, he and all his family, one OF
| whom was q member of the Baptist
| church, Joined the Presbyterian church.
| In the fellowship of this church he died.
He was a faithful member of the church,
regular in his attendances upon all it's
ordinances, doing what he could to pro-
| mote it's interests. He very much en- joyed
religious and devotional music and sing
! ing and was attentive to the preaching
of the Word.
Mr.. Cheatham was a man of strong
convictions and dared maintain what he
believed to be right. And though right
earnestly he would contend for that
which was his own yet he was a very
charitable man. The sick, the needy and
the destitute found friend in him. He
would render them aid though at great
cost and oftentimes at great personal
| sacrifice and inconvenience. In his death
many poor ones have lost friend and
helper.
Death did not take him unaware. For
many,,months he felt its silent tread was
! coming nearer and yet nearer, and his
last days were chiefly occupied in pre-
pairing for the time when the Messenger
should knock at his door. In that pre-
paration all feelings aroused in the con-
t1icts of life were allayed, the past was
quietly and carefully reviewed, its fail
ures noted, its lessons garnered, it's
joyous, pleasant, beautiful, profitable
things gathered. He was resigned to the
approach of death. His chief, indeed 1
may say his only expressed, desire to live
longer was that he might see how his
boys would move off in the way of life.
He died quietly, without struggle.
His mother, his brothers, and brother-in-
law, in addition to the family were at his
bedside in his dying hour. After solemn
and deeply interesting services conducted
in the Presbyterian church by the Rev.
w. d. Morton, d. d., the pastor, assisted
by the Rev. w. l.. Cunningham, of the
Methodist Episcopal church, and at
which there was a large concourse of
friends and acquaintance, his body was
laid away in the Henderson Cemetery to
await the call of the resurrection morn-
May his loved ones in glad anticipation
await that time and be comfOrted in the
hope of meeting him again!
A FRIEND,