The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-03-18
ORITUARY

Mr.. William Magness died near Greensburg,
Indiana, on the 10Th of February, aged IS
years. He was a member of a well-known
Hartford county family, being the youngest
child of William Magness, Sr., who genera
ton ago owned and resided on the farm near
Bel Air now owned by Mr.. j. S. Richardson.
Here he raised large family, most of whom
lived to greater age than the time generally
allotted to man. The death here recorded
takes from earth the last one of the family.
When he reached manhood, over 60 years ago,
he left his home in Hartford to seek his for
tune in the West. He bought farm in Indi-
ana and spent the remainder of his life there.
His honest and reliable business qualities, and
his peaceful and genial disposition won the
confidence and respect of his acquaintance,
and his death will be serious loss to the COM
munity in which he had lived for SO many
years.
James Rutledge Stephenson, aged IA
months, infant son of Jacob R. and Beulah
Stephenson, died on March 10th and was bur
led at Darlington Cemetery, Sunday morning.
Rev. E. A. Colburn was the officiating clergy
man. The pail bearers were four little boys,
Selwyn Colburn, Glasgow Archer, Basil Coale
and Willie Kelly.
The remains of Thomas J. Hilditch were
brought from Baltimore last Friday morning
and inferred at Mt. Zion Cemetery. Rev. j.
NJ. Slarrow conducted the obsequies. The
pail bearers were Isaac Amos, o. NJ. Whita-
ker, George r. Cairnes, James Hendon, John
Bauer and William II. Wallis.
The funeral of Andrew Lagan, who died
near Vale, took place last Friday, the inter
ment being at Long Green Catholic church.
Rev. Father Dillon conducted the services.
The pail bearers were Patrick Bradley, Daniel
Bradley, James Quinn, John Bradley, Daniel
Lynch and P. r. Bradley.
Susan Elizabeth, aged seven weeks, daugh-
ter of j. Ruff and II. A. STREET., died at her
parents residence, near the Hickory, on
Monday, 18th instant and was buried at Rock
Spring Cemetery on Wednesday.
Mr.. Alexander McComas, the well-known
gunsmith. died OH Saturday, March 18th, at
his home in Baltimore. He was in his 72d
year and leaves widow and one son, Mr..
Harry H. McComas, who was associated with
him in business and one daughter, who is the
wife of DR.. Howard c. Silver, of Baltimore.
Mr.. McComas was born near Bel Air, Febru-
airy 81, 1921. His father, Preston McComas,
and grandfather, Alexander McComas were
natives of Hartford county, their family having
been among its first settlers. The mother OF
Mr.. McComas was Hannah E. Cough, eldest
daughter of Harry Cough, native of Eng
land, who came to this country and Settled at
Southampton, a well-known mansion near
Bel Air When Mr. McComas was Is years
old at his own request his father sent him to
Baltimore to learn the business of gunsmith-
ing. After mastering the trade in 1S43 he en-
gagged IN business on MS own account ana DIV
the excellence of his work, his industry, ster-
ling uprightness and honesty, built up pros
porous business and won high reputation,
which he retained to the last. In 1874 he mar
ried Miss Mary A. Hahn. He was cousin of
Harry G. McComas, who with Daniel G.
Wells, is said to have killed Gen. Ross at the
battle of North Point. Mr.. McComas, al
though for SO many years engaged in the man.
ufacture and sale of death-dealing weapons,
was quiet, peaceable man. 1t is related of
him, however, that during the excitement in
Baltimore on April 18th, 1861, when a mob
attempted to sack his premises in order to
procure arms and ammunition to prevent the
passage of federal troops through the city, he
heated poker red-hot and coolly told the
crowd that if they persisted in their attempt
he would plunge the poker into key of pow
der and blow up the place with the crowd and
himself. His threat deferred the crowd and
they moved off. Mr.. McComas was an uncle
of Mr.. A. Preston Gilbert, of the Bel Air bar.
u Mr.. Benjamin F. st. Clair, an aged resident
of Cooptown, died on Wednesday, 18th in
slant, at the home of Mr.. McComas Norris,
near that place.