Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-04-15
Death Of the eldest Citizen.


THE VENERABLE GEO. W. FULLER PAS
SEES AWAY.
MI. Geo. W. Fuller, the oldest resident
of Staunton, and probably the Oldest Mason
in the State. passed away at his residence
on Augusta street Sunday evening, in his
seth year. Hewas born in Fredericksburg
/ in 1903, and in 1910, was brought to this
city by his father. His father, Barthol-
NEW Fuller, was famous teacher in Ire
land, who was brought to this country by
George Washington in 1871 to start q claS-
steal school in fredericksburg, on the rec
ommendation of Col. Fitzgerald, an Irish
officer On WaShington's staff. George i FULLER
was educated at the Old Staunton Academy
on New street, of which his father became
the Principal. His long life had covered three
wars. He remembered the Sunday morn
ing In 1872 that the news got here of the
burning of Washington by the British, and
from the top of Augusta street where he
lived, saw the volunteer troops march from
Staunton for Norfolk. He saw the volun-
teer troops when they left for the Mexican
war in 1S49, and he saw company after
company that marched away for the civil
war in 1861. He had heard "Old Hickory
jackson address the people here in 1926,
from the long porch of the Washington
tavern where the Virginia Hotel now
stands, and he had seen Henry Clay on the
porch of the Bell Tavern, opposite it, shak-
ing hands with the people. He had been
through the hot political campaigns of the
"Federalists" and Republicans and heard
the speakers on each side-Judge Baldwin,
Judge Stuart, Chesley Kinney, Chapman
Johnson, Jacob Swoope, Michael CARRIER
and the rest. He had seen the present half
century-Old court house built. When he
came here there was no mail. and letters
were sent by travellers hands. He was a
highly intelligent man with Almost remark
able memory, and was one Of the most en-.
tertaining conversationalists ON 5y-gone
times the writer OF this ever met. He
could recall the days when Staunton had
only 800 inhabitants and consisted of a few
houses clustered around the court house
''in the bottom, - and knew the names ana
the histories of all the old merchants who
built up the village. He was made an APP
prentice in Masonry in 1928, and was raised
to Master in the same year, and is very
probably the Oldest member of that order
in Virginia.
He approached the point of his departure
in perfect peace. The last time he was
down town he called, as he always did, at
the VINDICAToR office. AS he left he said:
II expect this is the last time | shall come
My pains are becoming SO frequent that
they warn me my time is near, so | expect
l may as well say good bye to you" He
had lived q beautiful Christian life, had
munity for nearly a century, and there was
little to trouble him in the approach Of
death. He had been member Of the Metho
dist church for over a half century and
had q sister who died at elghty-nine who
had been member much longer. He leaves
a wife, aged eighty four years and six chill
dren-Thos. E., J. NJ, and w. S.. of this
city, and George w. Fuller of Richmond,
AID Mrs. Bette G. Potter and Mrs. M. A.
Swartz Of this city.
The funeral took place on Tuesday after
noon from the Second Presbyterian church
the Methodist church being out of repair,
and was largely attended. Staunton Lodge
No. - had a very large turn out. The ser
vices We're conducted by Rev. j. L. Will
liams and Rev. J. S. Gardner, and the fol
lowing gentlemen acted as pail bearers
VIM. A. Burke, Saml Pugh, II. M. Nc
Ilhany, George A. Armentrout, VIM. Ste
venson, VIM. Skeen, w. L. Lushbaugh and
Jas. G. Cochran.