Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-25
VIZ. WILLIAM TENtU.
Death of This Venerable citizen "t
pcfcrsbuIY.

PETERSBURG. VA. october @-tSpe-
/ ciaIJ-Mr William Tench. the Oldest
nativc-born male resident of Petersburg
died at his home on Halifax street TINS
morning about > o'clock. BY reason OF
the in0rmitics Of age he had Tor
some years been incapacitated for busl-
ness Mr. Tench was born near the
intersection of Halifax street-that
portion of the city then known as
"RaVenScraft ON the 81 of May. iN''
and he VAS consequently IN the Nth year
of ms age He lived in Petersburg all
of his life. and witnessed the grown 3i
the city, its social ana couin"l'i dI az
conditions for the long period C. nearly
ninety years. lie was possessed oi
+ most remarkable memory. which was a
/ rich fund of knowledge OF the history 81
'wcnty,dve we, years ago Mr. Tench care
fuUv prcparcd a list of the nativc-born
citizens Who were at the time - years
of age His name was on the iist. Since
then nearly the entire number have
passed To- their graves AMI possibly not
half dozen remain.
Mr. TcnCh was the oldest Mason IN
the city. and probably one of the Oldest
iu the state He was made Master
I Mason ~ Petersburg Lodge, No. -. ON
September r.. 1884. and had. therefore.
been Mason in active standing Tor
siXty-0ue years He served as worship
ful master for eight years ana six months,
during which time 80 meetings Of the
lodge were held. ana he WAS recorded a.
being absent from only four meetings.
ON the 18th Of june. lN>. Mr. Tench
was presented by the lodge with "a pair
of beautiful skier gOhlets. in token OF
the esteem in which he was held 10y the
lodge for his zeal and interest in Masonic !
work. The presentation address WAS d.
livercd by the late colonel James David
son. who at the time Was one OF the /
fathers Of Masonry in This city. MI |
Tcnch was at other times also the /
recipient OF various other TESTIMONIALS !
Of love and respect from his Masonic |
Deceased was one Of the founders of |
the Petersburg Benevolent Mechanic As |
ISOLATION OF this city. having served his |
Apprenticeship m early life as sdbinet- |
maker He was for great number OF /
years an active member of that inStitu- |
ton. and took active part I'm the foun- !
dation Of the principles, which eventually /
lcl ia the usefulness and charitable work /
OF that institution.
Mr. Teuch was a man of irreproachable |
character pure. lovable' and ,gentle-
whose word was always as good as his |
bond. and against whom there was never |
Il suspicion Of the slightest wrong or in |
discretion. For a great many years Pc |
was the principal auctiOneer In this city !
and his musical voice and eloquent plead |
inss brought him great patronage.
PERSONAL AND GENERAL.
The alarm Of fire this morning between |
6 and o'clock was caused 10y the par |
tial burning Of a house on Guarantee |
street occupied by Mrs Mary f.. Jones, /
and owned 10y Messrs. Marks a Kidd. |
The loss was Hight.
The students OF the Public High School |
Of this city have organized foot-bal |
team. and on Saturday next propose To !
visit Blackstone 10 play with the team /
of the HOge Academy.
The Royal Arcanum Of this city to-day /
paid benefits of $500 each 10 the widows |
OF two members who died during the past
month.