The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-09
DEATH OF MIR. j. w. OFT.
a Good Man Gone-A Short Sketch o
His Buey Career

a Good Man Gone-A Short Sketch OF
His Busy Career.
John w. OFT died at tho family resi-
dence at $40 Highland avenue 8. W., yes
terday morning at 4:3O o'clock, st the
age of 81 years.
Mr.. OFT was born in Hagerstown, Md,
July %, 1894, and his earlier years were
spent in the printing office Of the
Hsgerstown Daily Mail, his father being
part owner OF that journal. AT the age
of IA no removed from Hagerstown to
Washington, d. c., and after reaching
the age OF manhood held several Inn.
portant positions in the Treasury De-
partment, being acting comptroller of
the Treasury for period under Presi-
dent Buchanan's administration.
at the breaking out of the war Mr..
OFT went to Richmond to accept the DO.
sition OF chief clerk in the treasury de-
psrtment OF the Confederaoy, noshwith.
standing great inducements were
offered by the Federal government for
him to remain in that service.
After the war was over he resided In
Richmond for about twenty years, was
for while cashier of the City Bank. OF
Richmond, and was for nearly twenty
years secretary of the Southern Ferti-
lizer Company. By reason of his health
demanding change of climate he left
Richmond and located in Roanoke in
1883 and was cashier OF the Citizsns'
Bank until the organization of the Iron
Belt Building and Loan Assoca ion, of
which he was elected secretary, and
which position he fill. d until his death.
at the tune Of his death no was sur
rounded by the members Of his lmme-
date family He suffered stroke of
paralysis on the morning Of Septemb Der
&c, which affected his entire left side
and rendered him partially speechless,
from which he apparently revived to
some extent, and hopes were entertained
OF his recovery until last Saturday,
when he suffered a severe stroke, which
deprived him Of his speech entirely.
His condition gradually grew worse
until the end came yesterday morning.
Mr.. OFT leaves wife and six children,
five daughters and one son, &c follows:
Mrs. Samuel Claggett, Mrs John Ar
chic Wilson. Misses Hattie. Maggie and
Josephine OFT and son, Robert, who all
reside in this city. The deceased had
two brothers and two sisters, namely,
Samuel and Thomas OFT and Misse
Marian and Callie OFT, Gil of Washing
ton, d. G.
Mr.. OFT was one OF the best read men
In the country. He not only read all
standard books, but he 30 thoroughly
digested and remembered that he could
repeat their contents years afterwards.
de was also thoroughly posted On all
questions of the day, and being mag
netic and eloquent conversationnlist,
his mpanionship was greatly priced
In his death Roanoke loses one of her
ablest business men, for no one has done
more to further the interests of this city
than has Mr.. OFT. He was q staunch
member of tho Second Presbyterian
Church.
The funeral services will be conducted
this afternoon at 8 o'clock at the First
Presbyterian Church by Rev. Hay Wat
son Smith, pastor of the Second Pres
byterian Church, of which Mr. OFT was
member. The active pail bearers are
j. P. Barbee, J. c. Davenport, G. A. Nc
Hugh. c. G. Taliaferro, R, a. Ruckner
and W. p. Airheart; honorary, j. w.
Shields, j. VIM. Boyd, S D. Ferguson,
II. S. Trout, f. A. Rideout, E. Il. Jacobs,
b. Il Greider, j. w. Coon and p. L.
Terry.