The Penn's Grove record., 1896-02-28
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1896.
PASSING AWAY.

PASSING AWAY.
Few citizens who were active in pub.
lie lie from 25 to so years are now with
us. One of the most active of those
was
JOHN X, LoUDERBACK,
who died at il z. M. Thursday Of
last week, aged So years, and was bur-
led in Emmanuel Church yard on Mon
day. He was one of the most remark
able products of Upper Penns Neck.
He was left an orphan when too young
to remember a father or mother and
was raised by James Stiles. He was
such a bright and studies boy, in the
time when opportunities for education
were very limited, that he was solicited
to begin teaching school in the old
Eight Square School House, when only
16 or IL years old, which occupation he
followed until about 1870, when the
new system of education supplanted
the old. by hard study and the assis-
lance OF friends he learned surveying
and also did much legal work for the
citizens who had every confidence in
his ability and devoted Christian char
acter. When school superintendent
were elected in each township he held
shat office from 47.49, 54-57, 1851, 63-
81, in all 10 years. He was assessor in
50 and So, and Justice of the Peace
from 62.S7, 25 successive years, by the
votes of the people. Undoubtedly he
held the office before when the Cover
nors appointed them. He held office
for 81 different years and for AZ years
in different Offices by the votes of the
people. There is no record of any 9TH
er man having held so long. For about
40 years he taught school and mo- only
instilled the knowledge OF the world but
the knowledge Of the holy spirit in tile
young of this Township. When young
he Joined Perkintown Church and be-
longed. to Emmanuel Church for 80
years, within a few days. He was
patient, accommodating and faithful
and always opened his school with
prayer. He taught most of the time
when persons had to pay for schooling,
and undoubtedly many a boy got his
schooling from Squire LouderbacE
free, because he would never press for
payment, although he badly needed the
money. Undoubtedly his patient Chris
tian example has cast a great Influence
on the people Of the Township.
Always of a frail constitution, for
the past 25 years he has been physical
" falling and gradually passed from
public view. Ii he had died 25 years
ago no house in town would have held
the people at the funeral.
In 1887 he married Mary Burden and
raised three children. William Louder
back died in 1884, without children, yet
married. Emma married DR.. David
Holton, of Brooklyn, and died in 1884
without children. His remaining son
Samuel r.. Louder back lives at Bristol,
and is an engineer on the steamer ply
ing between there and Philadelphia,
but has no heirs.
ROBERT WALKER
another one of our old citizens who was
prominent in the Township from 20 to
IS years ago died on Tuesday morning
aged SO years and was buried this Fri
day. When he and his brother Francis
p. were young they kept a hotel in the
the brick house at the Cove, but were
swept into tie Church in 1887, quit the
liquor business and dug up the sign
which was never planted there again.
He was the last surviving member of
the first board of trustees of Emman-
uel Church and was for several years a
class leader and so years a member.
He was active also in the political af-
fairs of the Township. He was Chosen
Freebooter from 1886, 81, aud 66,6S,
in all IL years, a longer service tAan
any other man recorded. He vas also
Committeeman from 70 to rs. He will
always be remembered as a very genial
and sociable old gentleman. The fun
eral was very largely attended.
BENJAMIN SPARKS,
another old gentleman who lived for
years neal the brick church, passed
away last Saturday at Centre Square.
He Is remembered by IL middle aged
men as a feryent class leader at En-
manuel Church, where he was buried
on Wednesday.