The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-05-11

News was received yesterday morn
ing from Pittsburgh OF the death Of
WIN S. FRris, until about n year ago
city editor OF the lntelligencer, but for
the past ten months telegraph editor of
the Pittsburgh COmmercIal-Gazett
The announcement was received in this
city with many expressions or sincere
sorrow and regret. for during his long
newspaper career here he had made
a host Of friends and was universally
liked and respected.
For some months past Mr., Farls had
been In delicate health, caused by q
bronchial affection. but not until about
ten days ago was he obliged to suspend
work nj his desk, when he became con-
fined to his home at 70 Western avenue,
Allegheny City Up to the night before
his death he was cheerful and conn
IDENTITY expected to be able soon to re-
sumo his duties, Yesterday morning.,
however. about s o'clock he was at,
tackled by Il hemoTrhage OF the lungs
and expired at o'clock.
4 telephone message from the Com
meTcial-Gazettc Office 10 the lntelll'
gencer last night stated that the sud.
den death OF Mr.. Faris was a great
shock TO all his associates on the pa.
per. among whom he had become very
popular and all Of whom admired him
for the same qualities OF mind aud
heart that had endcaTed him to his Coz
workers on the newspapers OF Wheel
ing. II was also announced that the
funeral viii occur from his late resi-.
dence in Allegheny At o'clock to-mor-
row afternoon. the interment TO take
place ut UniOndale cemetery, near that
city.
Mr.. Faris was n native Of Wheeling
having been born here May s. 1856, and
was the son Of William ~ Far!s, who
now resides In BellRlre, His mother,
Elizabeth. was n daughter OF Judge
Benjamin 8. COwCn, OF St Clairsvllle,
whose distinguished career as congress-
man and Jurist is familiar TO the older
citizens OF Ohio and West Virginia. He
learned the printers trade In the Office
OF the Belmont Chronicle and began
his newspaper life by publishing n
small amateur weekly. In 1872 he be-
gan his career as professional report
er as local editor OF the Bellaire Com
mercial. published by Miss Mary Hoo.
yer. In 1874 he was employed by the
Wheeling Register to make tour OF
West Virginia. and the descriptive ar
ticles written By him from many points
attracted considerable attention.
Shortly after he began the study OF
law in the office OF Reese 4 GailaheT
In Bellairc. and continued for some
time. In the meanwhile doing newspa-
per work. publishing the Bric-a-B rac
a small literary paper which obtained
more than local fame.
Mr. FRrls' literary and poeticnl work
was Of high order OF merit his verses
especially being extensively copied.
one Of his poems has come to be ma
tional favorite, has found Its way into
school readers and other standard col
lectiOns. and Is often rccitcd at lit
renry entertainments II is known as
Rock OF Ages" and was suggested by
the beautiful hymn OF that name. II In
not generally known that he was the
author. the poem having originally ap-
pcarcd anonymously in his Bellaire
Bric-a- Brac
In 1861 Mr.. Faris taught school at
JacobsburR, Ohio, and was afterward
principal Of the Fifth ward school in
Bellaire ut his odd moments conducts
Ing weekly paper known as the Pho
nograph. In 1877 he married Miss Mar
garet James, who survives him, with
four children, boy and three girls.
In 1879 he became night editor OF the
Wheeling Register, and the following
year city editor OF the IntelllgencCr,
which position he held until April / OF
last year. with the exception Of about
a year in lSSg-90, when he was connects
ed first with the Wheeling Weekly
Graphic as editor. and later with the
Ohio Valley Manufacturer as associate
editor. About ten months ago he AS.
sumcd the post at which he died.
MIR Faris was a genial, generous,
courteous. whOlc-souled man, who
made friends Of all with whom he came
in contact and seldom lost one. He pos.
sesscd peculiar talent for journalism.
knew news when he saw II and had
the ability to handle II. His style Of
writing was elegant, and when Occa-
sion required was logical and Thoughts
full. Whether at the desk OF the edi-
tOrlal writer, that OF the reporter, or
that OF the handler OF the news OF the
world as It came hot from the wires, he
displayed marked ability. There is
none OF his old friends OF Wheeling who
more sincerely mourn his untInmely de-
parture than his old associates in the
Intelligencer office. who enjoyed his
friendship for so many years.
Besides his wife and children. Mr..
FarIs left several near relatives TO
mourn his loss-hls aged father and
three brothers. two in Bclialre and one
In Cincinnati. and his uncle. Capt
Joseph A. Faris, and cousin, Architect
+ FarIg OF this city among them.