The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-07-05
MR.. B.. f. PARK DEAD
After Months of Intense but
Patient Suffering.
A GOOD MAN HAS GONE
ONE OF THE CITY'S MOST PorJ-
LAR AND VALUABLE
CITIZENS.
The END CAME LAST EVENING
A Brave and LOYAL Soldier, a Christian Gentle
man and a Mechanic Who Honored
the Name Has Passed
Away,

HNdf,
Last night at 30 o'calck. just a, The
twilight Of a quiet sunny summer even
in= began falling. / dark mantle spread
over a former happy home ia Raleigh,
and the gentle genial spirit of the head
of that home. took its flight.
Did you know that Ben Park
was dead WAS asked II rich aud poor,
professional and working men. and the
response came. lie was ono of the
best men III town. \ large number 81
friends repaired to the unhappy home on
North West street, To pay their respects
Ben Park Is dead" came over the
telephone and was repeated over and
over again in the stores and on tho
streets Of Raleigh. Tn sad news
came not 10 any particular class. Nor
WAS ii seemingly of more interest ear
concern to one class than another. Ben
Parks was cycryhody'> friends. and tn
sad tidings of his death seemed to hc
deploicd in the homes Of the rich. the
Wcll-to-da. the poor man and in all alike.
benjamin Franklin Park WAS born in
CIarksvillc. Va, May 3rd, 1880, and
died Ill Raleigh yesterday evening at
100 o'clock, aged - years. / month
and % days.
He was one of the best men that
ever lived in Raleigh. one Of the most
upright. ~unaSsumiDg. amiahlc and popu
lar of al the worthy citizens of the
capital city.
As Il soldiers he shed lustor upon th"
uniform he wore a~ = christian gentle
man. he honorcd the citizenship Of the
community in which he lived rs 4 me
chanic he exalted and enobled the call
ing. and aS Il ncighbor and friend, he
made life brighter for those who enjoyed
his acquaintance and friendship.
Mr.. Park left his native home in
Clarksvillc. Va, at II years of age. aud
came to Louishurg, in Franklin county.
This was just prior 10 the breaking out
, of the war. and when the first call for
volunteers was made, he was one of the
first to volunteer. II" joined the Frank
lin Rifles. afterwards Company *, in
the Thirty-Sccond North Carolina rcgi-
ment. and no Drawer man went to the
front in all that fuor years Of terrible
conflict. He went through II battles,
WAS wounded and taken prisoner at the
second days fight ut Gettysburg. WIS
afterwards exchanged and rejoined his
regiment, and WAS again seriously
wounded at S~pottsylvania. from which
wound he had not recovered when the
conflict was over.
In the fall of 1860. he came to
Raleigh. and was for sometime
employed in the Raleigh and Castor
Railroad shops. y few years later he
became the foreman Of the contracting
and building firm Of Belts, Allen and
Company. He held this position until
the organization Of the firm Of Ellington,
Register and Company, Of which firm
he was IL membcr He was
steadily engaged III the active manage
nlent Of the shops Of this firm unttl
about five years ago. y stroke OF
paralysis forced him to retire from active
work. Since then his wise counsel has
been often sought by his former part
ners and associates, but the condition
of his health has prccludcd any active
work on his part. Five months ago,
with his health already impaired, h" was
taken with Bright's disease of the kid
news. These five months nave been
DAYS and nights Of intense suffering
but through it all he bore up like the
courageous man he was, never complain
ing. never murmnring.
On Saturday still another complication
was added in Il case of pneumonia.
This WAS more than even this resolutc.
robust spirit could resist. The end
grew gradually near. until yesterday
evening. when seemingly without .iln,
without scarcely Il struggle. the gentle
but courageous spirit took its flight.
He was prepared to go; indeed he had
signitied his desire 10 20.
On Monday he said to his pastor that
for him now it was only q step To the
other side Of the river. and lie dreaded
not the taking Of that step.
Mr.. Park was a member of the
American Legion of Honor, III which be
had an insurance policy Of $1,000. He
belonged also 10 Hiram Lodge No. s, l..
O. O.. f.. and Centre Lodge, No. >,
Is. of p. He was an eX-commander Of
l.. OBJ Branch Camp Of Confederate
Veterans. He had been anticipating the
end and had made all arrangements even
to the purchasing of his burial clothes.
He stated before he died that he had
lived the life of q soldier and desired
that he should be buried as such. He
will. therefore. be buried by his com
radeS Of J.. OBJ. Branch Camp, and by
his loIOp brethren