The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-01-27
DIED IN INDIANA.
Solomon A. Gorgas, Well Known in
Stark County, Passes Away
at Shelbyville.

Solomon A. Gorgas passed away at the
residence of his daughter, Mrs. N. II.
Strong, 199 West Broadway, Shelbyville,
Indiana, January IS, 1898, of pneumonia,
at the age of yeighty-three years, six
months and seven days. Deceased was
born In Elizabethtown, Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, July IL, 1915, where he
spent his youth. In 1885 he came to
Stark county and was married July Is
in Louisville TO Mary f. Vier, who
survives him and to whom was born four
children, Nellie, Albert, Emma and
Laura, the son having died in Shelby
vile in 1886
The writer's first remembrance Of Mr.
Gorgas was in the early 4O's, when he
zyas In business In Navarro. The writer
was the recipient Of an order to paint
the portrait of Mr. Gorsas's mother, which
must have been among the very first por-
traits attempted by the artist The re-
narkable character of this portrait In
sured it's being well preserved and was
the mean of bringing the artist and pat
ron together after separation OF over
thirty years Deceased moved to Shelby
willie in 1853 and entered the hardware
business, remaining in 1t until his remov
al to Indian polls in 1870. In politics
he was Republican and at one time q
member of this city council OF Shelby
Vile and member of the school board
He was consistent member of the Pres
byterian church, Of which he had been al
elder. Deceased twice crossed the plain'
overland and went in search of gold II
California in 1s49 The Shelbyville Dem
ocrat say she was kind and affectionatt
in his home, sparing no pains or ex
pense in making his family comfortable
and happy.
In 1889 or 1888, knock at my stuai'
door in the Corcoran building, Washing
ton, revealed to me the handsome face
had not seen for over thirty years ant
which instantly recognized as my OLE
friend Solomon Gorgas. 1t is needless t.
say the meeting las very cordial and
took many weeks and months befor
either could relJte all the experience
th.t had been passed through since tn
early days. eau bear witness to tn
truthfulness of the statement that h
spared no pains to make his home
haupy one. The writer had the beneh
of this domestic sunshine,an many wer
the evenings that we enjoyed together
Indeed the society of this amiable famil
had much to do in reconciling me In m
exile from New York.
But time brings its changes, and m
friends, who had never been successfull
weaned from their western life, and de
sire to be with their children move
them back to end their days there. Th
writer in the Shelbyville Demoora
saws: "Thers Is nothing we could sa
here that would or could add to the III
and character of this grand old gentl'
man, and when in active business
man had mora friends than he." Th
is so well expressed that ] cannot hope
do more than say amen. He was ma
of remarkably stsady habits ard tho
oughly systematic. To this also we ca
add our testimony, and will add th'
il is not often one can select man an
fearlessly hold him up as worthy e.
ample for our yo lths to follow. His IL
had been so guided that he could dra
the drapery of his couch around him al
lie down to pleasant dreams. W. L.