Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1899-02-03
DEATH OF DR.. ESTlLL
Was For a Long Time a Citi-
zen of TaZeweII.
DIED IN LEXINGTON, VA
His Old Home, Where He Has
Been Spending The Winters
With His Son.

Been Spending The Winters
With His Son.
One afternoon, in the autumn of 1916,
young man, mounted on a splendid
bay horse, rode into the then small viii
lage OF Jeffersonville, and alighting i'm
front of the tavern hitched his horse to
| the rack, and went in. The hotel was
kept at that time by the late Reese Gill
lespie, Sr +, the father of Mrs. 1. f. Chap
man, but now owned by Messrs. Surface
x White, and known familiarly as the
Central. The young man attracted
much attention among the villagers, for
distinguished looking strangers were
not numerous hero then, before railroads
crossed and recrossed the country, and
from the appearance and condition of
both horse and rider, they had Travelled
a long distance. The traveller was kind
ly received, aud food and shelter given
him aud bis horse. The register of the
hotel showed the visitor to be DR.. J. M.
Estill, OF Lexington, Va. On Thurs
day afternoon, Jan. 26th last,
morr thun fiTty-three years afterwards,
Dr. Estill wns borne out of the town In
his casket, followed by large concourse
OF people-old and and young, black and
white, to his last resting place in our
cemetery.
In this span of more than a half CEN
tury is contained the history OF DR.. Es-
tilPs life-a life filed with active, homo
rable labors and crowned with splendid
success.
HIS BIRTH.
DR.. John Miller Estill was born in
Augusta county, Virginia, April IT,
1921, and died in Lexington, Va. Jan.
%, 1895, being therefore nearly rs years
old. His father John Estill was a na-
tive OF Tennessee. His mother, Martha
Miller, was the daughter of Harry Miller,
n man of wealth and high social position
in his day, and a pioneer OF the iron in-
dustry OF Virginin, having es tablished
the first iron furnace in the State. DIR.
Estill was the youngest child of family
OF eieven-three sons and eight daught-
ers, all OF whom are now dead.
HIS EDUCATION AND MARRIAGE.
DIR. Estill graduated from the Univer-
sity OF Virginia in the Spring of 1s46,
the same year in which he came to this
county. In 1S47 he married Miss Law
lette Davidson, the daughter OF Rev.
Andrew b, and Susan Davidson, OF Lex
ington, and brought his bride to Taze-
well, making the journey i'm a buggy.
He remained in Tazewell about FIVE
years, when, upon the earnest solicita-
ton OF his brother, DR.. Harry Estill, he
returned To Lexington, and engaged in
the practice OF his profession. He re-
mained there only about nine months.
when, at the earnest request of many
friends, he returned to TazewelI, and re-
sumed the practice of his profession,
which he continued with uninterrupted
activity until falling health compelled
him to give it up, which he did about
| five years ago.
HIS CHILDREN.
To DIR. and Mrs. Estill were born three
sons and one daughter: DR.. Harry b.
| Estill, Benz. Estill, Susan b. Estil and
DR.. Andrew d. Estill, the only surviving
child, successful and honored physician
OF Lexington, Virginia, with whom DIR.
Estill and his wife have mode their home
since laying down their work in Taze-
well.
SURGEON IN THE CIVIL WAR.
When the civil war broke out DR.. Es-
till was called into service as surgeon of
the 51st. Regiment, which position he
| filed with the same conscientious care
| that characterized him through life. He
| was, for a long time honored by the
Medical Society of Virginia as its Vice.
President, and was always a prominent
and important member OF that great
body OF eminent physicians.
| PHYSICIAN AND CITIZEN.
AS physician and citizen, DIR. Estill
stood first among his fellows. During
his more than fifty years OF labor in this
and adjoining counties. he maintained
hfs reputation for honor and integrity
and probably no man was ever more
tenderiy and surely enshrined in the
hearts OF the people among whom he
labored than was he. Gentleness OF man.
ner, kindiness OF heart. firmness OF con-
viction, were distinguishing characteris-
tics OF his nature, which never forsook
him, but were still prominent when ever
his physical and mental powers began to
decay. 1t is said by those who knew
him, that he was the very soul of honor.
He was true man and friend and when
he died there was probably not single
individual among the people who had
known him all his lie that had a word
to say against him. His kindness to the
poor in sickness or distress, his impair