Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-03-16
Death of Captain Fitz.

Sseess ~
In the death of Capt. J. NJ. Fitz
there has passed from this life to that
happy bliss beyond the grave man
of an exemplary character, and one
whose absence will be keenly felt far
and wide by host of friends ard Iela
tives He died Thursday in the after
noon about o'clock at the suburban
residence of his father-in-law, Col.
Geo. J. Peyton, after a long illness OF
consumption. He was born in kes
wick, Albemarle county, in 1S43, and
was a son of J. G. Fitz, who was in his
day man of much prominence.
From the time that Captain Fitz
started out in the world for himself he
led life of great activity and useful
ness, and wherever his duties chanced
to call, there he added to his large
number of friends. In early manhood
he was messenger for the Adams
Express Company, and was afterwards
promoted to agent at the White Sui
phur Springs. AS it was with his
brother, the late Capt. J. E. Fitz, he
had many thrilling experiences during
the civil war. At that time the duties
of his office necessitated q great deal
of travelling, and on several occasions
be had narrow escapes from being cap
tured by raiding parties OF the North
ern army. After the war he received
an appointment from the G. and O..
railroad as passenger conductor
which position he filled for number
of years with marked success. AT one
time he was cashier of the Adams Ex
press Company at Huntington, w.
Va.
| During the years spent in travelling
he became widely known and made an
extensive acquaintance that greatly
aided him in his subsequent career as
a hotel man. At the Rockbridge Alum
Springs be was cashier and bo0kkeeper
for while and afterwards associated
with E. o. Peyton as proprietor of
Hale House at Charleston, W. Va.
Here be conducted one of the most
popular resorts in that State, and it
was always pleasure for the travel
ing men to stop with him. He after
wards took charge of the American
Hotel in this city, and long with
D. P. Woodward, ran it under the
name of the Hale House.
Besides being man of a wide ex-
perience and an exceptional ability in
the more practical things, Capt. Fitz
had no less love for the beautiful.
and the fact that he had a poetical
genius is well evidenced by the many
admirable verses he had written.
His Christian belief in the immor-
tali:y of the soul and the urgent ne
cessitv of preparation for the future
life is shown in poem he wrote at
Glendale, Va, May IA. 1898:
Oh, life, we know that thou art short,
Aud not one moment Can be bought;
Then why wilt thou, oh, mortal man
Neglect thy soul in this short span?
Or why wilt thou seek treasures here,
And cling to things on earth, though
dear,
When life is but rippling wave,
And thou so soon must reach the grave?
A few more years of worldly gain,
A few more years of toll and pain.
A few more years ana we will be
Immortal in eternity.
Then let us be prepared. when life
Shall cease, with all its scenes of strife,
To meet the loved ones gone before,
Who are waiting on the Heavenly shore.
J. M. F.
Glendale, Va, May 14th, 1898.
Capt. Fitz was married at the White
Sulphur Springs. W. Va. November
4, 1878, to Miss Janet Peyton, and has
four children-Misses Callie, Emma
and Rosalie, and George Fitz.
For a man of the world. as he had
always been, the great love, kindness
and tenderness he had ever shown his
family, was remarkable. Besides beau
tiful verses to each of his children
those he wrote on the 18th anniversary
of bis marriage are Tery touching.
TO MY DEAR WIFE.
ION the 18th anniversary of our mar
| riage.
Together we for eighteen years,
Have lived within this vale of tears;
The VOWS that made US here one twain,
With safety we could make again.
The blissful hour when first we met,
Shines sweetly in mem ory yet;
And oft bless the day SO bright,
When heaven sent thee to my sight.
Thy love so true has been to me,
What mine trust has been to thee;
A source of happiness and joy,
R Removing all the worlds alloy.
No Joy e'er filled this heart of mine
Or sorrow. but the same was thine:
And thus we've Travelled on in life,
Regardless of its cares and strife.
f Oh, may these blessings always last,
Our future be as in the past:
Q And when our days on earth are o oer.
E iay we meet above to part no more
e j. M. f.
r The funeral took place Friday at l
d o'clock from "Glendale, :" the home Q
q his father -in-law, Colonel George l
t Peyton, and the interment was i
Thornrose Cemetery.
The active pall-bearers were: Messrs
Miller McCue, Walter D. Hoge, Wn
/ Harman, John Harman, Earma
l. Black, P. NJ. Wood ward. W. B. LYMAN
and Thomas Hogshead.