The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-04-04
GEORGE n. ROWLAND.

The career OF this coed man is worthy
OF serious consideration. 1t furnishes les
sons that teach its students to avoid
many of the ills OF life, and to attain
perhaps the greatest sum of earthly good
and JOY. Born Nov. Il, 1918, before the
birth of Queen Victoria, while Bonaparte
was prisoner on st. Helena. six years
before the death of Thomas Jefferson and
John Adams, nearly twenty years before
the days OF railroads and the innumer-
able other world transforming inventions
and discoveries OF later times. he fought
LIES battles with three generations of
men and usually came off victor
He was cheerful. hopeful man, full Of
life and spirit. Barring the infirmities Of
flesh he was about as young and
sprlghtly at eighty as at twenty. His
fatal illness was referred to by the writer
in conversation with youthful business
man OF the town, in no way related to
HIN: He replied: I'm sorry; like him
and he likes me-" The words meant
more than they seem to. Friendship and
companlOnship between men of one score
and four score implies qualities possessed
by few whose heads are 'whitened by the
snow that does not melt He was a
grown, live, virile, clear headed business
man from long before the first spade Of
earth was thrown to start the town of
Henderson until his last sickness two
weeks ago. His Photograph will written
IN January last is abundant proof of this
II any were needed.
During all those years his word was as
good as his bond, and his promises were
always kept and performed. He was
during the greater part of his life q
farmer, but for many years from it's first
building he was road-master of the Raj
eigh Il CASTOR Railroad He was long
time merchant. For years he operated
mill, he bought and sold lands and
whatever he did prospered. This long
record OF business success is all the more
remarkable in view of the fact that so
manyf fail when prices decline and seasons
are unfavorable and bad trades are made
Good Judgment, great industry. good
conscience and the guiding hand of God
carried him safely through every difficulty.
Blessed with Christian parents, trained
up in the way he should go, helped and
sustained from early manhood to the end
OF his course by noble and faithful wife
whose love and companionship were all
that he could desire, his life was a con-
tinual triumph over the forces of evil and
defeat.
He not without his full share of the
affections OF life. AS a result OF the war
the earnings of nearly fifty years were
swept away. His two little girls, aged
6 and years, died within a week, OF
scarlet fever His first born son was
more keenly as long as he lived; because
he felt that President Davis should have
accepted the terms of peace suggested by
| il a 10
ference. Another son in the prime of life
met his death in a railway accident: still
another fell victim to disease Four
teen children were born to him, but only
five survive him. They prize above all
other earthly considerations the heritage
OF a good name and noble example that
he has left to them of duty and truth and
trust in God. Truly the memory OF the
just is blessed
His parents were Presley and keziah
Harris Rowland He was named for his
maternal grandfather - the original
George Harris. He was born and lived
all his life and died in this neighborhood.
He married Catherine j.. daughter OF the
late Mr.. Isham Cheatham on July 23rd,
1910, and they two trod the long journey
together happily-a "help meet for each
other. Hewas thus related by the ties of
blood to the large families of Rowland,
Harris, Hicks, Duty, Stone, Watkins and
Others. and by marriage to thefamlies of
Cheatham, Barnes. Bobbitt and others.
At the time OF his departure he had more
living relatives than any other man i'll
the community
He lacked not our love and veneration
while here-and yet we feel more keenly
now than then what q treasure his pres
ence, his prayers and his blessing were to
us. May he look down on us from the
spirit land and inspire us to keep our
honor and the family escutcheon bright
and clean; that we all like him may have
"a peace above all earthly dignities,
still and quiet conscience;
and that We as free as he, from the
stains OF sin, may reach the end OF life.
L. T. HICKS.
Henderson, April 3, 1901.