The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-05-01
JOSEPH ROBERT ASTON.
Tribute to the Character and Worth
OF q Good Man and Worthy Ci'iz-n
by One Who Knew Him Well.

Joseph Robert Aston was born in
Chatham county, n. c., and was
descendant from a union Of the
Warren and Chatham family of that
name. He married Miss Sue b. Hunt
in 1859. The early part Of his married
life was spent on Hickory mountain
in his native county. Afterward he
removed to his late residence where
be had continuously resided and
where on the evening of the 10th Of
April, he died in the 63rd year of his
age. 1t was here that he reared
large family, six daughters and four
sons, all of whom survive him save
one, the beloved physician" of the
neigh borhood who scarce two months
preceded him to the grave. Nearly
all of them, together with the faith
full wife, surrounded his dying bed,
and with willing hands prompted by
tender, loving hearts ministered to
him. But ALA. the dread disease Of
pneumonia had done its fatal work
band at the close Of the 9th day the
end came and the noble heart ceased
to beat.
Early in the summer OF 1861 Mr..
Aston enlisted in the local Company.
bonneville Guards, where he re-
manned until MAY, 1862. Under spe
cial enactment known as the twenty
negro act" he could have applied to
the Secretary of War and have OBJ
tanned a discharge from military SER
vice upon promise TO devote his
efforts TO raising supplies for the
army: but he did not propose to ac-
cept a discharge in this way but pro-
eeedsd to hire substitute which
legally discharged him from military
service. And yet in December Of the
same year, although personal interest
demanded his attention at home to
say nothing of the sacrifice of comfort
and the pain of parting from the wife
of his youth and his little family. this
noble patriot voluntarily returned to
his old command and took his old
place first alphabetically as he stood
on the Company roll. so be was
esteemed by his comrades. This
action was doubtless stimulated by
the absurd report which at that time
was being circulated by certain per-
sons that this was the erich mans
war but the poor mans tight.'') From
this date he was present for duty and
took an active part in every battle
fought by the army of Northern Vir-
ginia up to and including the battle
Of Gettysburg, where he was So DIES
| oil " ,nn,,nIo1 to ii !,
being moved when Gen. Lees army
fell back from that great battle field.
A shrunken shoulder. a wiihered
arm. poor. shattered hand, were
the mute but infalIible witnesses OF
where he stood on the Cemetery
Heights on that fateful day.
The most prominent feature OF Mr..
Alston's character was extreme
nodesty. His retiring disposition
prevented any attempt on his part to
lead or shape>the course of general
conversation on social occasions but
he was oftenest found in tete-a-tete
style With some friend in whom he
contded. Then it was that all reserve
would seem to leave him and he
would open his honest, noble heart
as ..friend with friend" he would tel
of his joys and his .orrows, his sue
cesses and his disappointments as i,
has so often been the privilege Of the
writer OF this brief and imperfect
tribute to do. Bat with all this ano
more that might be said what char
acter is complete unless it could be
said as happily can be of my departed
friend. he was an humble follower O
the MAN of Sorrows" His accus
toned place at church was rarely
Gent cause. He was upright in al
his dealings that his guileless sou
hated insincsrity and despised incon
sistency. Then. dear stricken ones
weep not for him for he has left you
a priceless heritage in an honoret
name, useful life and peaceful
death. Comfort your hearts witt
the beautiful lines of Bishop Heber:
Thou art gone, gone to ,, the grave but we vii
Though sorrows and darkness encompass
the tomb,
The Saviour tosa has has passed thro its portal
ana the lamp or HIS love is thy guild
thrO' its gloom.
Thou art gone to the grave, we no longe
,, behold thee,
Nor tread the rough path Of the worl
! by thy side
: But the wide arms Of mercy are spread t
enfOld thee
And sinners may hope since the Sinles
3 has died.
8 Thou art gone to the grave and its mar
sOns forsaking,
Perhaps thy tried split in doubt lingel
! ed long,
But the sunshine Of Heaven beamed nigh
On thy waking
And the song that thou heardst was tn
Selaphim's song.
l Thou art gone to the grave but 'twer
. wrong toldeplore thee
+ When God was thy ransom, thy guardia
and guide,
\ He gave tilee, lie took thee, and soon vii
l restore thee
$ Where death has no sting since Il,
!, Saviour has died.
, Promising men are often disal