Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-09-03
The Death Record.

The Death Record.
1t is with great regret that we re-
cord the death of Mr.. William Wal
lace Beeler Gallaher, editor of the
Virginia Free Press, which occurred
last Friday at his home in Charles
Town. He had been sick for a long
time from consumption, and had been
confined to his home since last winter.
He is survived by his wife, who is a
sister of Bishop A. W. Wilson, of the
Southern Methodist Church, and by a
son and a daughter, Mr.. Norval W.
Gallaher and Miss Louise Fl. Gallaher.
His funeral was held Monday morn
ing in the Presbyterian church, OF
which he had been a ruling elder for
more than thirty years, the service be-
ing conducted by Rev. DR.. A. G. Hop
kins.
Mr.. Gallaher, who was 70 years of
age, was a son of the late b. Nelson
Gallaher. He was native OF this
county, and learned the printer trade
on the Free Press, which was founded
in 1921 by his uncle John S. Gala
her. At the breaking out of the Civil
War Mr.. Gallaher enlisted as mem
Der of Company A, Second Virginia
Regiment, Stonewsll Brigade. Al
though OF the most delicate health, he
served faithfully until the close of the
war, and was brave soldier. He al
ways commanded the full respect and
confidence of his superior officers, be-
ing intimately acquainted with many
of the leaders of the Lost Cause. At
ter the war he became partner with
his father in the management of the
Free Press, and upon the death OF the
latter he became sole proprietor, ed
iting the paper until his last illness
forced him to lay down his pen. Mr..
Gallaher was one Of the wittiest. bright
est writer's we have ever known. He
was as keen as a rapier in newspaper
controversies, but always courteous
and fair. His memory was remarka-
bic and he was always fortified with
facts that were invaluable to him as a
writer. The Free Press was very dear
to him, and he kept its columns clean
and pure, suffering no injustice to be
done to any man. He thus attracted
a circle of devoted friends who loved
him and his paper, and he was worthy
of their regard. The current issue of
the Free Press ends it's ninety-second
year, and it has always been in the
Gallaher family, 1t was never edited
with more ability than by Mr.. BILLY"
Gallaher, as he was atfectionately
known, whose reputation as a bril-
liant psragrapher is not confined to
his State or section. He was a gen.
ial, lovable Christian gentleman, and
we are glad to have known him and
to have had his friendship. BE has
gone to receive the reward Of we'll
spent life, and is with the noble souls
who were his ideals. We cannot for
bear reprinting the following beautiful
paragraph which he wrote only a few
months ago:
Forty years Sunday afternoon since
Stonewall Jackson died. In noting the
memorable day it is with pardonable
pride that we recall the fact Of having
been honored by being designated by a
member of his staff as guard of the
body Of the great soldier that night
From dark to dawn we were near the
bier-alone most of the time. Alone
with the body of great soldier Isn't
it memory worth chershing? Two
other times we were alone with him
at the beginning OF his great career, the
night be fore he was known as stone
WALL" and again when he was nearing
the pinnacle of military achievement.
We hope, some day, to be with him
again-but not alone !"