Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-05-18
Death of Jno. w. HauGhawout
Closes Eventfu1 Career

| Closes Event1ul SaTeef
Mr.. John w. HaughawOut died
after brief illness at his home on
Main street, Lexington, Sunday
morning, May 18th, at about 4
O'Clock. He had been in failing
health for some years past but his
indomitable energy and great will
power kept him ON his feet to the
last. Saturday afternoon he was
taken with fair ting spell while
at work in his yard and physicians
were summoned. lie responded to
their treatment and later in the
afternoon got up again. He was
taken worse in the night and
pa sed away in the early morning
hours of Sunday.
The funeral took place Monday
afternoon at 80 o'clock from the
PRESBYTERIAN church, conducted
by Rev. j. K. Booker, who was as
sisted by Rev. DR.. r. j. McBryde.
The interment was made in the
Lexington cemetery. The follow
ing pall-bearers served: Honorary
Gen. Scott Ship, Capt. j. Pres
ton Moore, " .ssrs. W. A. Glas-
gov, j. Med. Alexander. F. Il.
Glasgow and f. M. Pendleton;
active-Messrs. f. L. Graham, }
IL. Campbell, w. S. Hopkins, S. o..
Campbell, j. T. Preston and DR.. j.
II. Hartman. During the hour OF
service all the stores closed in
respect to the memory Of Mr..
Haughawout.
The death of Mr.. Haughawout
removes from Lexington notable
character. He was the Oldest
native born citizen of the town. He
was born November End, 1914, and
was the son of Jacob N. Haugha-
won't who came TO Lexington from
New Jersey about the year 1909.
His mother was Miss Hills. The
whole of his long life Of nearly
ninety years was spent in Licking
ton. He was a familiar figure on
our streets, of dignified bearing,
remarkably we'll preserved and
possessing the mental and physical
vigor of man many years HE
Junior. From his bOyhood he was
| a lover of the chase, and to follow
the music of the hounds after deer
and fox was his delight until he
had reached three score years and
ten. He was fond of the older
Virginia hospitality with its free
and easy life and social glass.
Beginning in 1885, for twelve
years he served as mayer of Lex
ington, the longest service in the
history of the town. He admins
tered the affairs of his office with
ability and wisdom, and under his
administration were inaugurated
and completed many of the modern
comforts and coDveniences which
the town now enjoys, such as the
excellent water works system with
new reservoir and enlarged supply
the complete system of sewerage,
electric lights, volunteer fire
department, improved streets ano
roads. Notwithstanding the ex'
pendituro Of large sums of money
on improvements, the taxes were
reduced from $1.12t on the 800 tt
So cents. This fine showing, how
ever. is not alone due to the fore
sight and wisdom of Mr.. Haugha
won't, but he was aided by thu
advice of a most excellent body o.
men composing his councils.
Mr.. Haughawout was recognized
as authority on all matters of loca
history of men and events for tn
past three-quarters of Il century
Possessing IA retentive memor,
stored with facts from early child
hood, he delighted in his declin
ing years to relate his varied ex
perience to his friends. One ex
perience remained with him vivit
to his death, and that was tn
"falling of the stars" on Novembe
18th, 1888. He was on Brush.
Hill to enga e in fox hunt
About 3 o'clock he discovered
meteoric display. The stars fell al
around him and he struck TO
home. He stopped at the oil
reservoir with the intention of TAX
ing refuge in the water from tn
rain of fire,
Wr.Haughawout in carly life wa
a tailor. Later lie engaged in tn
livery business, and devoted him
self to farming. In 1886 he mad
a trip on horseback through
number of the States of the West
, During the Civil War he was
member of the Rockbridge Rangers
and for a short time was in activ
service:
, Mr.. HaugEawout was twic
married. His first wife was Mis-
F Cease of Staunton. His secon
, wife was Miss Lucy Jordan, daugi
ter of the late John W. Jordan
, whom he married in 1888. Sh
2 survives him.
democratic Primaries Called