Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-12-15
DEATHS DURING THE WEEK.
DIR. BEN. BLACKBOARD.

place, died w edneSday, Dec. l5th
of pneumonia, after d brief illness
!. aged Il years. On Friday last heswas
about his duties at the Hospital, b.
made his rounds of the wards and IL
addition walked up TO a new res
!. ervoir which has been recently com
pleted. During the day he found his
throat slightly sore and himself LITTLE
hOarse. He did not, however, regarC
this as anything serious, and was agaiI
at the Hospital on Saturday, but Sat
urday night began treatment, and
spent a rather bad night. On Sunday
morning he WAS found TO be quite sick
his lungs having become badly con
gested. His condition was better on
Tuesday morning, but on Tuesday
afternoon pneumonia of a malignant
type developed and his condition was
soon thereafter found to be hopeless,
and at 6 O'Clock ana = minutes p. M.
OF Wednesday he died.
| DR.. Blackboard was born on the Sth
of Sept. 1884, at Isabella Furnace in
Page county, and grew to manhood
there. He attended the u University OF
| Virginia, and later graduated FROM
Jefferson Medical College at Philadel-
phia, and began practice in Lynch
burg, and during the war had charge
of hospitals at LyDchburg and Liberty.
| ID1S71 he was married in Baltimore,
| his wife g maiden name being Emily
! Nelson. His wife preceded him to the
grave by just two weeks. She also
died of pneumonia On Wednesday the
10Th OF Nov. and was buried on Friday
the 1st of Dec Whilst DIR. Blackford
| was on his way to Lynchburg with
bis wife's remains, be received a tele-
gram announcing the death OF his
brother, ThOms Blackford, at Parkers-
burg, w. Va. These Affections told
heavily on him and rendered him less
capable of Withstandlng the attack
which came on him with great malig-
nifty.
In 1890 DIR. Blackford was elected
superintendent Of the Western State
Hospital, which position he has filled
with marked ability ever since, his ad
ADMINISTRATION being very successful, and
during which the institution was en-
larged, improved, embelished and in
creased in usefulness and Importance.
No one ever looked more carefully and
constantly after the interests OF the
unfortunate people under his charge
than be.
He was of the true type of Virginia
gentleman. During his residence here
be had gained the esteem of all who
knew him. Polite, gentle. gentleman
ly, courteous, mindful of the feelings
OF others, he enjoyed the utmost con-
tidence and admiration. His stand
ards were high, he was the gentlest OF
husbands and most loving and indul-
gent of fathers, and loyal friend, a
kind neighbor, and a patriotic and
faithful public officer. The hand of
death has been laid heavily here, and
his family and friends are the recipi
ents OF the deepest and most genuine
sympathy.
He leaves surviving him one brother
Mr.. VIM. H. Blackford, of Baltimore,
and six Sons, Thomas A., of Whining
ton. Del; Benz. Ogle and Robt. Nelson,
of StaunIon; Chas. Minor, Lieut.. U.
s. A., now IN the Philippines; William
Arthur, of estchester, Penn, and
Geo. Tayloe, of Knoxville, Tenn. He
is widely connected, numbering among
his relatives many of the most distin-
guished families in Virginia.
Funeral services will he conducted
by Rev. W. @. Hullihen at Trinity
Epi copal church, OF which DR.. Black
ford was commitment, this MORN
ing at O'Clock, and the remains will
be taken TO Lynchburg where the
burial will take place this afternoon
in the family lot beside his wife in
Spring Hill cemetery.
The pail bearers will be: Active
Capt. Lewis Hartman, DR.. J. B. Cat
lett, DR.. J. S.DeJarDett, Messrs. r. ).
Turk, Thomas A. Atkinson. Geo. w.
Blackley, j. M. SPOTS and D. E. Euritt.
Honorary-Dr. B. NJ. Atkinson, DIR.
Geo. s. Walker, A. G. Gordon, Esq,
Hon. Edward Echols, Judge FL. W.
Holt, Capt. L. q. Morton. and Messrs.
H. q. Braxton, A. w Blackley, +. L.
Stribling, John s. Pancake, Nj. w.
Mercerau. Chas. O'Donnei, John Ma
sincup and J. +. Weade.
MISS LIZZIE GIBSON.
Miss Lizzie Gibson. sister OF the late
J ohm Gibson, and the last of her family
died at midnight Friday at the home
of Mr.. Nj. F. Gayheart. near Green
VILE, and the funeral and interment
we're at Bethel Presbyterian church
Sunday at 1 O'Clock. Rev. q. l.. Alt
father officiating. Miss Gibson was 90
years Of age. Her will which disposes
of considerable property has been filed
in clerks office for probate. She leaves
s., 900 to Annie Dice OF BurkeJown;
81 600 30 Mrs. Mary Ella Weston.
SLauntOn; 81, 900 to Annie Colglazier of
Indiana; $1,000 TO Margaret Gibson
Brown of Salem, Va; $500 each to JAS.
M. and Susan II. Hogshead; 81 900 to
Martha Hunter; $3.50 to her friend,
Capt. j N Mcfarland; 81 coo to Gould
Ruckman, Samuel Hall and Robert
Hall, together; and the remainder OF
her estate which is thought will be
about $25, 900 to MIR. III. f. Gayheart,
to whom she decided her farm during
her life.
The legacy to Mrs. Weston came to
her through the many kindnesses
shown the deceased by Mr.. w eston
and his wife.
MRS. WILLIAM LUKE.
Mrs. William Luke died at the home
of her daughter. Mrs. Rebecea D. Hop
kins, at Beechfeld, near Baltimore, on
Sunday morning, the 3rd inst, Mrs.
Luke was the mother of John g., David
L. and Adam K Luke OF New York,
Thomas Luke of Piedmont, w. Va,
and William A. Luke of Covington,
Va. These gentlemen with their faith
er, William Luke, are the owners of
the Pulp Mill at Covington and i'm
mense lumber interests in Pocah0nt as
county, w. Va.
The death of MIS-. Luke was sudden,
being from heart failure. She was a
most estimable lady. and the devoted
family about her testified as nothing
else could to her worth as wife and
mother. Her funeral took place at
Wilmington, Del, Tuesday, the 9th
inst.
MR. A. RUSMISELLE
Mr. Adam RusmIsele died at his
home in Waynesboro, Va, after long
illness, on Wednesday morning, Dec. q,
1905 Mr.. Rusmiselle Was born on
Oct. IL. 1919, at the old home near Mt.
Tabor church this county. He Was a
son OF George and Rebecca Hanger Rus
miselle, and a brother of George and
David Rnsmiselle of Middlebrcok,
whose deaths occurred during this year.