The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-07-05
Death of Emanuel Custer.


Emanuel Custer, q well-known agri-
culturist OF the Fifth District, and the
owner Of two hundred and forty acres,
the larger part of which has been
brought under cultivation, died on Fri
day. Upon this place, at one time
known as the Benjamin Junkins' farm,
he made his home since 1865, devotiug
himself to stock raising and general
farming pursuits.
Near Grantsville, Garrett (then (Al-
leganY) county, the subject of this
sketch was born, March /, 1889, of
German descent. His grandfather,
Emanuel, after whom he was named,
probably came from Germany. Settling
in western Maryland, near GrantsviAe,
he began the cultivation of a farm,
which ne made one of the finest for
miles around. His son, David, was
born on that place in 1911, and became
one of the large farmers and stock-rais-
ers of his day, having reputation as
one of the best farmers of the county.
He was an active worker in the Demo-
cratic party. Upon the farm, where
for so many years he had resided, his
life work was ended when he was sixty
two. By his marriage to Margaret
Stark, who was born Of Irish parentage
and died at the age of about eighty, he
had seven children, namely: Susannah,
wife Of Elmer Morrell, Meyersdale, Pa. {;
Isabella, who married Daniel Switzer;
Emanuel; Mary Jane, deceased; Jarvis;
Sampson, and Maria, who is the wife of
Daniel J. Brenneman, residing on the
old homestead.
At the age of twenty-one, in 1862, our
subject enlisted in Company D, Third
Regiment Potomac Home Brigade, in
which he served until the close of the
war. He was present at the battle of
Harper's Ferry, and was taken prisoner
there, but was afterward released. He
also participated in all the campaigns Of
the Army of the Potomac through the
Shenandoah Valley, returning home at
the close of the war and resuming farm
ing operations.
In addition to his farm pursuits Mr..
Custer, IN the autumn of his busy life,
devoted much Of his time and attention
to the cultivation and propagation of
fish.
Active in the work of the Republican
party, he was by it made assessor of
the Fifth District in 1896. Like all
veterans he took an interest in Grand
Army matters and meeting with his
comrades of Sherman Post No. II, he
took pleasure and pride in recounting
his experiences in many hard-fought
battle. For twenty successive years he
ofticiated as a steward of the Methodist
Episcopal church, in the work Of which
he was deeply interested and to which
he contributed regularly.
The first marriage of Mr.. Custer
united him with Rebecca Friend, who
died leaving four children: David S.;
Mary j., wife Of Senator R. A. Raw
enscroft; George w. and and Henry A.
His second wife was Virginia Dewitt,
who bore him two children, namely:
Homer and Alice, wife of William S.
Friend. After her death he married
Margaret Sisler, by whom he had one
child; she died at the birth of the in
FAINT. This child, Margaret Elizabeth,
is now a young lady, and an accom-
plished musician. She resides with her
father. His last wife who died about
two years ago was Elma j. Cuppett,
who was the daughter of Zalmon Cup
petit. Three children were born of this
union: Roy. M, William A, and Annie
Bertha.