The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-08-04
Captain Kirkbride Dead.

\ Captain Kirkbride Dead.
Captain Elwood H. Kirkbride died a
his home in Medford, yesterday afternoon
: He was taken i'll last Thursday week will
what appeared to be a bad attack o.
indigestion, but he did not respond tC
medical treatment as promptly as was
desired and continued TO grow worse un
til death ensued, his heart giving out, ano
not being able to perform its functions.
1t is hardly necessary to give history
of the life of Captain Kirkbride, for he
was known to all the residents of Burling-
ton county, yet there are those who
possibly have not a knowledge of his
younger days.
\ Elwood Fl. Kirkbride was born In Med
ford, June 26, 1910. He received a COM
mon school education, and at the age of
II he entered the shop of his father who
was blacksmith He served an appren-
ticeship for four years, and then left the
anvil to enter the service of his country,
enlisting as a private in Company F, of
the Twenty third New Jersey Volunteers
| 1t was not long before he was made
Second Lieutenant of the Company, end
| was afterwards promoted to First Lieu
tenant of Company d, and later became
Captain of Company B, of the same
regiment, leaving the army with that
command.
Soon after his return from the front his
father died and left the care of the family
on the son, commission that he faithfully
performed. Early in the morning and
late at night he could be found at his
anvil, and he never was at loss for work
as he proved himself a worthy artisan,
and his customers came from all parts of
the county.
Notwithstanding he was kept thus
busily employed he found time to keep
well informed on public matters, and was
ever alive to the interests of his town, and
was called by his fellow-citizens to preside
over the governing body for several years:
When the Republican party was formed
one of its most enthusiastic members. was
Captain Kirdbride and he fought for the
principles which the party represented
with vim that brought forth good re-
suits. One of his closest friends was Gen.
e, Burd Grub, and when the latter was
nominated for Governor, it was the speech
of Captain Kirkbride that set the conven-
ton into roaring assemblage and it was
long time before the enthusiasm klndled
could be Quieted. From that time the
Captain was known as "The Blacksmith
Orator." and he was frequently called
upon to address meetings in various parts
of the State.
In 1891 he was a candidate for the Re-
publican nomination for Surrogate OF
Burlington County, but failed to get the
prize In 1896 he again made the contest
and this time he was successful. He was
elected and gave the people of Burlington
county creditable service. When he
first came to Mount Holly he found the
change from his active life as black
smith to the sedentary habits of an office
holder greater than he had anticipated
and, being accustomed to rising at five
o'clock In the morning, it was some time
before he could accustom himself to the
new system.
After retiring from office Captain Kirk
bride took life easy. He was fond of
travelling and had visited nearly every
state in the Union and had been to Alaska.
He was an entertaining talker and the de-
scriptions of his trips we're greatly enjoy
ed by those who heard them. He never
gave up the old home in Medford and
occupied it at times, but most of his time
was spent in Mount Holly. For awhile
he boarded at hotel, but when the Elks'
home was completed he took room there
and spent much of time at that building.
He was a constant visitor to The NEWS
Office and one of his greatest pleasures was
to sit in an easy chair in the large window
where he could command a view of the
street.
He was generous friend. Many per-
sons have been the recipient OF benefits
from his hands without knowledge of who |
was the donor. AT least ten per cent. OF
his animal income was spent in charitable |
deeds or in doing something that would |
benefit his fellows. The last time he was
in The News Office was when he gave an
order for printing in connection with his
idea to make the Fourth of July day of
profit as we'll as of amusement to the
young folks of Medford. He was very |
enthusiastic on this subject and in telling |
what the scheme would cost he remarked |
that the money would be well spent In the
instruction impaired and the knowledge |
conveyed to the children by the pamph-
lets he intended to distribute which would
give history of the American flag.
After the Fourth the weather was hot
and he determined to stay in Medford
awhile. So he occupied his house and 1t
was there that he was attacked with what
proved to be his fatal illness. He was
seized with something like apoplexy, and
became unconscious. He was aroused
from this condition, but he frequently
became that way during his sickness. He
had not enjoyed good health for some
time. and frequently consulted specialist
in Philadelphia, but it was only few
weeks prior to his being stricken that he
was assured by the physician that there
was nothing alarming in his condition.
In all parts of Burlington county and In
many places outside of its limits there
will be mourning over the departure OF
man who was respected by all who knew
him. Hewa faithful friend, an efficient
and obliging official and a good compan
ion. Many will miss his deeds of
kindness, some discovering for the first
time who their friend was, and his good
counsel on important matters in public
affairs will be loss to the community
that 80 long held him in high esteem.
Captain Kirkbride was a member of
many organizations, among them Camden
Lodge, Sloan Chapter, Cyrene Command
cry and Lulu Temple, all Masonic orders;
Ancient Order of United Workmen; Med
ford Lodge of Odd Fellows; Medford |
Lodge, Knights of Pythias; Mount Holly |
Lodge of Elks.
The funeral services will be held at the |
late residence of the deceased, In Medtord,
on Thursday afternoon, at two O'Clock. !
In letter written to Henry p. Thorn and |
Joseph Huff, in 1902, Captain Kirkbride
expressed his desires with reference to
funeral exercises. He said he wanted a
military funeral in which the Twenty |
third Regiment was to be given preference
over all other organizations. He pro- |
vided that the old soldiers should be
given lunch in Odd Fellows hall, and
directed that there be music in the pro- |
cession. Gen. E. Burd Grub and Chaplain
Abbott, of the Twenty third Regiment,
were to have charge of the military part.
the Chaplain to conduct the religious
services.
TO Z a.
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