Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-06-06
FORMER RESIDENT DIES
Miss Ida Henry, Well known Teach
er Of Music, Dies as Re uIt Of
nnar.+fnn


lreceived word of the death of Miss
Ida Langdon Henry, former popular
resident Of Martinsburg, which occur
red on May 22 in sanitarium at Oak
land, California, while undergoing a
surgical operation. She was 49 years
of age.
The announcement of the death Of
this accomplished and charming wom-
an will be received here with pro-
found sorrow by her host OF devoted
friends and admirers. Though it has
been some years since she left here
for the West, yet many Of her friends
in Martinsburg were kept informed
from time to time as to her welfare,
in which they never relaxed interest.
For the last two years Miss Henry re-
sided in San Jose, and up to within
La few months ago she continued to
teach music, an art to which she had
consecrated. her life. Later, however,
her health rapidly declined and her
death unexpectedly followed.
Two brothers survive their sister.
One of them is Mr.. Hugh Henry, of
Prince William county, Va; the other
brother is in Europe.
Miss Henry was born in the Henry
house, Prince William county, Va.
This house stood on the field of the
first battle of Manassas, July, 1861.
When the battle seemed imminent the
subject of this sketch, then scarcely
two years old, was, together with the
other members Of the family, removed
to a place of safety in the adjoining
county of Fauquier. 9s,
Some time after the close of the
civil war Miss Henry became the
ward of the Misses Ewell, two cultured
ladies of Winchester, by whom she
was reared and educated Being en-
dowed with remarkable talent for
music, especially the piano, this bent
OF Miss Henrys mind was, literally cul-
tivated and she early developed into
E
an accomplished musician. But it is
rather as teacher OF the pianoforte
than as a performer on that instru-
ment that she is best remembered.
After a successful career as a
teacher in Winchester. Miss Henry
came to Martinsburg in the early SOS.
For a while she taught in the private
school of the Rev. Mr.. Hyde, Meth
odist clergyman, but the work not
proving congenial to her tastes, she
returned to her art and soon became
the leading piano teacher in Martins
burg.
Miss Henry at once became popular
and an ornament in the social circle.
During the few years of her residence
here she not only became socially pop
ular, but endeared herself to large
of cultured friends by ties
of friendship and love that death it.
self alone could sever.
To the regret of her friends. and all
those who ever had the pleasure Of
meeting her, Miss Henry left Martins
burg about 1890.
She first went to St. Joseph, Mo-,
where she remained for some time
teaching music. Then following that
disposition to rove which she inherit
ed from her father (from whom she
also inherited her superior intellectual
quahties), she left for Spokane,
Wash, where she, in connection with
Miss Jennie Ditto, formerly of Mar
tinsburg, opened a conservatory of
music. Thence she went to San Fran
cisco and later to Sacramento, Cal,
continuing to follow her profession.
Miss Henry was residing in. San
Francisco at the time of the terrible
earthquake in April, 1906. She never
fully recovered from the shock of
that appalling catastrophe. Some time
afterwards she went to San Jose,
Cal, where she since resided. 1t was
during her residence in San Jose that
she decided to enter sisterhood of
the Episcopal church, within whose
sacred cloister she hoped to pass her
remaining days in peace and quiet at
ter a busy life, and a career some-
what unique in character.
1t was but natural that Miss Henry
should have attracted to her friends
and admirers everywhere. To a musi-
cal talent of high order there was
added remarkable beauty or per-
son, an Irresistible charm of manner
and purity of character. The death OF
this lovely woman will, therefore,
bring sorrow to sympathetic hearts
wherever the spell of her charm has
been felt.