The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1909-01-15
IN MEN0RIAN
of Mrs. Mary Hess Who Died
Recently at Her Home
at Wyatt.

a. " 3etA.
Some one has said that God. not
finding 1t possible to always be in full
charge Of all the affairs OF this old
world Of ours. did the next best thing
ana gave us 4 vast number OF good
mothers to guide and Inspire US.
| OF one Of these saInted mothers this
article viii endeayor to speak,
Mary ~. Hess, wife of Hon. jeremiah
w. Hess, born May 26, 1910. died
December u. 1908. was a grand
daughter OF Jacob sturm ST.. who,
as q boy, enlisted under the banner of
the Revolutionary patriots and fol-
lowed the fortunes of the illusrious
washington in our country's struggle
for independence. He was with the
I'.father of our country. amid the
Hardships and stern realities Of the
long efuel war and with him at York
town When he received the sword OF
the conquered CORVALLIS. Jacob
sturm was born near sharps, Va. in
EiI62, and died at Tevebaugh. Marion
County w, Va. in 1s42, His SON.
the Rev. Jesse sturm. father OF Mary
M. Hess. was one o fthe pioneer min
listers of the Monongahela Valley.
He was not only preacher OF great
power, but a student. thinker and a
man of far-seeing vision and great
strength Of character. His name Is
cherished for his benevolence. Cor the
heroic Christian service he rendered
in the establishment of new churches
and for his intense loyalty to Tie
Union. He was among the first to
protest against the action OF Virginia
in seeding from the Union, and was
a prominent and commanding figure
in the Clarksburg mass meeting.
where on April %, 1851, were taken
the first steps that led to the forma-
ton OF the new state of West vIr-
Eginta. His active and useful life. end
ed peacefully near the scenes famfI-
lar to his boyhood, December 10,
1885, at the age of seventy-seven.
With such an ancestory 1t is not
difficult to account for the splendid
traits of character and the spirit OF
Loyalty to country and flag that AMI
mated the breast of Mary NJ. sturm.
She was just in the prime of young
womanhood in 1864 when she heard
of the sickness, suffering and priva-
tions of the soldiers who were fight
ing for the Union. 1t did not take
her long to decide as to her duty.
Mounting one of the best horses on
the farm, she Travelled during some
of the hottest days Of July appealing
to every one she could reach for aid
for the cause of the Union. The
country people were poor but she ac-
cepted, offerings from i've cents UP 20
any amount they would give and COL
lected and turned over a snug con-
tribution for the relief fund. She re-
ceived the sincere thanks of those In
charge at headquarters and In the
columns Of the National" published
at Fairmont in 1864, appeared most
complimentary reference to her. act,
saying among other things:
When or where Mas such self-sac-
rifcing devotion to. the welfare OF
the suffering soldiers been exhibited I?
Were half our young ladies' so de-
voted to the cause of the Union. how
much good could be done: how much
pain and suffering could be alleviated
and how much sooner the war would
end in the overthrow OF the rebel
lion. Who will emulate the noble
example OF Miss sturm? Let us
teach our children to honor the pa
triotic ladies who minister with angel
hands to our heroes"
At the close OF the war In 1856,
Mary NJ. Sturm became the wife of
jeremiah w. Hess. From the stir
ring scenes and memories OF the war
she with the same enthusiasm. turn
ed her attention to the pleasing and
sacred amenities of the home. For
over forty years she lived devoted toI
her duties as a Christian mother. an
.evangef OF peace and good cheer to-
all who knew her. She never look
ed for the faults Of her neighbors.
but was ever alert for some trait of
character which might be commend
ed. No outcast was ever too Iowly
to be omitted from her sympathles.
She was indeed mother and al
friend of whom we may well say:
Her aim on TobIa