Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-07-30
THE LATE BENJAMIN HINER.
EDITOR, HIGHLAND RECORDER:

wa
sketch. who was well known to
many of your readers, and who
spent the latter part of his life
within the borders of your County,
and all his life, prior to that time,
in Pendleton County, just over the
line:
He was born at liners Mill, in
Pendleton County, on the 26 of
July, 1909, and was the second son
of Col. Harmon Hiner and his wife,
Jermima Mccoy. His grandfather,
John Hiner, was the first of the Hi
ner family in Virginia, and was one
of the pioneer settlers of this Coun-
ty. He was born at Leipsig, Ger
many, in 1742, and emigrated to
this country about ITO, married
Sallie Burner, in Shenandoah Coun-
ty, about 1773, and in IT'S located
near Doe Hill, where William Hiner
lived, and died there in
December, 1915, leaving a number
of sons and daughters. Harmon
Hiner, the father of the subject of
this sketch, being one of them, serv-
ed his County two terms as High
Sheriff, and was elected a number
of times to the ','irginia Legislature,
and was a member of that Body
when, on the 20 of August, 1912,
he was killed in the Shenandoah
mountain by a falling limb.
His son, Benjamin, likewise serv-
ed his County number of times in
the Virginia Legislature, and was
for a long time President of the
County Court. Many of your read
ers have seen the old time County
script of money. issued by Pendle-
ton County, which bore his name
as President of the Court.
Though it may be out of the or
binary, yet, being his centenary
year, and believing that we of the
younger generations may get good
lessons from the lives of those who
have gone on before, | am request
ing you to publish the foregoing,
and, also, the following tribute
which was read at his grave some
eleven and half years ago, but which
was never published;
"His early training was good.
His educational advantages were
limited, but so highly improved
while attending the old-time Coun-
! ty School as to form a basis upon
which to build an English educa-
ton seldom equaledby any one who
has had to rely entirely upon unald-
ed research and abstruse study,
which, coupled with an inhexlble
rule of integrity. honesty, and fl
deity so eminA lily fitted him for
the discharge the various duties
of life.
As neigh /, he was ever kind,
courteous ss o0'is 1ns;+ as na+ n %s.
monstrative, his affection was pro-
foundly sincere.
To charitable. educational, and
religious Institutions, his contribu-
tons were fully commensurate with
his financial ability.
To those who knew him best, it
would seem that his highest ambi-
ton was to attain to the higher Or
der Of citizenship, which he so
much appreciated and admired in
Others.
He was many times called to re-
sponslble positions OF trust and
honor in his native County; and
in the councils of his neighborhood,
his County, and his State, he dis
played marked wisdom and pru-
dence.
He was a man of deep convlc-
ton, unlimited energy, fine cour-
age, strong will-power, and great
strength of character.
He was not free from fault, nor
did he profess to be, but, in most
relations of life, he has left a charm
ing heritage to tn csc who follow
him.
But the browning effort of his
life was the patience and christian
fortitude with which he so trlum-
phantly bore his intense suffering
for the last two years of his pro-
longed life. His last momt nts
vere neacef,,l and quiet. He plac-