The gold leaf., 1910-09-15

don Claimed by Death-Summons
Came Last Thursday at Staunton,
Va.-Was a Brave Confederate Sol
der and Leader In Peaceful Pursuits
Since the War.
Intelligence conveyed in a brief
press dispatch last Friday OF the
death of Mai. Thomas l.. Emry, OF
Weldon, which occurred at 4 O'Clock
Thursday afternoon in StauntOn,
Va. was received with painful regret
by those who knew him. Maj. Emry
had not been in good health for
some time and only a few weeks ago
had gone to the mountains OF Nlr-
ginia hoping to be benefited by the
change. A stroke OF paralysis was
the Immediate cause of death. The
body was taken to Weldon and bu-
ried Saturday afternoon the funeral
being largely attended, many per-
sons coming a distance.
A wife and son survive him.
Mai. Emry was a man OF genial
nature and cheerful disposition, and
positive character that he was he
made friends and retained them. In
many respects he was a remarka-
BILE man and the writer has some
times thought that il he had not
been denied advantages which he
had to make up for by sheer force OF
will power and indOmitable energy,
"TOm" Emry would have written his
name large in the affairs of his State
and country.
He was a man of large ideas, quick
to conceive and bold to execute, and
was eminently successful in most of
his undertakings. Beginning lie a
poor boy he made several fortunes
and spent with a lavish hand in Civ
ing employment and helping others.
The development OF the great Roam
Oke water-poWer and the fiOurlshlng
manufacturing town OF Roanoke
Rapids stand as a monument to
Mai. Emry's foresight and energy in
planning and building great things.
His mental horizon took a broad
sweep and his courageous spirit knew
no bounds.
Mai. Emry was our friend and his
utd I'll JOICllCS hctplN. W lCI Oo"Cu
head and-sOrrOwful heart We drop a
sympathetic tear on his new-made
grave flower strewn by loving hands
hard by the scenes of his busy activ
tiles where they laid him to rest.
God rest his noble soul.
A correspondent of the News and
Observer says this of Mai. Emry:
Maj. Thomas l.. Emry. OF Weldon. ex-
Senator from Halifax, and a brave Con-
federate soldier, died Thursday at Staun-
ton, Va. His death will come as a shock
to his many friends scattered all over
| this State and Virginia. He has left his
| impress upon the community where he
| lived aud wrought so long and faithfully
| for its uplift. OF strong convictions
when convinced of the righteousness OF
his cause he was bold and always ag
gressive in his opinion and action. To no
man does Halifax owe a greater debt of
| gratitude than to Maj Emry. Truly he
was a Democrat militant In its darkest
hours he stood shoulder to shoulder
| with the lamented Capt. ". II. kitchin,
| in the forefront OF danger. Few locali-
| ties ever had two such men at one time.
Major Emry came out of the war pen
| niless. He had only his trade as a tin
ner, and there was nothing for him to
do. He devoted his time to farming,
and after few years of ceaseless toll, to
merchandising. He succeeded in every
thing he undertook. Cool judgment,
with untiring industry and skill in busi-
ness brought him at length to a large
| landed estate. upon which he employed
| considerable capital and labor. The last
few years Of his life were devoted to the
building of the now thrifty and progress
slve manufacturing town of Roanoke
Rapids. With prophetic eye, he foresaw
| the possibilities of the Roanoke water
| power and turned it to account. \ town
and factories with busy spindles literally
sprang up out of the woods at his touch,
and stands today living memorial to
his great grasp of affairs and his restless
energy.
| He always had large ideas, and bent
his wonderful industry to their execu-
tion. He was a philanthropist, and
stood with generous hands to dispense
help to the needy poor. His hospitality
was lavish. He always stood ready to
befriend his friends and neighbors He
looked upon the rosy side OF life and car
ried its burdens with q cheerful heart.
He had as many friends among the high
as among the lowly, and they all fre-
| quently took his wise counsel
The old soldier sleeps with his brave
Confederate comrades. Peace to his
| memory.