Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-08-08
Crossing the Dark River.

Crossing the Dark RIVER.
Mr.. John Philemon Smith, a much re-
spected resident of Sharpsburg, Nd, ano
well-known as a historian and poet, both
in Washington county and on this side o.
the river, died last Monday morning, aged
81 years. His death was due to general
decline, he having been in failing health
for the past year. Mr.. Smith was the
son of John Hamilton and Sarah Kretzer
Smith, of Sharpsburg, and descended
from long line of early pioneers ofMary-
land whose names are written on the
highest page ofState fame. Onthe paternal
and maternal side he was descended from
the Warfield, Waters, Smith, Williams,
Hamilton and other distinguished families
and traced his lineage back to Scotland
and England. He was educated in the
public schools of Sharpsburg and adopt
ed the profession of teaching, which he
followed practically all of his life. He
was member of the Lutheran Church
and Eureka Lodge of Masons, member
of La Grange Lodge of Odd Fellows, Of
Boonsboro, and for twenty-five years
was secretary and member of the board
of directors of Mountain View Cemetery.
He was member of the board OF directors
of Morgan's Grove fair. Mr.. Smith took
special delight in gathering historical data
and relics, and was the possessor OF many
valuable mementoes dating back to the
earliest history of the country. Mr.. Smith
married Miss Catherine Snively, of Green
castle, who died several years ago. He
is survived by brother, WiIliamA. Smith,
of Iowa, and one sister, Mrs. MargaretA.
DeKalb, also of Iowa. He was teacher
in Sharpsburg and the district for forty
five years, and last spring he was placed
on the retired list with pension. The
funeral was held yesterday, interment in
Mountain View Cemetery.
Mrs. Julia Paca Kennedy, widow OF
Edmund p. Kennedy, died last Thursday
at her home in Charles Town, in the 18th
year of her age. She was an invalid for
the past four years, the result of a stroke
of paralysis. Mrs. Kennedy, whose maid
en- name was Paca, was member OF
prominent Maryland family. Surviving
her are five sons and four daughters:
Edmund p. and Anthony Kennedy, OF
Pittsburg; John p, of Cambridge, Mass;
Andrew, of New York; Rev. Paca Ken
needy, OF the faculty of Virginia Theolog-
ical Seminary, near Alexandria; Mrs.
Ethel Nicholson, of Baltimore; Mrs. Ed
mund R. Taylor, of Halltown. this coun-
ty; Misses May and Margaret Kennedy,
at home in Charles Town.
Mrs. Arabela E. Snodgrass, widow of
VIM. E. Snodgrass, died last Friday at
the Kings Daughters Hospital in Mar
tnsburg. She was in her 85th year, and
her death was due to the infirmitieS OF
her advanced age. Mrs. SnodgrasS,
whose maiden name was Tabb, is sur
vived by son and a daughter, John
Tabb Snodgrass and Mrs. Mamie B.
Henshaw. She was a greatly respected
woman, and had been member OF the
Presbyterian Church for more than fifty
years.
Mrs. Margaret VanMetre, widow of
Ashel VanMetre, died last Saturday night
of asthma and heart trouble at her home
about three miles southwest of Martins
burg, aged 81 years. She had been i'll
three weeks. She is survived by four
children Mamie, William, Daniel and
Floyd.
Mrs. Harriet E. Snapp, wife OF Mr.. q.
w. Snapp, died last week near Charles
Town at the home of her daughter, Mrs.
S. H. Knight, aged 10 years. She had
been devout member OF the Lutheran
Church for many years.
Vim. H. Ridenour, for the past ten years
proprietor of the Baldwin Hotel in Hag-
erstown, died yesterday from nervous
trouble. He was in the 50th year OF his
age.
Joseph A. Hammersla, respected
farmer of Little Georgetown, Berkeley
.a,.@,, d;aJ -, T,,acdou auad 10 wears