Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-11-13
SUDDEN DEATH OF M. B. BAKER.
One of Our Best Citizens Answers The
Final Summons Wednesday.


Our community was grieved anc
shocked yesterday at the noon houl
when the news was spread over towr
that M, B. Baker, one of our mos
prominent residents, had suddenly
passed away. Those who had seer
Mr.. Baker in apparent health within
an hour or two could scarcely believe
the sad news, and yet it was only
too true, for almost without warning
the spirit had returned to the God who
gave it.
Although Mr.. Baker had not been
in vigorous health for the past couple
of years and was obliged to be care
full of himself, he was familiar figure
about town and attended to his va
rous business affairs from day to day
Wednesday morning he seemed as well
as usual, and attended the weekly
meeting of the directors of the Jeffer-
son Security Bank, as was his custom
After the bank meeting he walked to
the Office of A. S. cambridge on King
street, where he spent good deal OF
his time with his friends and cronies
who foregathered there. AT ten min
utes to twelve o'clock, while engaged
in conversation with several persons
who were seated around table, it was
noticed that his hands were trembling
and that his head was inclining for
ward. AS he leaned over the table il
was noticed that he was very ill., His
friends gathered about him and min
istered to him, while DR.. Burwell was
hastily summoned. BY the time the
physician arrived he had still further
declined, and despite the remedies that
were administered he died at half-past
twelve o'clock, having spoken only a
single word after he was taken i'll. Ii
was stated by DR.. Burwell that his
death was caused by uraemic poison
ing, his kidneys having been failing in
their functions for some time past
The body was removed to Mrs. R. c
CriswelPs home, where he had been
boarding for several years, and his
relatives, who all live in other places
were notified OF the sad event. His
death cast a gloom over the whole
community, for few of our people were
more highly esteemed than he.
Martin Billmyer Baker, who was
seventy-one years Of age, was lifelong
resident of Shepherdstown, and was
son Of Elias and Mary Baker, estimable
residents of our community years ago.
He had long and honorable business
career Of more than forty years in this
place. When a young man he began
his mercantile experience as a clerk
in David Billmyer's store. In 1878
he and VIM. H. Billmyer bought out
David Billmyer and conducted the bus
mess in partnership for three years.
when they dissolved. Mr.. Baker OPEN
ed store in the Markell building on
Main street, and three years later
bought out Vim. T. Lemen and moved
into the Moulder building on the
corner, which he afterward purchased.
He was in business at this point for
third Of century, and it can be said
Of him that no man possessed in
higher. degree the confidence OF our
people. He was the soul OF integrity
and no one ever suffered injustice at
his hands. He was conservative yet
progressive, and his wisdom and up
rightness exercised a permanent in
fluence for good upon the business
life Of our community. He accumu-
lated a comfortable fortune, and own
ed valuable business and residence
property in the town. In May, 1918.
he retired from active business, SELL
ing his store to H. P. Schley, and since
that time had been giving his attention
to his general interests. He was d.
rector in the Jefferson Security Bank
Liberal and public spirited and always
ready to do his part in our community
affairs, he will be greatly missed in all
this neighborhood Mr.. Baker was
never married, and was the only men,
Der of his family residing in Shep-
herdstown in recent years. His sister,
Mrs Kate Glass, lives in Berryville
Va, and his brother, Henry S. Baker
resides in Washington City. A
brother, Alban H. Baker, died several
years ago, and another brother, VIM
F. Baker, expired suddenly at his
home in Roanoke the 4th of last July
Mr.. Baker was an uncle of Secretary
of War Newton D. Baker. He was
Of the Lutheran Church Of
this place and was one of its liberal
supporters.
MIR. and Mrs. George Glass, of Ber-
ryville, and Mr.. Henry S. Baker, of
arrived here last evening
to make the funeral arrangements. 1t
was decided to hold the service Satur-
day afternoon at o'clock in the
Lutheran Church, and interment will
he -, EIrnwopdN Cemetery
Mrs. Mary Catherine Stickel, after
brief illness of little more than 4S
hours, died of acute indigestion at her
home near Bedington, Berkeley coun-
ty, last Saturday night at 1890, aged AZ
years, seven months and one day. She
is survived by her husband, Henry
Stickel, five children, Gustave, Helen,
Marshall, Willard and Mary, all at
home; also her mother, FIVE brothers
and three sisters: George H. Rams
burg, near Leetown. Mrs. P. M. Cream
err, of Shenandoah Junction; Charles.
of Oil City, Pa; Bates and Marshall.
of Baltimore; and Mrs. John T. Dor
sey, Miss Emma Ramsburg, and her
mother, Mrs. Mary j. Ramsburg, of
Kearneysville. Mrs. Stickel was born
near Leetown. and had been member
of the M. E. Church South since child
hood. The funeral service was held
at her late home on Tuesday, and the
body was inferred in Elmwood Gene
terry, Shepherdstown.
Hezekiah Poffenberger, native OF
Washington county, Md, died last
Thursday at his home in Freeport,
Illinois, aged IS years. He was
brother Of the late Lawson W. Poffen'
berger, and was the last OF his i'm
mediate family. He occasionally
visited in the Sharpsburg neighbor-
hood, his former home, and his old
friends will be sorry to learn of his
death.
Mrs. Elizabeth Carney, widow of
Jacob Carney, died last Thursday in
Martinsburg at the home of her daugh-
ter, Mrs. George Light, aged rs years.
Her death was the result Of success
sive strokes of paralysis. Mrs. Carney
was a lifelong resident Of Berkeley