Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1919-06-20
IN MEMORIAM.

n
one that las comprehensive know
ledge of the many excellent qualities
of noble woman who has departed
this life to pay a written tribute to
her memory. Actuatcd by this spirit,
| can not refrain from portraying as
as | can some of the many
virtues that featured the l:fe of Mrs.
Kate Cecil Peery. was intimately
and tcnderly associated with her for
three score and ten years. To me she
bore the relation of aunt; but in her
early life she took the place of sister,
as ! had no sister, and in her later
years was to me u second mother
Mrs. Pecry was born January 2Sth.
1884, on the Clinch River, just oppo-
site where Plum Creek flows into
that stream; and all the eighty five
years of her splendid life were spent
where she could look upon and listen
o the gentle murmerings of the beau
tiful C!inch. She was the great-great-
granddaughter of Thomas Witten. the
first pioneer settler in what is now
Tazewell County, the granddaughter
OF William Cecil, one of the first
settlers on the Clinch, and the daugh-
ter of Samuel and Sallie Poston &c.
ell, who were of the first generation
born in the Clinch and IIols.on Val
ley's. Her death, which came on the
Sth, of May, 1919, terminated the
earthly existence of one of the purest
and best women have ever known.
On the 9th, of December, 1851. she
was united in marriage with William
Edward Pcery, the second. He was
the grandson of William Edward
Peery, the pioneer, who donated the
land on which the public buildings
of Tazewell County now stand, and
where the county seat was located in
$500. 1t was my happy privilege,
though II small boy. to be present at
their marriage; and sweeter bride
and handsomer and manler bride
groom | have ever seen, though
have witnessed hundreds of MARI.
Tags
In the autumn of 1852, Mr. and
Mrs. VIM. +. Peery moved 10 the
homestead which was to be their
home until each was called to the
great beyond. Wi,hin these sacred
walls she erected an altar on the
Holy Mount Of Sacrifice, and on that
altar kindled a fire of sacrifice and
love that never ceased to glow until
her precious spirit winged its flight
to it's eternal home.
There is no such thing as human
perfection but my "Aunt Kate" more
nearly approached that state than any
person with whom haze ever been
associated. In al the relations of life
ms daughter, sister, wife, and mother,
she was as dvoted and perfect as il
is possible for human creature to
be; and her esteem for her fellow
creatures was founded upon Golden
Rule. Her personality was, apparent
ly, constituted of mind, spirit, and
heart; and she was truly an exempli-
fication of the poets song.
Kind hearts are more than coronets,
And simule faith than Norman blood"
Though of modest and retiring dis
position, she was the embodiment of
mora! and physical courage. Her
great mird never faltercd in devotion
to what she believed YVES right; and
she never quailed when threatened
with physical danger. was with her
when Federal soldiers surrounded and
rudely invaded her home in July,
1863; and on that occasion she faced
the dread foe with the same daunt-
less courage that characterized the
conduct of the pioneer mothers, from
whom she was descended, when they
were called upon to confront the
terrible savage red men. During the
last twenty-five years of her event
tul life she was burdened with many
grievous sorrows, but they were
borne with n fCrtitude that was real
ly sublime.
Her domestic life was model
which other women would do we'll to
pattern after. Home to her was the
most sacred spot on earth. What is
now called Society" could never ut.
tract her from home duties, and the
frivoht!es of the world were never
al!uring to her. have never seen her
cqua!ed as a hostess. She entertained
with gentle grace and dignity. and
with such sweetness of expression that
1t was n source of pleasure to even
the most callous hearted 20 partake,
of her generous hospitality. In fact,
her entire life was devoted to doing
good and giving happiness to others.
Impressed with her lovely character,
an agnostic but admiring friend once
said of her:
IF there is better world,
She will dwell in bliss.
And if there is none,
She's made the best of this"
| babe her farewell just three days
before her death; and at our parting
could see the bright rays of hope /
peace and love shining forth from
her beautiful eyes. May her children,
her descendants and kindred live as
she lived, and die as she died. If thew
DO, they need have no apprehensions
as to what their portion will he in tba