Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-06-04
An InterestinU Life.

OF the Orphans Court of MONTGOMERY
county. Maryland, in the Dinety. first year
Of his life.
Judge West was born on September
Sznd, 1885, in Jamestown district. this
county. He was the son of Tilehman West
ana Mary Jane Harper) West Judge
west was raised on the old home farm in
Jamestown district. now owned and &C.
cupled by his nephew, Edwin M. West.
When young John West attained the
age OF manhood he was urged by his
friends to run for Office. and as constables
In those days. 1886, were elected by vote
oil the people and not appointed as they
are now. Mr.. West. or good friend John, as
ne was then known. aspired to that Office
and was elected constable for Rockville
and Jamestown districts. which at that
time was all known as Rockville or the
fourth district.
A few years later the "War of Opinions"
or Civil War broke out. and early in 1852.
John West. then nearly 81 years of age.
was drafted by the Union forces. His
sympathies had always been and still were
with the Confederacy. He felt that his
southern brothers were acting within their
rights and rebelled at the thought of fighting
against their cause and his many personal
friends had already Joined the southern
forces, He resolved to 60 south, crossed
the Potomac River to Virginia, went up
into West Virginia. crossed to Maryland
again just before the Battle Of Antietam,
catching up with the Confederate forces
at dawn on the day of that memorable
battle. He heard the boom of canon and
gaining point of vantage witnessed that
day all the horrors of war and bIoodshed
This slaughter of brother against brother
cured him of the desire to participate, as
he told the writer. and he returned to West
Virginia. where he sought employment.
he finally became brakeman on the B. &
U. X. K. on the run from Piedmont to Wheel
ing. West Virginia, and afterward was
promoted to conductor on the same run.
Shortly after, or about the year 1885,
John E. Went went south to Tennessee.
where he worked in the woods and lumber
mill getting out slaves for shipment to
New Orleans to be used in the manufacture
OF the large hogsheads made in Louisiana.
He told the writer that the hardest work he
ever did was to load these slaves on the
boat Tor shipment down the Ohio River.
The reason for this was the shoal or shall
low water. for as the slaves were loaded
on the boat, the boat drew more water and
had to be pushed out to deeper water little
by little as the load increased and the
boat sank deeper. so that when the load
was finally completed the boat was some
distance from the shore and the men load
ing had to wade out with the slaves upon
their backs.
John West remained in Tennessee more
than year after his lumber mill work
expired. He became bridge carpenter as he
was completely broke financially and finally
saved $500. He kept the $500 in Mer-
chant Blanton's safe. Blanton died and
his executor paid the bills with Johns
$500. John West appealed TO the widow
and she said make yourself easy Mr.. West,
| will pay that money back to you, and
she did.
When John E. West was 80 years of
age he married Miss Eliza Burnett, of Ohio.
who later died. He returned to this county
some years after the war and married
Miss Ella Kidwell. of Washington, D. c.,
with whom he lived happily for many years.
Upon his return to the county he was made
Collector of Taxes and after this kept store
in Rockville for several years.
During the writer's boyhood, on my
grandfathers old farm in Bethesda dis
trict. knew Judge West we'll He at that
time built and resided in the house now
occupied by Mrs. Aida Allies Wilson and
which he afterward sold to the late Harry
Heiskell. He would meet me in good old
Bill Lochte's blacksmith shop when took
the farm horses up to be shod and it was
always with pleasant pat on my young
red head and kindly word that he greeted
me. little thought at that time that
would see the day when would sit on the
bench of the Judges of the Orphans Court
with him, hear his kindly voice. and be
with him practically to the end.
How few men have left this county and
their friends with such thoughts of kind
ness and affection as John E. West. He
was landmark in our midst. He was
beloved by all who knew him and he spoke
only good of those around him. What a
lesson we can learn from this grand old
man of Montgomery. He has gone, but
his spirit lives after him in memory and
we should rejoice with his relatives and
friends in the knowledge OF the fact that
after panes of his and our earthly exist
ence are past we shall resti in peace with our
Father in that glorious future of eternity.
HENRY J. HUNT BIRD.
Judge of the Orphans Court.
COsu0IainfR Deceived.