“Capt.
A. H. Horton, one of the landmarks of Wilkes County died at his residence
in Wilkesboro Monday night, 15th inst. at 9:30 o’clock, after
a lingering illness of several months.The
cause of his death was heart trouble. For
several weeks his life had been despairof, laying as it were in a balance
liable at any moment to go down.But
he battled manfully against the Pale Horse, and at times it looked like
that he might conquer.But he gradually
grew weeker under the constant conflict, and at last was overcome.The
fitful dream called life was over.
The
funeral service will be conducted by Rev. R. W. Barber, to-day, 17th
at 2 o’clock at the Presbyterian church, of which he was a member.
His
remains will be interred Thursday at 10 o’clock at the Horton Cemetery
at J. T. Horton’s in Caldwell county, it being the old family burying ground.He
will be buried with Masonic honors.
Capt.
Horton was born Dec. 30 1831. at the old homestead on Beaver Creek, this
county, and was 58 years, 11 months and 15 days old at his death.He
was the son of Gen. Wm. and Mildred Horton.There
were six brothers and five sister of the family, of which 4 brothers, Lee,
Nathan, James, and Rufus, and 1 sister, Mrs. Bower. still, live, the others
having died in the last few years.
He
was married, Sept. 8th, 1863 to Mary J. Vogler, of Salem, and
leaves behind his wife and two sons.
In
the year 1861, Mr. Horton volenteerd in Capt. Bynum Carmichael’s company,
from this county.Carmichael being
soon after promoted, Mr. Horton was elected Captain of the company.He
soon after become afflicted with a severe sore leg and was discharged from
duty on that account.He then returned
home.Cormichael had been elected
Clerk of Superior Court in 1861, and had left I.S. Call as his deputy.In
1862, Carmichael was killed leaving the office vacant, and Capt. Horton,
was appointed by Judge Kerr to fill the unexpired term.At
the election of ’64, he was a candidate for the office and was elected,
but soon after in ’65, the offices were all declared vacant, when the provisional
government was established.At the
fall term of superior court, held by Judge Mitchell, Capt. Horton was again
appointed Clerk.At the election
of 1866, he was again a candidate for the office, but was defeated by G.
S. Brown, who held the office for 8 years.Again
in 1874, he was a candidate against Brown and was elected.He
ran again in ’78 and was elected.In
1882, he again ran.This time he
was defeated by Mr. I. S. Call, by about 200 votes.He
ran for the Legislature in 1884, but was defeated.
He
was an honored and faithful member of the order of Free Masons, and was
one of the oldest members of old Liberty Grove Lodge, of Wilkesboro.
Capt.
Horton was a kind, social, genial gentleman, loved and honored by all who
knew him.In his death, Wilkes loses
one of her best and most remarkable citizens.His
is not a loss alone to relatives and friends but to the country.Our
deepest sympathy is extended to the bereaved family.”
(Special cor. Of State Chronicle)
“Winston,
N. C., dec. 20 - Several of our good citizens went up to Wilkesboro and
returned yesterday.Their mission
was to pay respects to the memory of Capt. Hamilton Horton, one of the
pioneers of that mountainous section, who died on last Monday and whose
remains were interred in the old family burying ground near Wilkesboro
on Thursday.
Capt.
Horton was an estimable, high toned old gentleman and was one of the best
heads in the county.After a long
and useful life he died in his fifty ninth year.”
Burial of Capt. Hamilton Horton.
“Several
of our citizens yesterday participated in the last sad rites over the body
of Capt. Hamilton Horton whose lamented death has been before noticed.He
was laid to rest in the old family burying ground in Wilkes county.
Capt.
Horton was a pioneer in that good society which has characterized the older
inhabitants of Wilkes,being in
his fifty ninth year, and his death is lamented by a large circle of relatives
and dear friends.He was the father
of our townsman, Dr. H. V. Horton, to whom, with all others who feel this
great loss, we extend our heartfelt sympathy.”
Resolution of Condolence.
“Whereas,
it has please the supreme being and Ruler of all things, to remove from
our midst our beloved Bro. Capt. A. H. Horton, President of the Farmers
Alliances of Wiles county,
Resolved,
That while we bow in humble submission to HIS will, we feel we have sustained
an irrepablo loss both to our order and the state.
Resolved,
That we recognize in Capt. Horton a patriot and a christian gentleman congenial
neighbor a good citizen, an affectionate husband and a kind father,
Resolved,
that we extend our heart felt sympathy to his bereaved family in the great
loss they have sustained in his death.
Resolved,
that a copy of these Resolutions be sent to his family and that they be
also spread upon our minutes.”
Milton McNeil
Com. J. R. Henderson
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