The following article was originally published in The Daily Telegram., September 19, 1908
LUTHER HAYMOND DIED AT NOON TODAY
Harrison County’s Oldest and Grandest Resident is Called
NEARLY 100 YEARS OLD
Born and Reared in the County and Resided in it All His Long Life.
Colonel Luther Haymond, Clarksburg’s Grand Old Man, died suddenly at his home on West Pike street at 12:05 o’clock Saturday in his one hundredth year.
Although Colonel Haymond was far advanced in years and his death was not altogether unexpected, his death was received with a shock of profound sorrow by the entire city and surrounding sections among the people of which he was held in the highest love, reverence and admiration as a wonderful old man of exemplary character, unblemished career and patriotic citizenship.
Saturday morning Colonel Haymond complained of feeling unwell and did not leave his bed at his usual hour. He was resting easily, however, abd his illness was not thought to be serious. Later on in the day he suffered a sinking spell and at noon he sank into unconsciousness, his heart fluttered feebly and became still and his spirit took its flight into the great unknown world beyond into which all good souls will eventually pass.
Col. Haymond lived under all the presidencies of the United States, except those of Washington and Adams.
Of Revolutionary Stock
Colonel Haymond came of Revolutionary stock, for his grandfather, William Haymond, who was born in Maryland in 1740, served as captain and major in that great struggle, having command of troops raised in what is now Monongalia county West Virginia, whither he came in 1773.
He also commanded what is known as Pickett’s Fort, south of Morgantown, and after the war was over, held the office of county sheriff.
1784, when Harrison county was formed, he was appointed surveyor of the county, and continued to hold the office until the day of his death which occurred in 1821. He was a true American, was deeply interested in the welfare of this country, and was a participant in the various Indian Wars that came up in Pennsylvania and Virginia, and was with General Forbes in 1758 at the taking of Fort Pitt, now Pittsburg.
Although he lived on a farm the greater part of his life, he gave little attention to its cultivation, his active nature demanding other fields in which to extend his energy.
Was Twiced Married.
William Haymond was first married to Miss Clelland, of Maryland, who died in 1788 having become the mother of four sons and several daughters, the names of the former being John, William, Thomas and Daniel; the two eldest being born in Maryland and the two youngest in what is now West Virginia, and ll became the heads of families.
After the death of his first wife William Haymond married a second time, a Miss Pettijohn becoming his wife and eventually the mother of one son and two daughters, the former Cyrus, becoming a soldier and officer in the War of 1812. John Haymond, the father of William, came to this country from England and until his death made his home in Maryland, where he reared a family.
Son Succeeded Father.
Thomas Haymond, son of William and father of Colonel Luther Haymond, was born in Monongalia county, this state, January 16, 1776, and in his youth received such education as the school of his day afforded.
He succeeded his father as surveyor of Harrison county and in 1812 and, by various appointments and elections, held the office up until the day of his death in 1853.
He had been a scout when a young man during the Indian troubles in this section, and like his worthy sire before him, was active in promoting all enterprises for the good of his section, and in early day was major or militia. Although he always lived on a farm he become well known through out the state as a man of unblemished reputation and far more than ordinary intelligence.
He was married in this county to Rebecca Bond, daughter of Richard Bond, who came to this section in about 1800 from Cecil county, Maryland, at which time he was quite advanced in years.
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LUTHER HAYMOND
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A State Legislator
Thomas Haymond had been a member of the Maryland legislature for twenty-one or twenty-two years, during which time he did much to shape the affairs of that commonwealth. His daughter, Rebecca, was born in Maryland in 1870 and on April 21, 1869, she breathed her last in West Virginia.
She became the mother of six children: Rufus, who for many years was a successful practicing phyician of Indiana, and for some time was a member of the legislature of that state from Franklin county, and died there in 1889; Rowena became the wife of James P. Tarleton, and died in 1870; Luther, the subject of this sketch; Rudolph, who died young; Louis, who died in 1847 leaving a widow and four children; and Cassandra, who died early.
Born Near Quiet Dell
Luther Haymond was born in Harrison county, Virginia, near Quiet Dell, six miles from Clarksburg, February 23, 1809, and while growing up his early advantages, unfortunately, were quite poor.
Until about 16 years of age he lived on a farm, then became clerk in a store, and finally a merchant.
He became a land surveyor and civil engineer for the state of Virginia, and this occupation successfully followed up to 1860, when he became cashier of the branch of the Merchants’ and Mechanics’ Bank of Wheeling, but which, in 1865, was succeeded by the Merchants National Bank of Clarksburg. This was the first bank in the place and Colonel Haymond held the position of cashier until 1895, when he retired owing to advancing years.
A Virginia Legislator.
In 1843 and 1844 Colonel Haymond represented Harrison county in the state legislature of Virginia at Richmond, as an old-line Whig, but since the birth of the Republican party he was one of its staunchest supporters.
He was treasurer of Harrison county as long as that office existed, and in many ways too numerous to mention he was a prominent and progressive citizen.
He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for sixty-two years and was the oldest Odd Fellow in the state. In this order he was always greatly interested and was one of its most active members.
His foresight and keen business acumen won him an abundance of the world’s goods and besides a number of fine farms in the country, he owned valuable land in Clarksburg.
Had Nine Children.
The Colonel was married in Clarksburg to Miss Delia A. Moore, daughter of Major Thomas P. Moore, a native of Delaware, who came to this county about 1800 and became a soldier and major of the War of 1812.
Colonel Haymond was left a widower in 1876, after having become the father of the following children: Wirt, deceased; Henry, Lee, deceased; Emma, who died young; Myra wife of Mordecia Lewis; Ida, who died early; Lewis, deceased; Thomas and Bruce.
Colonel Haymond’s second marriage was to Madisonia Gittings, in 1878, a daughter of M. D. and Sophia C. Jackson Gittings, who came to Morgantown, Virginia, from Maryland, in 1829 and latter settled in Harrison county. She died August 15, 1904.
Catawba, are being used in the trim-
Image of Col. Luther Haymond Seated found at https://wvhistoryonview.org/catalog/044882
Image of Col. Luther Haymond Portrait found at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/85369099/luther-haymond
