DEATH TAKES E. B. HURSEY
Oldest Native Born Resident of Clarksburg Dies After a Long Illness.
Honorable, Well Spent Life
Was Engaged in Business Here for Many Years — Funeral Thursday Afternoon.
The Clarksburg Telegram., September 12, 1907
Elmer B. Hursey, the oldest native born citizen of Clarksburg, and a man whose well spent, useful, honorable life and splendid character endeared him to every one who knew him, is dead at his home on West Pike street after a long illness with a complication of diseases. His death occurred Tuesday afternoon at 4 o’clock and the end came peacefully.
For seven years Mr. Hursey was an invalid and for the last several weeks his condition was such that his death was not unexpected. During five years of his long illness Mr. Hursey was the most of the time confined to his bed. Through all of his illness he was given the tenderest and most faithful care and nursing by his aged wife, who is now 74 years old, and his only daughter, Mrs. T. S. Wade, as well as the other members of the family, that exhibited an exemplary and laudable devotion.
Elmer B. Hursey was born in Clarksburg August 5, 1826, the son of John and Margaret Hursey, deceased, of Clarksburg, and resided in the city nearly the whole of his life. When a young man he became assoiciated with his father in the cabinet-making trade and the furniture business, first learning thoroughly the cabinet-making trade, and when his father died in 1884 he continued the business unitl his retirement fourteen years ago.
The Hurseys were also undertakers and when Mr. Elmer Hursey retired from business he had the record of being continually engaged in that business longer than any other man in the United States.
During two years of the first Cleveland national administration, Mr. Hursey held a position in the House of Representatives at the national capitol having been appointed by John O. Pendleton, who was then Democratic congressman from this district. For two terms he filled ably and efficiently the office of mayor of the town of Clarksburg.
In November, 1850, Mr. Hursey married Miss Margaret Davis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rezin Davis, of Clarksburg, who survives him, and to this union were born two children, Mrs. T. S. Wade, and a son, Welton Hursey, who died when 12 years old. Besides his wife and the only living child, Mrs. Wade, two grand children and two sisters and three brothers survive Mr. Hursey. The grand children are Mrs. E. S. Wallis and Harry M. Wade; the brothers, John Hursey of Clarksburg; Lloyd Hursey, of Shinnston, and T. S. Hursey, of Washington, D. C.; and the sisters, Mrs. Caroline Martin, of Greencastle, Ind., and Mrs. Hattie Brown, of Ohio.
Mr. Hursey was one of the two oldest members of the Odd Fellows lodge in the city, the other member being Col. Luther Haymond, the aged and beloved resident, who lives a few doors from the Hursey home. Both were members of that lodge for fifty-one years. Last year they celebrated the semi-centennial anniversary of their membership. Mr. Hursey also belonged to the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of Honor.
Adelphi Lodge No. 8, I.O.O.F. will have charge of the funeral, which will take place at the late residence on West Pike street at 2 o’clock Thursday afternoon. M. S. Riley will be marshal in charge. The following persons have been appointed as active pall bearers: James H. Mines, John Koblegard, J. T. Griffin, Russel Post, Elliot W. Williams, P. M. Long, W. S. Kidd and A. C. Seaton. There will also be honorary pall bearers. All members of the lodge are requested to assemble at the lodge room at 1 o’clock Thursday afternoon to attend the funeral in a body. All visiting brothers are invited to also attend.
The Rev. W. L. Reed of Fairmont, will lead the funeral services and the interment will be in the I.O.O.F. cemetery.
