DEATH OF MAJOR R.H. GLASS

…from THE NEWS,
Friday morning, May 8, 1896, p. 6, col. 3.

He Passed Away Yesterday Afternoon at 3:15 o'clock.

Major Robert H. Glass breathed his last at his residence on Court Street at a quarter past three o'clock on yesterday afternoon. For many years he has been in declining health, a great and incessant sufferer from acute rheumatism, aggravated by other maladies. Against physical pains and sufferings to which most men would long since have succombed, his indomitable will and marvelous vitality have borne him up; and his enfeebled form upon the street was an object of continual wonder to the gratified gaze of his friends. Only two weeks ago did he surrender to the increasing violence of the disease and betake himself finally to bed. For the past three days it has been known that he was hovering between life and death, and the rapidly spreading announcements of the end was received everywhere in the community with profound regret.

Deceased was born near Balcony Falls, in Amherst County, on the 27th of December, 1822. His first newspaper work was done as a boy in the village of Buchanan, in Botetourt County. When some twenty years of age, he came to this city to accept a position as a practical printer on the old Lynchburg Republican, then owned and conducted by his uncle, Robert Cauthern. Afterwards, he became the owner and editor of that paper, in connection with George W. Hardwicke, who recently died in Wilmington, N.C. The Republican was the leading Democratic organ in this section of the State and as such its principles were expounded and enforced by the deceased with a drastic, incisive and unsparing pen. His connection and control of this paper continued until 1866. A year or two thereafter, he entered upon the editorial conduct of the Petersburg News, and subsequently owned and edited the Petersburg Post. This latter was after several years discontinued in Petersburg, and moved to Danville, and as the Danville Post, edited by him.

He came back to Lynchburg to reside in the later part of 1881, or the early part of 1882. His next editorial work was upon the Lynchburg Advance, after the retirement of Captain Whitehead from that paper,. He edited that paper until about four years ago, since which time he has been constantly and actively engaged upon the editorial work of The News.

Deceased was for 13 years the Postmaster of this city. His first appointment was by President Pierce, upon the recommendation of the late Bishop Early and numerous other prominent citizens. In this position, he was continued by President Buchanan, and held the office until the fall of the Confederacy brought about a Federal apppointment. His administration of the Post Office here was marked by signal satisfaction to the community and the surrounding section. After the era of Reconstruction, he was appointed by Governor Gilbert C. Walker Inspector of Tobacco at Friend's Warehouse.

Immediately after the war, he was nominated for Congress in this district but this, in common with all other nominations was superceded without coming to an election, by the intervention of the military government.
Not only in the editorial field, but also upon the hustings, in party conventions, and in every forum of active politics, he was always prominently active. He was almost invariably sent as a delegate to the State and national conventions of his party, among others to the memorable presidential convention in Charleston, in 1860 when the split in the party, and the separate nominations by its two wings, led to the election of Lincoln and the seccession of the Southern States. The last presidential convention which he attended was that which, at St. Louis in 1876, nominated Samuel J. Tilden.

The deceased was twice married, his first wife being Elizabeth Augusta Christian, of Appomattox County. Of this marriage there were five chidlren, R. H. Glass, Jr., E. C., Carter, the late Paulus Powell who died about four years since, and Nannie P. A few years after the death of his first wife, he married Meta Sanford, of Fayetteville, NC. He is survived by her and the seven children of this marriage, namely Mrs. Funsten Lucado, E. Douglass, John S., Mrs. Blair Bannister, Louise, Cora and Meta.

Thus has passed away another of the several notable characters who, in the last two or three years, have been lost and lamented in this community. Truly death has aimed his unrelenting shafts at shining marks. In the subject of the memorial notice, he has laid low one who will be long and sadly missed and mourned, not only in this city but everywhere throughout the State, for there was no portion of it in which he was not well and favorably known. In politics he was for almost half a century a prominent leader, both in the councils of his party, and in its active canvasses and conventions. In the social circles, his genial disposition, affable manners, and gentle courtesy, made his presence and companionship ever sought and enjoyed.

The funeral services will take place tomorrow, at an hour to be hereafter announced, at Court Street Methodist Church.




FUNERAL OF MAJOR GLASS

…from THE LYNCHBURG NEWS ..
Sunday morning May 10, 1896, p. 8, col. 4.
Laid to Rest in Spring Hill Cemetery Yesterday
The funeral services of the late Major R. H. Glass took place yestrerday morning at 11 o'clock, from Court Street Methodist Church, and were attended by a large concourse of friends and acquaintances, who came to pay a last tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased. In the absence of the pastor of the church, Rev. T. M. Carson, rector of St, Paul's Church, officiated, assisted by Rev. T. H. Early. The services were introduced by the singing of that beautiful hymn, "Abide With Me," rendered in a most touching manner by the choir, after which portions of the 39th and 90th Psalms were read by Rev. Mr. Carson and of the 15th chaper of St. Paul's epistle to the Corinthians by Rev. Mr.
Mr. Carson stated that several of the large family connections of the deceased were among his own parishioners; that he was the pastor of some of them; the friend of all of them. His discourse was most impressive. It was founded on the fifth chapter of Genesis, where the genealogy of the patriarchs of the old statement is given. Some of them lived for long centuries, Adam nine hundred and thirty, Methuselah Nine hundred and sixty and nine years; but of them all it is recorded, "and he died." Death is the immutable fact in respect to all men; all have died, and all must die. The reverend gentleman made a brief and touching allusion to the long and useful and honorable life of the deceased, written and read of all in this community; and to his habit of a regular and reverential reading and study of the sacred scriptures.
The sermon was followed by an impressive prayer, after which that old but ever beautiful and beloved hymn, "Rock of Ages," was rendered by the choir. The remains were interred in the Spring Hill Cemetery. After the brief and solemn services at the grave, the floral offerings, which were unusually numerous and beautiful, were arranged about the newly made mound. Conspicuous in the mass of fragrant flowers, was a large and exquisite design from Senator John W. Daniel, and a handsome cross of roses from the employees of The News and Advance.
The pall-bearers were Messrs. W. D. Adams, Camillus Christian, M.S. Langhorne, L.S. Marye, Jas. M. Booker, W. S. Gregory, Dr. Terrill, and L. F. Lucado.
Messrs. C. B. Fleet, F. P. Christian, W. N. Bigbie, Thomas D. Davis, Clinton DeWitt, Ham Shepperd, John H. Christian, and John W. Sherman acted as flower bearers.