LAWSONIA—Capt. John N. Sterling, a highly respected citizen of this community, died at his home on Saturday morning. Capt. Sterling was past his eighty third year, and had been sick for several months, and of late his death was daily expected. While a great sufferer in his sickness, his death was peaceful. Capt. Sterling was the father of a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters, all living. In his life time he was noted for his hospitality and generosity. Though he had lived to the ripe old age of more than four score years, and his death was not unexpected, it came as a shock to the entire community, where he was respected and revered. Yet sad as death is in any event, there was a bright side in the death of Capt. Sterling in that he was ready for the summons. Often in his sickness when he and those about him thought the end was near, did he express the utmost confidence in his title to a mansion in the heavens. Yes this dear old patriarch is gone, but his memory will long be cherished by his friends and acquaintances. Funeral services were conducted on Monday afternoon by his pastor, Rev. H. S. Dulaney, assisted by Rev. W. S. Phillips, in the presence of a large concourse of people. The deceased was a prominent Mason, being at the time of his death the oldest member of Chesapeake Lodge No. 147 A. F. & A. M. of Crisfield. He was buried with the honors of that order. The following are the names of the children of the deceased: John E., William H., and Jas. L. Sterling, of Cape Charles, Va., Geo. B., Christopher C., Albert W., and Edna J. Sterling, and Mrs. Isaac Lawson, of Lawsonia, and Mrs. J. Bun Nelson, of Crisfield.

Transcribed from microfilm of The Crisfield Times, Crisfield, Maryland, Saturday, March 25, 1905, p. 8

John N. Sterling, son of Nathan Sterling, died 18 Mar 1905 at Lawsonia, MD, at the age of 83 years. He was a retired waterman and farmer married at the time of his death to Harriett Sterling. (MD Death Certificate)