Muscogee-Richmond County GaArchives Obituaries.....Ware, Dr. Robert Alexander July 19 1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Pat Coyle pcoyle@1st.net July 1, 2004, 12:23 am Unknown Newspaper July 20, 1893 DR. R. A. WARE DEAD THE OLDEST CITIZEN OF COLUMBUS PASSES QUIETLY AWAY At the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. R. Bedell, on upper Second Avenue, yesterday afternoon - a brief sketch of his life. At ten minutes after 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon Dr. R. A. Ware, the oldest citizen of Columbus, both in age and residence, breathed his last at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. R. Bedell, on upper Second Avenue. This intelligence will carry genuine regret throughout the entire city, for Dr. Ware was one of the best known and mostly highly esteemed citizens of Columbus. His death, however, is not a surprise, for he has been a great sufferer with chronic complaint since the 15th of last May, which together with his extreme old age, has made death probable almost any day. Dr. Ware was conscious all through his painful illness, and even up to the moment of his death he seemed to know and recognize the weeping relatives who were gathered around his bed, awaiting the summons that they knew was at hand. A SHORT SKETCH OF HIS LIFE Dr. Ware was born in August, Ga, on the 10th of May 1807. At the age of sixteen he entered the Stae University, and was graduated from this institution in the class with Alexander Stephens and Bishop Pierce, of the Southern Methodist church. Shortly after his entrance into college he was converted and joined the Presbyterian church, and ever afterward has been a faithful follower and worker in the cause which he embraced so early in life. After concluding the course at the university, Dr. Ware returned to Augusta and took up the study of medicine. When he was admitted to the practice of his profession, he located at Bellevne, Talbot county, Georgia, where in 1831 he was married to Miss Margaret Ellison, who survives him. In 1837 he came to Columbus and engaged in the drug business and the practice of medicine, both of which he successfully carried on until the beginning of the war between the States. After the termination of hostilities Dr. Ware devoted much of his time to farming and spent a considerable portion of each year at a plantation which he purchased about 7 miles out from Columbus, in Lee county, Alabama. He never lost his identity with this city, however, and always claimed it as his home, never missing his vote at a city or county election. Some sixteen years ago he moved to his country home, but two years ago returned and took up his residence with his daughter, Mrs. Bedell, with whom he has since lived. It is somewhat remarkable that he should have died in the house which he himself had built forty-six years ago. Dr. Ware was an enthusiastic military man and a brave soldier. As captain of the Columbus Guards he served through the Indian wars, and made a splendid record as a true and fearless soldier. The casket this morning will be escorted to its last resting place by the Columbus Guards, under the command of Lieutenant George Hamburger. It has always been the wish of Dr. Ware that he should be buried by the company which he so long commanded and which he has always loved. There is an incident in his life which cannot be passed over. When the city of Columbus was surveyed and laid off by Col. Ignatius Few, of Augusta, Ga., Dr. Ware, who was a nephew of Col. Few. accompanied him. The deceased was ordained an elder of the Presbyterian church at Ephesus church in Talbot county, at the age of 21. He was the chairman of the building committee that had charge of the construction of the old Presbyterian church, and it is appropriate that his should be the first funeral from the new church. Dr. Ware is survived by his devoted wife, three daughters, one son, a sister and several grandchildren. The children are: Mrs. Jane E. Martin and Mrs. W. R. Bedell, of this city, and Mrs. Dr. Geo. Willis and Mrs. Robert Ware, of Macon, Ga., Mrs. Jenny Head, of Tallahassee, Florida, is the sister. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/muscogee/obits/nob145ware.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 4.5 Kb