Nansemond County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Hosier, Richard, 1899 

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TOWN OF SUFFOLK 

The Checkered Career of an Octogenarian is Ended. 

Mr. Richard Hosier Crosses the Great Divide - 
   Hurricane Branch and His Gun - 
   Circus vs. the Churches - 
   Brief Mention. 
   (Special to Virginian-Pilot.) 

  Suffolk, Va., Sept. 25. - Mr. Richard Hosier is dead, aged 84 [sic*] years. 
The end came at 6 o'clock this morning in the home of a son, former Councilman 
J. Walter Hosier, Kilby and Wellons streets.  The deceased had been in failing 
health twelve months, being first attacked by a cancer.  He was semi-conscious 
about a week before the end.  The funeral will take place at 11 o'clock 
to-morrow morning from the Christian Church, to which Mr. Hosier belonged. 

  Richard Hosier was the oldest person but one in Suffolk.  The oldest is Mr. 
Sylvester Oliver, who is past 90 years.  His two wives are buried.  Six 
children survive - Mrs. M.E. Philhower, Magnolia; Mrs. H.C. Smith, Boston; 
S.S. and J. Walter Hosier, Suffolk; R.T. Hosier, West Norfolk; W.P. Hosier, 
Burlington, N.C. 

    WAS SENTENCED TO DIE. 

  Mr. Hosier had a checkered career in the civil war.  Being too old to enter 
the regular Confederate service, he and other aged men got shot guns and 
harassed the enemy by a sort of guerilla warfare.  He was better acquainted 
with the Dismal Swamp than any contemporary and his knowledge was valuable. 
Mr. Hosier was three times made a prisoner of war.  Once he was sentenced to 
die, which sentence was commuted to hard labor. 

    SWAM LAKE DRUMMOND. 

  Mr. Hosier escaped the guards, and after many days of hardship and danger 
got back to Nansemond.  In Captain Robert Arnold's book telling of "Early 
Recollections of the Dismal Swamp," Mr. Hosier is stated to have swam across 
Lake Drummond, where it was seven miles wide, while escaping the Federals.  He 
is said to have been attacked by a serpent while on the lake and afterwards 
vanquished a bear when he landed.  The bear skin was the only clothing he had 
in which to proceed to civilization.

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TOWN OF SUFFOLK 

Unsuccessful Attempt to Destroy Dwelling House by Fire. 
   A Letter From Lieutenant Hobson - Many Persons Immersed - 
   Richard Hosier's Funeral - Firemen Off to Roanoke - Death of an Infant. 

   (Special to Virginian-Pilot.) 

  Suffolk, Va., Sept. 26. - [...] 

   RICHARD HOSIER'S FUNERAL. 

  The funeral of the late Richard Hosier look place nt 11 o'clock this morning 
from the Christian Church.  The pastor, Dr. W.W. Staley, was assisted by Rev. 
W.T. Green, of the Main Street Methodist Church, and Rev. J.B. Dunn, rector of 
St. Paul's.  The interment was in Cedar Hill.  These were pall-bearers: 
Townsend W. Artman, John Z. Yeates, R.E. Whitehead, H.M. Parker, Junius T. 
Carr and Ben Smith. 


Richard HOSIER, Confederate veteran, 
b. 14 Aug 1818, Nansemond Co., d. 25 Sep 1899, at son's home, Suffolk, 
interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery*, Suffolk, 26 Sep 1899, 
"Virginian-Pilot," Vol. 3, No. 153, Sep. 26, 1899, p. 7, col. 2; 
"Virginian-Pilot," Vol. 3, No. 154, Sep. 27, 1899, p. 7, col. 2 

*Cedar Hill list, an extension of the 
   Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/cemeteries/cedar_g.txt 

Find a Grave Mem. #9797996 gives Richard James Hosier. 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), 
and re-formatted by File Manager. 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/h260r1ob.txt