JOHN O. VANGILDER

The obituary of John O. (O'Ray) VanGilder was copied from the Morgantown Weekly Post, February 18, 1904, page 10 by Linda Hughes Hiser, lhiser@acclink.com, and submitted, March, 2000 .




	Died at his home on Stewarts street, Morgantown, at 7 a.m. Sunday, February 14, 1904, John O. VanGilder.
	Mr. VanGilder's death was caused by a stroke of paralysis by which he was prostrated four or five weeks ago, and his demise was not unexpected as he had been unconscious since Friday.  Two years ago last July he suffered the first stroke and has been an invalid since that time.
	He was born Feb. 22, 1829, and would have been 75 years of age the 22d of this month.
	Mr. VanGilder when a boy, learned the trade of a wheel-wright and afterwards that of cabinet making and for over twenty years worked at the latter trade in the Hennen furniture factory.  For many years he has resided on his farm which is on the Stewartstown pike and just a few yards beyond the borough line of Morgantown.
	No man was more highly respected by his fellowmen; he was honorable and upright in all of his dealings, industrious and a good citizen and his death was learned with sincere regret by his many friends.  Mr. Van Gilder many years ago joined the Presbyterian church and he lived a Christian and blameless life.  He was one of the oldest members of Monongalia Lodge No. 10, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having belonged to it for over forty years.
	Deceased raised a large family of children and is survived by his wife and all but two children, they are:  Mrs. Charles Pell and Misses Fannie and Lena, at home; Mrs. Harvey Williams of the West Side; Joseph, of Uniontown, Pa., Jacob, who resides on a farm near his father; George E., Mrs. Wm. Boyd and Mrs. Theodore Farrer, of Morgantown.
	The funeral services will be held at his late residence at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and will be conducted by his pastor, Rev. A.M. Buchanan, D.D, of the Presbyterian church.  The interment will be made in Mt. Union cemetery and the services at the grave will be under the auspices of Monongalia Lodge No. 10 I.O.O.F.