William R. Self Is
Dead at Newton
Mr. William Riley Self, veteran of the war between the
sections and one of the most highly esteemed citizens of the county, died at
his home in Newton yesterday morning at the age of 86 years after an illness of
four weeks. The funeral will be held this afternoon at 3 o’clock and will be
conducted by Rev. H.A. Fulmer, pastor of the Lutheran church, of which he was a
member.
Mr. Self, who celebrated his 86th anniversary on
March 2, was one of the most interesting men in the county. Possessed of
unusual intellect, which happily he transmitted to his children, he was a
delightful companion and a well-posted citizen. His mind also was of an
inventive type and he amused himself in later years by working on inventions of
various sorts. Up to several years ago he was a farmer and since that time had
lived in Newton.
Mr. Self had an unusual war record. He enlisted in Co. E 57th
regiment, North Carolina troops, and his first engagement was at
Fredericksburg, where he was slightly wounded in the hand. He fought at
Chancellorsville and at Gettysburg and was wounded the first day of this battle
while carrying the flag and J.C. Bost, seizing the colors, was killed. At
Lynchburg he was wounded again slightly and he was in the battled of
Winchester, Harper’s Ferry, Culpeper and New Bern. He was taken prisoner at
Winchester and four five months he was absent from his company with smallpox.
“The closest place he was ever in,” wrote the late Geo. W.
Hahn in the Catawba Soldier, “was
Hickory, N.C. He came home from prison in March, 1865; the enemy came through
soon after his return. In order to save the stock, he took 13 head of horses of
Major Bost’s, his father-in-law, and concealed them in the forest. A few days
afterwards Major Bost thought that he should take them home that he might start
the plows. To be sure that the enemy was not near, Shelf rode up near Hickory
and stopped for a drink of water. On his return to his horse, he looked up the
road and saw quite a number of their Yankee pickets; in an instant he was
mounted, and ‘halt, bang, bang’ came the balls, but he made his escape
untouched, after having been shot at at least 75 times.”
Mr. Self was twice married, the first time to a daughter of
Major Bost and to this union were born seveal children, two of whom, Mr. W.A.
Self of Hickory and Mrs. Charles Long, who lives near Newton, survive. His
second marriage was to Miss Summerow, and she with five children survive. They
are Mrs. Robert Cox of Belmont, Mrs. Harvey Carpenter, Mrs. Floyd Yount, Miss
Willie Self and Mr. William Riley Self Jr. of Newton.
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Harshaw Burial Will
be at Colletsville
Lenoir, March 22—The remains of Moses N. Harshaw, who died
at a hospital Saturday night at 9:30, reached here at noon Sunday and the
funeral services were held at noon today from the home of his son, J.M.
Harshaw. Interment will be made at Collettsville, his boyhood home, 10 miles
from here. A special train took the corpse and burial party and friends to
Colletsville, leaving here at 1 o’clock.
Mr. Harshaw had been sick only a few days. Early in the week
his condition became alarming and Wednesday he was taken to a Charlotte
hospital. His condition seemed more encouraging, however Saturday afternoon
uremic poisoning set in and the end came within a few hours. For several years
he had suffered from diabetes. Two months ago he suffered broken ribs in a fall
on ice and it is thought this hastened the end.
Mr. Harshaw was prominent in politics for years and up until
the time of his death he was at the head of the Republican party of Caldwell
county. His leadership in the party in this entire section of the state was
acknowledged and his council was sought in all Republican movements. Twice, in
1907, and in 1909, he represented Caldwell county in the general assembly, and
prior to this he had served the district as solicitor. For many years he has
held the place of one of the section’s leading attorneys. Recently he had been
endorsed by the Republicans of Caldwell and Watauga counties as a candidate for
Congress from the eighth district. His friends had already started a campaign
to secure for him the nomination.
Mr. Harshaw was born at Collettsville, July 6, 1856, the son
of Newton Harshaw, one of the pioneers of this part of the state. He licensed
to practice law in 1895, after a long and dogged fight. His career has been marked
with hard-fought battles and with success.
He is survived, in addition to his wife, by one son, J.M.
Harshaw.
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From the editorial
page of the Hickory Daily Record, Monday,
March 22, 1920
The death of Moses N. Harshaw of Lenoir in a Charlotte
hospital Saturday night removed a man who if he had been privileged to have
full advantages would have been the foremost citizen of his section. Mr.
Harshaw possessed native ability and wit in abundance and it was a rare treat
to hear him talk. Mr. Harshaw was a real character, loveable and charitable,
and a force in his community. He became known throughut the state by reason of
his serving in the general assembly and it was here that the people of the
state came to know of his wit and humor and his inimitable oratorical style. We
will never see his like again, for he was one of nature’s own children.
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