Person:George McWilliams (3)

MIDDLETOWN, INDIANA, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 1912- George McWilliams, son of Eli and Catherine McWilliams was born in Virginia, August 11, 1829, and departed this life early Sunday morning, March 17, 1912, aged 82 years, 7 months and 6 days.

He was reared to manhood amoung the sturdy sons of the soil near Greenmont, Rockingham County, and when he arrived of age, in the year of 1850, he came on horseback to visit his uncle John McWilliams, who lived a couple of miles northeast of Middletown, Henry County, Ind. He, after ending his visit, with the same conveyance, returned to his home in Virginia, but after a short while he took up his residence here and became a citizen of the great commonwealth of Indiana.

A few years later on April 12, 1854, he was united in marriage to Rachel Coffman, daughter of Joseph Coffman, and for nearly 58 years, they have shared their joys and sorrows, their failures and triumphs.

They moved to his home, where he spent most of his life and from which the death angels has called him, in March 1851. For 61 years he enjoyed this home. Here they raised their family of six children, Sarah C., the wife of William Ritchie, David P. (now deceased), Enos M., William H., Joseph H., and Nora J., the wife of James W. Davidson; and for over 57 years, the pale horse appeared oblivious of this family, but on Aug 9, of last year he came, and with his icy fingers touched the form of the eldest son, and we laid his body in the grave to await the call of the angel of God. Only seven short months have intervened, and he comes almost without warning, and the aged father is called to his long home.

While yet in the home of his father, amoung the Greenmont hills, surrounded by the majestic beauty of mountain hill and dale, the varied hues of verdure and of bloom, surrounded by honorable, honest and frugal people, in whose lives the word of God was a source of great joy and comfort, here his heart filled with emotion with the majesty of the omnipotent one, he acknowledged before the world that he believed in God and that in Jesus Christ he found a blessed Savior, and became a member of the Church of the Christian Friends. Since living in this state, to our knowledge he has not allied himself to any church, but has shown his interest be many times contributing to their advancement.

There remains to mourn the loss, the companion of his life's joys and sorrows, 5 children, 17 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren; 1 son, 1 grandchild, and 3 great grandchildren having preceeded him in death.

The funeral services were conducted Tuesday at 11:00 o'clock from the Brethern Church by Elder Hoover. A large assembly of neighbors and friends were present to sympathize with the bereaved, and in respect to the memory of the deceased whom they held in high esteem. Interment was made in the Brethern Cemetery nearby.

1. ↑ From the Family Files of Alley Blackford, 11/2002..
2. ↑ 1850 Shenandoah County, Virginia Census. (Dwelling #2 of Jacob & Rebecca Lantz).