[Family 3.]
JOHN HALL COURTNEY, pedigree as before: was b. Jan.19, 1804, in Monongalia county, and m., Dec.14, 1847, Nancy McDonough. He d. July 7,1876, and she died Nov. 3, 1876, scarcely four months between their deaths. Mr. Courtney was a much-esteemed man, and left a wide circle of friends. The poem below was written by him, and delivered as a welcome to the soldiers, who were met at Laurel Point, July 4, 1865.
WELCOME TO OUR RETURNED SOLDIERS.
"Behold! the day at length has come,
For which we sighed, and wept, and prayed:
The rising sun of Peace is seen,
And lo! the tide of blood is stayed.
And now, our husbands, brothers, sons,
We haste to meet them here today;
With hearts and hands, we all, as one,
This mite of tribute thus we pay.
While thus we meet our friends again,
There is one sad and solemn thought-
Our absent ones---by rebels slain:
Their virtues ne'er will be forgot.
But when we meet, in future days,
Our annual festival to keep,
We'll teach our children, all, to pay
Them tribute, though in death they sleep."
The above was published in the Morgantown Post. He was a consistent member of the M. E. Church, as is almost his entire family. They generally were members of the church at Bethel, Monongalia county.
