IN MEMORIAM – We today find it our solemn duty to chronicle the death of another of Washington county’s most beloved and prosperous citizens. In making his way from earth to heaven, the guardian angel that had been watching by the bedside of our dear friend for several weeks, thought proper to take with him the spirit of Mr. Julius L. HOWELL, on the 28th of March, leaving his lifeless body surrounded by kind and loving friends.
The deceased leaves a wife and one child and a host of friends to mourn his untimely departure, but we find sweet relief in knowing that, though he has been taken from us, yet, our loss is his eternal gain. We mingle our sorrows with those of his many friends, and to his bereaved family we extend our most heartfelt sympathies. As a husband, he was kind, loving and true; as a father he was affectionate and forgiving; as a friend (ah, who knows better what the word friend here means than the writer) he was kind, generous and as true to those he called friends, as steel. We have only known the deceased fro six years, but in that time, though short it may seem, he has proved to be to us a friend, and had he been nearer to us, we could not have taken the sad news of his death more at heart. In his death we may truly say we lose one of our staunchest friend. He has not only been such a valuable friend to us personally but no firmer friend could the Beacon boast than “X.Y.Z,” which was none other than this noble man of whom we write, he was ever found ready to help make the paper an honor to his county, for which we will ever remember him kindly.
The deceased was 44 years of age, had long been a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, to which he was devoted and the rules of which he love as only Christians can.
Mr. HOWELL was last year elected to the office of Mayor of Creswell, which office he has filled with credit: he was also a member of the Board of Education of the county and he always seemed to take much interest in the educational advancement of our people. His every effort in public as well as private life seemed to be for the betterment of his fellow man.
This good man from us is gone forever, his lifeless remains have been laid within the tomb and covered by the cold sod, there to remain until the Great Day, all that is left of this noble character is memory. His earthly career has ended, his suffering are all over and he is now with the angels in that high home prepared for the righteous. And, as Christ came and “hath abolished death,” we will think of him in the inspired language and say: “He is not death but sleepeth.”
Source: Roanoke Beacon, 4 April 1890, pg 3. Available online at digitalnc.org.
