Deem, H. W.

Passed: 1915-04-16

Age: 58

Source: Mountaineer

Death Notice: 1915-04-16

Obituary Date: 1915-04-23

Information: H. W. DEEM IN PEACEFUL SLUMBER - Following an operation at Johns Hopkins Hospital last November, Henry Wise Deem, editor of the Jackson Herald, passed from this life at his home surrounded by members of his family at 10:10 o'clock a.m. Friday, April 16th, 1915.  Mr. Deem's illness, malignant growth in the bladder, dates back two years and followed an attack of malaria.  Last November, yielding to the pleadings of his family, he went to Baltimore, was met at the depot by Dr. Robert Riley, a personal friend of the family, who accompanied him to the hospital.  Following a consultation of the staff physicians of the institution, an operation was performed by Dr. George Walker, one of the noted specialists in the East on men's diseases.  The incision resulted in temporary relief but revealed the fatalness of the disease.      Nine weeks later he was brought home by his son, Carroll, to spend his last days with his family to whom he was much devoted, and his friends whom he received with pleasure, conversing for hours at a time with visitors in his customary optomistic manner, concealing the awful pains that were gradually sapping his life.  Of rugged physique and possessed of vigorous constitution he battled gallantly for his life.  On being advised by his attending physician, Dr. Rymer, that he was losing ground, he calmly announced his preparedness and readiness to comply with the will of the Almighty, adjusted his business affairs, made known his wishes with reference to his burial and awaited the end.      Mr. Deem, second son of Enoch Deem, was born near Burning Springs, Wirt county, November 27, 1855.  Was educated in the common schools, became a teacher and studied law.  Was admitted to the local bar in 1880, practiced three years and purchased the Jackson Herald which he edited until his last illness with honor and credit. He was postmaster under President Harrison (second term), McKinley, Roosevelt and Taft, twenty-one years of faithful, painstaking and intelligent service.      His wife, two sons, Carroll H. and Julian I.; two daughters, Mrs. E. C. Crow, of Cimarron, Kansas, and Miss Gertrude Deem, his mother, Mrs. Emelyn Deem, a brother, W. A. Deem, of Murraysville, and four sisters, Miss Elizabeth Deem, of Murraysville, Mrs. Dr. Shuman, of Venice, Cal., Mrs. Roby, of Clarksburg, and Mrs. W. A. Barringer, of Lone Cedar, survive.      Following simple and impressive funeral services conducted by Rev. E. D. W. King, assisted by Rev. Guy H. Crook, Hon. James A. Seaman, paying a personal tribute, at the home at 2 o'clock p.m. Sunday in the presence of hundreds of friends, the remains were interred on Pine Hill.  The pallbearers were Judge W. H. O'Brien, H. H. King, J. M. Prickitt, M. C. Archer, J. R. Vail, Charles Sayre, Sr. and R. P. Shinn.