Harpold, Soloman

Passed: 1888-12-13

Age: 92

Source: Jackson Herald

Death Notice: 1889-01-04

Obituary Date: 1889-01-04

Information: MARKER AT HARPOLD GRAVE UNVEILED BY DAUGHTERS OF 1812 - At an appropriate ceremony sponsored by the Lord Calvert Chapter of the National Socety of Daughters of 1812, the marker at the grave of Solomon Harpold in the Mt. Moriah cemetery was unveiled last Sunday afternoon before a throng of people who gathered there for the event.      Mrs. Eunice Proctor Perkins, of Ravenswood and Huntington, was in charge of the program which opened with the singing of ""Faith of Our Fathers"" and which was followed by an invocation by Dr. Fred Slaughter, grandnephew of the man in whose honor the ceremony was being held. Mrs. Perkins then read an historical sketch on the Harpold family and then introduced S. W. Stone, of Charleston, who made the principal address. A Mr. Dye, of Marietta, who is a son-in-law of the late John H. Riley, was introduced and spoke briefly.  Then G. R. Casto, of Millwood, who is now 94 years old, was introduced and told about working for Solomon Harpold when he was a young man and recalled a number of things which he remembered about the man.      The members of the Lord Calvert Chapter then conducted the ritualistic service at the grave and Mr. Stone, following a few remarks, unveiled the bronze marker which was provided by Mrs. O. J. Morrison and Mrs. C. G. Bergman, both of Charleston.      In his address, Mr. Stone said:  Madam President, Lord Calvert Chapter, National Society, United States Daughters of 1812, and relatives and friends:  We are met here to dedicate a marker and pay our respects to the late Solomon Harpold, but in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this sacred ground.  This he has done by the life he lived and sacrifices he made.      Soloman Harpold has about 20 living grandchildren who live in different parts of West Virginia, and some in other states.  There remains four generations to honor and revere his name and life.  The fourth generations are the great-great-great-grandchildren.  I do not know how many.  Three of whom are my great-grandchildren.      All of his children have long since gone to their reward.  Dear relatives and friends, may we so direct our lives that whereever we may live or go, that we can be able to say, when we have run our race and finished our course, in the words of the Apostle Paull, ""I have fought a good fight, finished my course and kept the faith.""      I wish to supplement these remarks with the following tribute prepared by a son-in-law of the one whom we seek to honor by this occasion:  Adam Harpold, the father of the subject of the notice, came to this country from Germany in ""Colonial Times"" and after bearing an honorable part in the struggle for American Independence, removed to the South Branch of the Potomac, where on the 6th day of January, 1796, Solomon, his youngest son, was born.  The German language was spoken in the family until after the decease of the father and the inter-marriage of the mother to Mr. Cunningham, when the mother tongue was abandoned and a more popular one adopted.  Young Soloman availed himself of an opportunity to learn the business of tanner, but when his country was in peril--being engaged in a war with the mother country, called the War of 1812--he left the shop, shouldered his musket, when but a lad of 17 years, and marched to the front to aid in preserving the liberties vouchsafed to us by the Revolutionary patriots.  His accounts of long marches, short rations, hard fought battles and incidents of camp life, have often engaged the attention of many willing listeners.  After the war he came on foot from Norfolk, Virginia to what is now Jackson county, West Virginia, where he was united in marriage to Malinda Shinn in her 17th year.  This young couple selected for a home the land on which they spent together over fifty years.  Better lands were within their reach, but a famous spring of water and the assurance of health given by the high, rolling pine lands, attached thm to that spot and time has shown the wisdom of their choice.  Mr. Harpold first engaged in cleaning and dressing deer skins and to general tanning business.      Many comfortable suits were made from skins dressed by him:  the cap, coat, vest, pantaloons and moccasins.  He was at various times engaged in the mercantile business in Ripley, Ripley Landing and Ravenswood.      There were born to the couple fifteen children, of whom seven sons and three daughters attained their majority, and these fond parents, rejoiced in being able to see to it, as they did, that all of these had a fair start in life, and fairly comfortable homes. Mr. Harpold was left a widower in 1869. He, for a time, abandoned his old home and tried living with some of his children, but his desire for old associations and the good spring of water, to him the sweetest and best on earth, were strong reasons for marrying again, so that he might return to that old homestead and there end his days.        He united in marriage with Mrs. Margaret Brown. His last marriage, like the first, was a very fortunate and happy one.  Mr. Harpold was active, industrious, honest in his undertakings, whether as a farmer, stock raiser, tanner or merchant.      Many years ago he embraced the Christian religion.  His faith was always strong and unshakeable and his life was consistent with his profession.  He departed this life after much suffering, surrounded by his loving children, on the 13th day of December, 1888, and they laid his remains beside their mother.  May the clods press lightly on them.  How few that survive Father Harpold will accomplish such respite and attain such years and honors.  And yet, if those of the four generations that survive him, and all others, will emulate his example of indomitable energy, economy, honesty, and unfeigned piety, their prosperity and happiness, here and hereafter, will be assured.      This article was published in the Jackson Herald, January 4th, 1889.  It was written by the late John H. Riley, a son-in-law of Solomon Harpold.