Logan Banner obituary published 22 December 1898 (found and shared by Brandon Ray Kirk)

Major Nighbert No More.

Sad to his many friends is the announcement that Major James A. Nighbert is no more, that the great heart which always throbbed for his fellow man is stilled and the tongue so accustomed to speak words of comfort and kindness is silenced.

James Andrew Nighbert, son of the late George W. and Elizabeth (Scaggs) Nighbert, was born in Montgomery county, Virginia, July 21, 1832, and removed with his parents to the Salt Works in Kanawha county, Virginia, (now West Virginia) in 1837. In 1844, his father purchased a farm in this county, where he settled his family, but still continued to do business in Kanawha county, and the subject of this sketch, who remained the most of the time with his father, was educated in the common schools of Kanawha county, finishing his education at the age of 17 at the academy of Professor Henderson at St. Albans.

In 1850, he came to Logan Court House and entered as clerk and salesman in the store of Major William Straton, where, after remaining some time, he went back to Maiden and became clerk in the company store at that place. In 1852, he came back to Logan Court House and entered upon the duties of clerk in the general store of Anthony Lawson, where he remained until 1858, when Colonel Lawson closed his business and moved to Tazewell county, Virginia. In 1859, Major Nighbert purchased the Sheriffalty and acted as Sheriff until the beginning of the war in 1861.

At the breaking out of the Civil War, Major Nighbert, although an ardent Whig, espoused the cause of the South, and was made First Lieutenant of the Logan Wild Cats (Company B, 36th Virginia Infantry) and was soon promoted to the Majorship of the 1st Regiment Virginia State line. He was a member of the House of Delegates of Virginia Legistlature from 1863 to 1865. At the close of the war, Major Nighbert returned home and entered into the timber and mercantile business with R. B. Lawson, in which business he remained until 1869, when associated himself in the general merchandise and timber business with the late J. E. Robertson, in which business under the firm names J. E. Robertson & Co., J. A. Nighbert & Co. Nighbert & Robertson or S. B. Robertson & Co. he remained an active member until his death. In 1874, he was unanimously nominated by the Democratic Senatorial Convention of the Seventh Senatorial District as State Senator, but owing to the pressing duties of his large business interests he declined the honor. He was elected a member of the County Court of Logan county in 1880, and again elected to the same position in 1882 and remained a member of the court until January 1889, and was President of that body during all the time of his membership, and was for several terms a member of the Common Council of the Town of Aracoma. He was one of the delegates to the National Democratic Convention in 1888 an alternate to the Democratic National Convention of 1896, and was an ardent supporter of Bryan. His friends in the District favoured his nomination for Congress this year, but he declined to allow his name to go before the convention.

On September 7th, 1876, Major Nighbert intermarried with Mrs. Juliantes Morgan, daughter of the late Lewis B. Lawson, who, after blessing his life for less than ten years, passed to the Great Beyond on January 21, 1886, and on the 19th day of December 1887, he again entered into marital relations. Mrs. Vicie Ferguson, daughter of his first employer – Major William Straton – being chosen to bless his life and his home for the remainder of his days.

Major Nighbert was in every sense of the words a public spirited citizen. While by the dint of industry and a splendid business ability, he amassed a large fortune, he never in any way separated himself from his less fortunate neighbors, and he was never so happy as in doing a good action in a quiet and unostentatious manner. In 1893, he completed and conveyed to the Baptists and Disciples a church at this place which had cost him individually more than two thousand dollars, whose spire, pointing Heavenward, will remain as a monument to his memory.

Major Nighbert was remarkably well preserved until within the last six months, when the sickness of his partner in the business for thirty years seemed to rapidly whiten his locks, and when, on the 24th of September, Mr. Robertson closed his eyes in death, most familiar friends could notice that his eyes were losing their brilliancy and his steps their elasticity. He, however, continued in active business until the morning of November 28th, when he suffered a slight stroke of paralysis at the store, but was able to walk home. After reaching home the second stroke came, and, while apparently improving, he never left the room again, although he was in excellent spirits and his mind entirely unimpaired. The fatal stroke came as he was sitting before the fire at about 11:30 on Saturday morning, December 17th, and the end came at 12:15 p. m. The writer of this article, who had enjoyed his friendship for nearly a quarter of a century, together with the loving and stricken wife and Dr. French, the family physician, were with him in the last moments, and the fact that his mind was as clear as chrystal to the last, and that he was not only willing but anxious to go, brings with it a benediction that no earthly words could give.

Those of us who have known him here, and who have enjoyed his friendship will find that he has left upon our minds and our hearts a strong and lasting impression of his person and his character which will never be oblitered. He has done enough and done it so well, so successfully, so honourably as to connect himself for all time with the county and the people he so much loved. We will be glad to remember that we have known him and shall delight to speak to those who are rising to fill our places, of his character, his honor, his integrity in business, as well as the purity of his friendship. To her who was to him a true, faithful and loving wife, who brought sunshine into his life, and tenderly and patiently administered unto him to the end, and who mourns the sad event more than all others, we tender our most heartfelt sympathies.

She should, however, be consoled from the fact that her dear departed “wore the white flower of a stainless life,” and when his life work was done, like a tired child on its mother’s bosom, went quietly to sleep.

On yesterday morning his remains were taken to the church which he erected, and after short and appropriate services by Rev. W. D. Garrett, his friends, which crowded the church, took their last look at the familiar features and then all that was mortal of James A. Nighbert were taken to the old family burying ground and laid to rest.

For death record, see http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_dcdetail.aspx?Id=4547774.

Logan Banner obituary published 22 December 1898 (found and shared by Brandon Ray Kirk)

Major Nighbert No More.

Sad to his many friends is the announcement that Major James A. Nighbert is no more, that the great heart which always throbbed for his fellow man is stilled and the tongue so accustomed to speak words of comfort and kindness is silenced.

James Andrew Nighbert, son of the late George W. and Elizabeth (Scaggs) Nighbert, was born in Montgomery county, Virginia, July 21, 1832, and removed with his parents to the Salt Works in Kanawha county, Virginia, (now West Virginia) in 1837. In 1844, his father purchased a farm in this county, where he settled his family, but still continued to do business in Kanawha county, and the subject of this sketch, who remained the most of the time with his father, was educated in the common schools of Kanawha county, finishing his education at the age of 17 at the academy of Professor Henderson at St. Albans.

In 1850, he came to Logan Court House and entered as clerk and salesman in the store of Major William Straton, where, after remaining some time, he went back to Maiden and became clerk in the company store at that place. In 1852, he came back to Logan Court House and entered upon the duties of clerk in the general store of Anthony Lawson, where he remained until 1858, when Colonel Lawson closed his business and moved to Tazewell county, Virginia. In 1859, Major Nighbert purchased the Sheriffalty and acted as Sheriff until the beginning of the war in 1861.

At the breaking out of the Civil War, Major Nighbert, although an ardent Whig, espoused the cause of the South, and was made First Lieutenant of the Logan Wild Cats (Company B, 36th Virginia Infantry) and was soon promoted to the Majorship of the 1st Regiment Virginia State line. He was a member of the House of Delegates of Virginia Legistlature from 1863 to 1865. At the close of the war, Major Nighbert returned home and entered into the timber and mercantile business with R. B. Lawson, in which business he remained until 1869, when associated himself in the general merchandise and timber business with the late J. E. Robertson, in which business under the firm names J. E. Robertson & Co., J. A. Nighbert & Co. Nighbert & Robertson or S. B. Robertson & Co. he remained an active member until his death. In 1874, he was unanimously nominated by the Democratic Senatorial Convention of the Seventh Senatorial District as State Senator, but owing to the pressing duties of his large business interests he declined the honor. He was elected a member of the County Court of Logan county in 1880, and again elected to the same position in 1882 and remained a member of the court until January 1889, and was President of that body during all the time of his membership, and was for several terms a member of the Common Council of the Town of Aracoma. He was one of the delegates to the National Democratic Convention in 1888 an alternate to the Democratic National Convention of 1896, and was an ardent supporter of Bryan. His friends in the District favoured his nomination for Congress this year, but he declined to allow his name to go before the convention.

On September 7th, 1876, Major Nighbert intermarried with Mrs. Juliantes Morgan, daughter of the late Lewis B. Lawson, who, after blessing his life for less than ten years, passed to the Great Beyond on January 21, 1886, and on the 19th day of December 1887, he again entered into marital relations. Mrs. Vicie Ferguson, daughter of his first employer – Major William Straton – being chosen to bless his life and his home for the remainder of his days.

Major Nighbert was in every sense of the words a public spirited citizen. While by the dint of industry and a splendid business ability, he amassed a large fortune, he never in any way separated himself from his less fortunate neighbors, and he was never so happy as in doing a good action in a quiet and unostentatious manner. In 1893, he completed and conveyed to the Baptists and Disciples a church at this place which had cost him individually more than two thousand dollars, whose spire, pointing Heavenward, will remain as a monument to his memory.

Major Nighbert was remarkably well preserved until within the last six months, when the sickness of his partner in the business for thirty years seemed to rapidly whiten his locks, and when, on the 24th of September, Mr. Robertson closed his eyes in death, most familiar friends could notice that his eyes were losing their brilliancy and his steps their elasticity. He, however, continued in active business until the morning of November 28th, when he suffered a slight stroke of paralysis at the store, but was able to walk home. After reaching home the second stroke came, and, while apparently improving, he never left the room again, although he was in excellent spirits and his mind entirely unimpaired. The fatal stroke came as he was sitting before the fire at about 11:30 on Saturday morning, December 17th, and the end came at 12:15 p. m. The writer of this article, who had enjoyed his friendship for nearly a quarter of a century, together with the loving and stricken wife and Dr. French, the family physician, were with him in the last moments, and the fact that his mind was as clear as chrystal to the last, and that he was not only willing but anxious to go, brings with it a benediction that no earthly words could give.

Those of us who have known him here, and who have enjoyed his friendship will find that he has left upon our minds and our hearts a strong and lasting impression of his person and his character which will never be oblitered. He has done enough and done it so well, so successfully, so honourably as to connect himself for all time with the county and the people he so much loved. We will be glad to remember that we have known him and shall delight to speak to those who are rising to fill our places, of his character, his honor, his integrity in business, as well as the purity of his friendship. To her who was to him a true, faithful and loving wife, who brought sunshine into his life, and tenderly and patiently administered unto him to the end, and who mourns the sad event more than all others, we tender our most heartfelt sympathies.

She should, however, be consoled from the fact that her dear departed “wore the white flower of a stainless life,” and when his life work was done, like a tired child on its mother’s bosom, went quietly to sleep.

On yesterday morning his remains were taken to the church which he erected, and after short and appropriate services by Rev. W. D. Garrett, his friends, which crowded the church, took their last look at the familiar features and then all that was mortal of James A. Nighbert were taken to the old family burying ground and laid to rest.

For death record, see http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_dcdetail.aspx?Id=4547774.