Col. A. J. Womelsdorf

 
The Cartersville News
Cartersville, Georgia
August 5, 1909, Page 1
 
Transcribed by:  
 

Mr. A. J. Womelsdorf.
Expires After Lingering Illness In Pennsylvania Last Week.

Col. A. J. Womelsdorf, father of Harry and Lee Womelsdorf, of this city, died at his home in Pottsville, Pa., Thursday, July 29.  His remains were brought to this city and interred by the side of his wife, who died about two months ago.

The “Colonel,” as everybody knew him, has made annual visits to this city for several years, and everyone with whom he came in contact liked him, for he was a whole-souled, big hearted gentleman, and had a host of friends in the city, who will greatly miss his genial companionship during his visits to the city.

The Pottsville Republican, a leading daily newspaper of his home city had the following account of his death under date of July 30th:

“After an illness extending over a period of more than a year, A. J. Womelsdorf, one of Pottsville’s best known and most respected residents, died at his home last evening, at 610 Mahantongo street.  His condition during the past several months had become so alarmingly depressing that it became apparent to the members of the family and even to himself that the end was not far distant and he approached that end with complete resignation as though looking forward to the time when he might join his beloved wife, who departed life two months ago while visiting her sons in Cartersville, Ga.  According to his wishes his remains will be interred in the Cartersville cemetery alongside the grave of Mrs. Womelsdorf.

“Deceased was a native of Pottsville and during his long residence here he became intimately acquainted with all the leading citizens, among whom he was held in the highest regard.  An expert civil and mining engineer in his earlier years, enjoying an extensive clientele, made it possible for him to spend the advanced years of his life in partial retirement and in pleasure and comfort.  He found ample time for participation in his favorite sport and amusement, of hunting and fishing, and annually he made trips to the woods of Maine, where he brought down the big game of those forests and returned to Pottsville with the finest specimens which were ever taken from the northern woods.  He was an expert shot and had he cared might have attained a national reputation as such.  As a fisherman he was also recognized as authority and fished as well as hunted in some of the finest spots in the country.

“Of his adventures he could tell the most interesting tales and was a most desirable and entertaining companion.  He spoke ill of no one, but never lost a chance to commend his friends, leaving those things which did not commend themselves to him to remain unspoken.  Symptoms of heart failure became pronounced a few years ago and he declined from a man of robust health and strength to a mere shadow of his former self, as he was so familiarly known about the streets.  The death of his wife two months ago also hastened the end.

He was 63 years of age, and was educated in the public schools of Pottsville, and later in a technical school of New York.  Although only 16 years of age when the war broke out, he twice enlisted in the Union army and was in the command of Col. J. G. Frick during the Gettysburg engagement.  He was also a member of the Fifth artillery of the U. S. army.  He was employed for a number of years by Stephen and Joseph Harris, engineers, the latter afterwards becoming president of the P. and R. Railway Co.  After the death of Stephan Harris he succeeded to the business of the Harris brothers.

“He was a descendant from Saxon ancestors, who immigrated to this country about 1640.  Another branch of the family settled at Womelsdorf, this state, after which family that town was named.  His father was captain of the Washington Artilleries, which command served in the Mexican, Civil and Spanish wars and is one of the companies of the National Guard at the present time.

“His father’s sisters are: Mrs. Monture Robinson Spohn, whose husband was the celebrated engineer of that wonderful railroad which was built in 1830 from Pottsville to Mahanoy Plane, and thence to Danville, one of the earliest railroads; and Mrs. H. P. Stichter and Mrs. James Reed.  His grandfather, Phillip Womelsdorf, was one of the early settlers of Pottsville.

“His brothers are: Oscar, of Womelsdorf, Va., and Elvin, civil engineer in Indiana, and Phillip, of Phillipsburg, Pa., a former member of the legislature; Mrs. C. K. Teter is a sister.

“His children are: Harry P., and Lee, of Cartersville, Ga., and J. Hayden, of Reading.

 

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