100 Years Ago Today: Candidate Cards

Manassas Journal
06 April 1923

CANDIDATES' CARDS

-----------------------------------------

For Commissioner of Revenue

To the Democratic Voters of Prince William  County:
   I hereby announce myself a candidate for the office of Commissioner of the Revenue, District No. 1, of Prince William county, subject to the Democratic Primary of August 7, 1923. If elected, I promise to discharge faithfully the duties of the office. I feel sure I can render more efficient service in the coming than in the preceding term, as my past experience will mean a great deal to the people of the county.

Respectfully yours, R. M. WEIR
45-te

-----------------------------------------

For Commissioner of the Revenue

To the Democratic Voters of Prince William County:
   I hereby announce myself a candidate for Commissioner of the Revenue, District No. 1, subject to the Democratic Primary of August 7, 1923.

BAILY TYLER
45-e

-----------------------------------------

For Supervisor

To the Democratic Voters of Prince William County:
   I hereby announce myself a candidate for Supervisor of Gainesville District, subject to the Democratic Primary of August 7, 1923.

ROLFE ROBERTSON
45-te

-----------------------------------------

For Supervisor

To the Democratic Voters of Prince William County:
   I hereby announce myself a candidate for Supervisor of Gainesville District, subject to the Democratic Primary of August 7, 1923.

R. A. RUST

-----------------------------------------

For Sheriff

I hereby announce myself a candidate for re-election to the office of sheriff of Prince William county, subject to the democratic primary. If elected, I shall retain my present deputy.

CHAS. A. BARBEE

-----------------------------------------

For Sheriff

At the solicitation of my friends, I announce myself a candidate for the office of sheriff of Prince William county, subject to the democratic primary to be held in August, and hereby make an appeal for your support. If elected to the important office, I will give it my undivided attention.

Respectfully, BERNARD C. SMITH

Political Tidbit: To The Voters (Sheriff)

Alexandria Gazette (Va)
5 January 1852

To the Voters of Prince William County

Believing myself qualified to fill the office for which I solicit your votes, and to discharge all the duties appertaining thereto, and possessing equally upon principle with other citizens the right to any office in your gift, I present myself a candidate for the Sheriffalty of our County, under the Constitution, the ratification of which is not now doubted. It may be considered premature by some, as a Legislature has yet to be elected, to provide for the election of County officers. But as I am advised several gentlemen have not only announced themselves candidates, but are actually calling on you in person and soliciting your support, and hence delay might operate against me. In due season, I shall seek opportunities to have a personal interview with you all, and for the present only add that if it shall be your pleasure to confide this important trust to me, it will be mine to honor it. Your fellow-citizen, 

JOHN A. HARRISON.

Prince Wm. C., Va., nov. 19-wtf

[Mr. Harrison lost the election.  For a history of the PWCo Sheriff's office, check out Tish Como's article in the April 2005 edition of Prince William County Reliquary.  ~cgl]

Newspaper Tidbit: Decline Candidacy for Sheriff

Alexandria Gazette
11 December 1857

NOTICE -- My name appeared sometime since in the Gazette, as one to be voted for as Sheriff of Prince William County, at the ensuing election, but circumstances (which is not necessary to mention) render it impracticable for me to be a candidate for that office at this moment and through this medium I respectfully decline, and return my sincere thanks to those whose kind feelings have brought my name in connection with that important office.

Respectfully,

F. A. Weedon
Prince William County, Va. dec 11 - eo3t

Newspaper Tidbit: PWCo Unclaimed Dead Get a Proper Farewell at Woodbine Cemetery

InsideNova printed a nice article about the June 7 memorial and interment of the remains of 41 unclaimed citizens at Woodbine Cemetery, in partnership with Woodbine Church and the PWCo Sheriff's Office. The article includes a list of the deceased and their dates of death.

Many thanks to InsideNova and reporter Jill Palermo for their interest and compassion in helping to honor 41 souls who may have gone forgotten.

The e-edition of the article can be found here.

Follow Up: Memorial & Interment of PWCo Unclaimed Deceased

On Tuesday, June 7, 2016, the Prince William County Sheriff’s Office and Woodbine Baptist Church came together to provide a memorial service and a peaceful final resting place in the Woodbine Church Cemetery for the remains of 41 unclaimed deceased persons. 

Sheriff Glen Hill
(photo by C. Lynn)

The memorial service was officiated by Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Eugene R. Wells, who opened with prayer and presented the PWCo Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard.  Additional speakers included Sheriff Glen Hill, Manassas Mayor Hal Parrish, and Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Don Belanus.  The name of each deceased person was read aloud.

Virginia law charges local sheriff's offices with taking custody of deceased unclaimed residents, but it does not say how officials are supposed to dispose of them.

Sheriff Glen Hill stated, “I am grateful that Prince William County Sheriff’s Office is able to serve the unclaimed citizens of Prince William County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, and provide a noble funeral for them through our partnerships with community organizations.”

In Prince William, the Sheriff’s Office contracts with various crematoriums for cremation, then in partnership with Woodbine Cemetery each unclaimed resident is supplied with a burial plot. Woodbine Cemetery has been gracious in providing space for the deceased unclaimed residents at no cost.  – Virginia Sheriff’s Association

Following are the names of the unclaimed deceased persons buried at Woodbine Church Cemetery on June 7, 2016:

Douglas Allen, Linda Archer, Betty Bayse, Eva B Cantello, John Crawford, John Ignatius Ciccolini, Larry Dixon, Maria Ehler, Daniel Eshelman, Laura Lynn Farley, Wallis Ray Fay, James Alberto Fletcher, George Freeberg, Stacy Green, Donnie Lee Grogg, Laurel Hauer, Robert Miller Justice II, Thomas H.C. Langel, Donald L. Marks Jr., Roberto Martinez-Rosa, Joseph A. Moneymaker Sr., Conception Ortiz, Paul Oullette, David Patton, Ronald Henry Payne, Mark Pennington, Reginald Poindexter, Gilbert F. Randall, Tyrone Powell Reid, Sa Say, Mark Settle, Omer Shipe, Angel Steele, Eran Stokley, Dolores Sullivan, John Sullivan, Donald Thomas, Michael David Vincent, Robert T. Wiedner, and two unnamed residents. 

Event: Memorial & Interment of PWCo Unclaimed Deceased Citizens

In Prince William County, the Sheriff's Department takes custody of and responsibility for the cremated remains of unclaimed deceased citizens which fall under their jurisdiction. 

There is no national database of the thousands of identified but unclaimed remains of individuals across the United States.  In many jurisdictions, mortuaries, law enforcement, and funeral homes store the ashes of unclaimed deceased individuals on shelves, in closets, in drawers, in any space available until a next of kin can be located.  In many cases, no next of kin can be found and the ashes of the individual remain unclaimed.

Several years ago, Woodbine Baptist Church and the Prince William County Sheriff’s Department partnered to provide a dignified resting place in the church cemetery for the County’s unclaimed deceased citizens.  This partnership continues today.

On Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at 10:00 a.m., Woodbine Baptist Church and the Prince William County Sheriff’s Department will conduct a memorial service and interment of unclaimed deceased citizens in the Woodbine Baptist Church Cemetery.  

The memorial service is open to the public and the community is invited to attend.

Sunday's Obituary: William R. Chapman

Alexandria Gazette
4 October 1826

At his residence, near Brentsville, in the county of Prince William, on Friday the 29th of Sept. William R. Chapman, Esq. - By whose death society has sustained an irreparable loss. Perhaps no man ever lived in more peace and harmony with his relations, neighbors and acquaintances generally, than the deceased. - He was a kind, amiable, and affectionate husband, father and brother- a sociable and hospitable neighbor - a highminded and honorable man - polite and fascinating in his manners and deportment, he acquired the respect and esteem of all with whom he associated. He was for a number of years before his death, sheriff of Prince William county, and was always upright and correct in his duties. A wife and three children, together with a large number of relations and friends are left to mourn his loss.

Princes and lords are but the breath of kings,
An honest man's the noblest work of God.