The citizens of Belleville are respectfully invited by the sons of the late Benjamin J. West, Sr., the Belleville centenarian, to participate in his funeral, which is to take place Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock to Green Mount Cemetery.
The body will lie in state in the First Methodist Church from 10 o'clock Saturday morning until 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
Belleville News Democrat
November 8, 1912
_________________
His parents, Tilghman Hilleary West and Mary A. (Mitchell) West, were pioneer settlers of the struggling village of Belleville, having settled here only a few years after the town was established by George Blair.
His was born in Fincastle, Va., August 23, 1812, and came to this county with his parents when only six years of age. In later years he told his son of that memorable trip from Virginia, which required six weeks of time, and submitted the members of the family to the hardships of camping out every night.
It was a new and bitter experience, for the West family always had been in comfortable circumstances, and the rugged pioneer life presented new and appalling problems. He also told of the sight of Indians of whom he was terribly afraid.
As a youth of seventeen years, Benjamin J. West, came into town and began a business career that extended over a period of many years. He obtained employment in the dry goods store of James Mitchell and remained there for some years, cementing his relations with his employer by marrying his eldest daughter, and later purchasing the business from his father-in-law. The store at one time was located on East Main street, adjoining the old Thomas House, and later on the Public Square where the Belleville Bank and Trust Company is now located.
He remained in that business for more than fifty years. In addition to his mercantile interests, he carried on extensive farming, and was especially interested in fruits. In 1832 he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Some time later he was elected president of the board of trustees of the First M. E. Church of Belleville and served in that capacity for thirty years.
His marriage to Miss Louisa Mitchell took place in June, 1836. She was born in Liberty, Va., February 24, 1817, and her family moved to Belleville, as did the Wests, during her early childhood. Her father, besides his business interests in the city, was postmaster here for a number of years.
_________________
Children:
Mary Walton West
Laura V.West
Louisa Ellen West
Benjamin J. West
Robert C. West
The body will lie in state in the First Methodist Church from 10 o'clock Saturday morning until 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
Belleville News Democrat
November 8, 1912
_________________
His parents, Tilghman Hilleary West and Mary A. (Mitchell) West, were pioneer settlers of the struggling village of Belleville, having settled here only a few years after the town was established by George Blair.
His was born in Fincastle, Va., August 23, 1812, and came to this county with his parents when only six years of age. In later years he told his son of that memorable trip from Virginia, which required six weeks of time, and submitted the members of the family to the hardships of camping out every night.
It was a new and bitter experience, for the West family always had been in comfortable circumstances, and the rugged pioneer life presented new and appalling problems. He also told of the sight of Indians of whom he was terribly afraid.
As a youth of seventeen years, Benjamin J. West, came into town and began a business career that extended over a period of many years. He obtained employment in the dry goods store of James Mitchell and remained there for some years, cementing his relations with his employer by marrying his eldest daughter, and later purchasing the business from his father-in-law. The store at one time was located on East Main street, adjoining the old Thomas House, and later on the Public Square where the Belleville Bank and Trust Company is now located.
He remained in that business for more than fifty years. In addition to his mercantile interests, he carried on extensive farming, and was especially interested in fruits. In 1832 he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Some time later he was elected president of the board of trustees of the First M. E. Church of Belleville and served in that capacity for thirty years.
His marriage to Miss Louisa Mitchell took place in June, 1836. She was born in Liberty, Va., February 24, 1817, and her family moved to Belleville, as did the Wests, during her early childhood. Her father, besides his business interests in the city, was postmaster here for a number of years.
_________________
Children:
Mary Walton West
Laura V.West
Louisa Ellen West
Benjamin J. West
Robert C. West
The citizens of Belleville are respectfully invited by the sons of the late Benjamin J. West, Sr., the Belleville centenarian, to participate in his funeral, which is to take place Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock to Green Mount Cemetery.
The body will lie in state in the First Methodist Church from 10 o'clock Saturday morning until 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
Belleville News Democrat
November 8, 1912
_________________
His parents, Tilghman Hilleary West and Mary A. (Mitchell) West, were pioneer settlers of the struggling village of Belleville, having settled here only a few years after the town was established by George Blair.
His was born in Fincastle, Va., August 23, 1812, and came to this county with his parents when only six years of age. In later years he told his son of that memorable trip from Virginia, which required six weeks of time, and submitted the members of the family to the hardships of camping out every night.
It was a new and bitter experience, for the West family always had been in comfortable circumstances, and the rugged pioneer life presented new and appalling problems. He also told of the sight of Indians of whom he was terribly afraid.
As a youth of seventeen years, Benjamin J. West, came into town and began a business career that extended over a period of many years. He obtained employment in the dry goods store of James Mitchell and remained there for some years, cementing his relations with his employer by marrying his eldest daughter, and later purchasing the business from his father-in-law. The store at one time was located on East Main street, adjoining the old Thomas House, and later on the Public Square where the Belleville Bank and Trust Company is now located.
He remained in that business for more than fifty years. In addition to his mercantile interests, he carried on extensive farming, and was especially interested in fruits. In 1832 he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Some time later he was elected president of the board of trustees of the First M. E. Church of Belleville and served in that capacity for thirty years.
His marriage to Miss Louisa Mitchell took place in June, 1836. She was born in Liberty, Va., February 24, 1817, and her family moved to Belleville, as did the Wests, during her early childhood. Her father, besides his business interests in the city, was postmaster here for a number of years.
_________________
Children:
Mary Walton West
Laura V.West
Louisa Ellen West
Benjamin J. West
Robert C. West
The body will lie in state in the First Methodist Church from 10 o'clock Saturday morning until 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
Belleville News Democrat
November 8, 1912
_________________
His parents, Tilghman Hilleary West and Mary A. (Mitchell) West, were pioneer settlers of the struggling village of Belleville, having settled here only a few years after the town was established by George Blair.
His was born in Fincastle, Va., August 23, 1812, and came to this county with his parents when only six years of age. In later years he told his son of that memorable trip from Virginia, which required six weeks of time, and submitted the members of the family to the hardships of camping out every night.
It was a new and bitter experience, for the West family always had been in comfortable circumstances, and the rugged pioneer life presented new and appalling problems. He also told of the sight of Indians of whom he was terribly afraid.
As a youth of seventeen years, Benjamin J. West, came into town and began a business career that extended over a period of many years. He obtained employment in the dry goods store of James Mitchell and remained there for some years, cementing his relations with his employer by marrying his eldest daughter, and later purchasing the business from his father-in-law. The store at one time was located on East Main street, adjoining the old Thomas House, and later on the Public Square where the Belleville Bank and Trust Company is now located.
He remained in that business for more than fifty years. In addition to his mercantile interests, he carried on extensive farming, and was especially interested in fruits. In 1832 he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Some time later he was elected president of the board of trustees of the First M. E. Church of Belleville and served in that capacity for thirty years.
His marriage to Miss Louisa Mitchell took place in June, 1836. She was born in Liberty, Va., February 24, 1817, and her family moved to Belleville, as did the Wests, during her early childhood. Her father, besides his business interests in the city, was postmaster here for a number of years.
_________________
Children:
Mary Walton West
Laura V.West
Louisa Ellen West
Benjamin J. West
Robert C. West
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