One of Foremost Citizens of Somerset County Succumbs to Infirmities Incident to Old Age.
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By P. L. Livengood.
One of the most largely attended funerals held in Salisbury in many years was that of Levi Lichliter, Sr., which took place last Sunday afternoon. The deceased was a resident and prominent business man of Salisbury for many years, and few men in Somerset County were more widely known throughout the county than the subject of this sketch.
Mr. Lichliter was a man of small stature and never of robust constitution. However, he reached the ripe age of 79 years, 6 months and 12 days, having been born Nov. 16th, 1845, and died May 28th, 1925. He was a man of splendid personal habits, never having been addicted to using liquor as a beverage, which was more or less common among the people during the early years of his manhood, nor was he a user of tobacco. He was staunchly opposed to those two evils, and there is little doubt that the good age he reached with a rather frail physique, was in large part due to the way he observed the laws of health. He always led an active life, taking lots of exercise of the proper kind for the welfare of both mind and body. It may be said of him that he died of a gradual wearing out in a physical sense; but his mental faculties were strong and active almost up to the time he breathed his last.
Aside from an occasional sick spell, his health was quite good during most of his long life, even though he was not a person of robust constitution. However, during the last year, he began to fail quite rapidly in a physical sense, and for about the last seven months preceding his death he was confined to his room, where he passed peacefully away at time above stated. The whole community was saddened when his death became known, and the news of his demise was received with great regret by his many friends throughout Somerset County and elsewhere.
Impressive Funeral.
The obsequies were conducted in a most impressive manner by Rev. J. H. Booser, pastor of the United Evangelical Church of Meyersdale, of which denomination the deceased was a member for many years, assisted by Rev. E. D. Bright, pastor of St. John's Reformed Church, Salisbury, and Rev. Dr. L. P. Young, missionary superintendent of the Altoona Synod of the Lutheran Church. Rev. Booser's text for his, funeral discourse was taken from Second Timothy, 4th chapter, 7th and 8th verses. Dr. Young, who had been an intimate friend of Mr. Lichliter for 19 years, delivered an eloquent tribute to the deceased, and giving a brief sketch of his earthly career. A selected choir representing some of the best voices in the community sang most beautifully and impressively some of the hymns that were favorites of Mr. Lichliter, and which were especially appropriate for the services held over his mute remains. The floral tributes were very numerous as well as most beautiful.
Undertaker W. C. Price, of Meyersdale, had charge of the burial arrangements, and six grandsons of the deceased acted as pallbearers for a grandfather they all passionately loved.
Struggled for Education.
Levi Lichliter, Sr., or "Squire" Lichliter, as he was familiarly known all over Somerset County, was born in Upper Turkeyfoot Township. He was a son of John C. and Elizabeth Younkin Lichliter. The father died when but thirty-eight years old, leaving a widow and several young children, the subject of this sketch being but seven years old at the time. The greatest asset that was left by the deceased father to his children was their good mother and his own good name. It is a well known fact that Squire Lichliter had to struggle hard for a start in life, and that he began the struggle at a very tender age. He was a born student, a son of one of the first public school teachers in Somerset County, and in spite of the poor school facilities of the locality where he grew to manhood, he managed by close application and observation to acquire a splendid practical education. In fact he seemed to be born a scholar, as well as a born student.
He attended the schools of Upper Turkeyfoot until 1802, when he started on a teaching career which in benefits to others cannot be measured by dollars and cents. He taught his first term of school at Walker's Mills, Addison Township, when seventeen years of age. Thereafter he taught in Upper Turkeyfoot and Middlecreek Townships, and then, in 1866, he went to Monona County, Iowa, where he taught in a school during the summer of 1867 that was afterwards presided over by the celebrated Rev. Newell Dwight Hillis, of New York. In the autumn of 1867 he came to Salisbury, where the remainder of his useful life was spent. During the term of 1867-68 he taught school in Salisbury, at the close of which he accepted employment as a clerk with the late William Smith, who was then a prominent merchant and shook manufacturer of Salisbury. He remained in Mr. Smith's employ until that gentlemen went out of business, which was about 1874.
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An Outstanding Educator.
Mr. Lichliter re-entered the teaching profession about the year 1877, which he followed for about the next thirteen years, teaching in Elk Lick Township and Salisbury during that time, and also one term at Grantsville, Md. as an instructor in the school room he had few equals, and as a teacher of English and mathematics, it is doubtful whether Somerset County ever produced a man that was his superior. The writer of these lines was one of Squire Lichliter's pupils, and he has often regretted that not all of his other teachers were so thorough and painstaking in their instruction. Often, too, has the writer wished that he could live the days over again that he passed in the school room under the tutelage of that grand old educator, arid have a few more terms, at least added to them.
Aside from the teaching profession, Squire Lichliter served Salisbury and vicinity ably and well in numerous other capacities. For a long term of years he served the community as Justice of the Peace, and ranked as high in that capacity, without a doubt, as any man that ever filled that office in Somerset County. He also served the community with signal ability as burgess, school director, member of the town council, insurance agent, etc.
Successful Businessman.
In 1888, with a capital of only $500, Mr. Lichliter established the widely known Lichliter feed and grocery business. The business soon outgrew the small rented room it was started in and it was but a few years until the Lichliter store ranked among the leading mercantile establishments of Somerset County, a position it still holds, and doubtless will continue to hold, the firm doing quite a big wholesale business in some commodities, as well as a big retail business. The founder was a man naturally adapted to a business such as he established, as he was the possessor of extraordinary foresight and ability in handling the products of the farms and maple sugar camps of this locality, and he had a knack of making friends among the tillers of the soil such as few men possess. His success in dealing with them, of course, was based on giving the farmer good prices for good products, and a square deal at all times.
Squire Lichliter retired from business soon after his wife died, which was about seven years ago, after which the firm was reorganized, and has since been conducted by several of his children, under the name of J. C. Lichliter & Company. The two sons in the firm, John C. and William C. Lichliter, have been well schooled in business by their lather, as has also Miss Edith Lichliter, who ably assisted her brothers in the store. Their father visited the store almost every day after his retirement, until his health became too feeble. He abhorred idleness, and it was a pleasure to him to spend at least an hour or two a day at the store during the last few years of his life, where he could meet and greet his many friends, converse with them on the topics of the day, and also help the store force 10 some extent in various ways.
Man of Character and Education.
Squire Lichliter was a man of very positive character, somewhat emotional and sarcastic at times in defense of his opinions and ideals, but never profane or vulgar. Back of his sarcasm was a big, kind heart, and he was always ready to forgive those who offended him, and placate those who may have taken offense at something he had said in the heat of argument or discussion. He was a man who always kept abreast of the times. He was a great reader, not only of news papers and magazines, but also of books. He was familiar with all the He was familiar with all the great authors, and he had committed to memory many of the most beautiful thoughts and sentiments that ever were penned. Many of these he taught to his pupils, and he was wont to quote them when occasion seemed to demand something of that kind. Some of those quotations were a consolation to him in the closing days of his life, when he would at intervals repeat them.
Mourned by Many Friends.
In the passing of Squire Lichliter, Salisbury has lost a good citizen, his children a kind and loving father and every worthy person a friend. The esteem he was held in was amply attested by the large number of people in attendance at his funeral, most of whom had business dealings with him on many occasions, or were associated with him in some way or another at some time. There was a great turnout of the farmers in this locality at the funeral, from both sides of the Mason & Dixon line. Many of the businessmen and leading citizens of Meyersdale, Somerset, Grantsville and other towns and villages were in attendance, the following being among the number: Hon. Amos W. Knepper, Jonas M. Cook, Capt. Wm. H. Sanner, Capt. Chas. J. Harrison, ex-Judge Francis J. Kooser, Chas. F. Uhl, Esq., L, Calhoun. Esq., Dr. F. B. Shaffer, R. Brerits Miles Varner. Mr. and Mrs.John Vought, Daniel W. Weller, Mrs. Bertha Cunningham, and Allen Cunningham, all of Somerset; Miss June Montgomery, of Fairmont, W. Va., Eliza and Newton Milliron, Ellet Smith, Miss Florence Smith, and Miss Annie Smith, all of Pittsburgh; John Boucher, of Brownsville; Stanley Boucher, of Duquesne; W. E. Mier and family, of Connellsville; John D. Miller, Jennerstown; Charles J. Newman, Boswell; Emanuel Hershberger, Grantsville.
Levi Lichliter was married July 11, 1869, to Sarah A., daughter of John Smith, a Salisbury merchant and shook manufacturer during the palmy days of the shook industry. To them were born children as follows: Christian S., Adeline (Mrs. W. D. Keller), Emily Katherine (Mrs. Frank Earner), Edith, John, Elmira, Francis J., and William C. The children all reside in Salisbury, except Mrs. Keller, who resides in Philadelphia, and Francis J., who died in infancy. Mr. Lichliter is also survived by seventeen grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. |
