In Memoriam: Edward Tearney

Died, February 16, 1902, at Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, Edward Tearney, aged eighty four years and fourteen days.
Mr. Tearney was a native of Ireland, but in his infancy he was brought to this country, and his whole subsequent life was spent in this place or its neighborhood. For many years, he operated here, contracting with the United States Government for the erection or development of the most valuable improvements made in the Government property at this place, and he ever enjoyed the confidence of all with whom his business brought him in contact. He was for some years president of the First National Bank of Jefferson county, W. Va., and his administration was marked with the same success that attended his other employments, and an increased reputation for good business qualities and strict integrity.

But praiseworthy as his business career was, it is to his private life he owes the tender regret and heartfelt sorrow that his death arouses in many a grateful heart. To the writer’s certain knowledge Mr. Tearney has spent in unostentatious charity what would be a fortune to many a man of ordinary means, for his business ability ever enabled him to acquire what his generous heart was always prompting him to dispense to the poor and struggling. No stereotyped obituary phrases can do justice to the memory of this model man, and the many who benefitted by his wise counsel and unabounding generosity do not require an eulogistic words to impress his virtues on their memory. They are engraven on many grateful hearts, and, better still, they are eutered to his credit in the great ledger of “Heaven’s Chancery;” and if, as it may well be, considering our frail humanity, there are any blemishes on the debtor’s side, it is to be hoped that the traditional tear of the Recording Angel will “blot them out forever.”

“Pure as the mantle, which o’er him who stood
By Jordan’s stream, descended from the sky,
Is that remembrance which the wise and good,
Leave in the hearts that love them, when they die.”

It is needless to say that the sympathies of this whole community go out to the survivors of Mr. Tearney’s family for the loss of a fond parent, and one of whom they were so justly proud; but they have his example as a rule of life, and this, of itself, is a rich legacy indeed.

A great number of priests attended the funeral, which was very large considering the extreme inclemency of the weather. The officiating priests attending were: Very Rev. J. J. Bowler, St. Peter’s Cathedral, and Rev. J. B. O’Reilly, Richmond; Rev. T. J. O’Farrel, Petersburg; Rev. James Frioli, Staunton; Rev. W. A. McKeefrey, Winchester; Rev. H. J. Cutler, Alexandria; Rev. T. J. Wilson, Keyser; Rev. L. Kelly, Martinsburg; Rev. Edward Tearney, Falls Church, and Rev. John Massey, Harper’s Ferry. A solemn High Mass, of which Father Tearney was the celebrant, was chanted for the departed soul of Mr. Tearney, and this noble man now sleeps the sleep of the just in the Catholic Cemetery in Bolivar by the remains of his devoted and idolized wife and children who had gone before him.

The funeral sermon was preached by Father O’Reilly, of Richmond, Va., with the well-known eloquence of that gentleman and a degree of feeling which showed his intimate knowledge and full appreciation of the character of the deceased.

Not far from Mr. Tearney’s birthplace was born the greatest lyric poet, perhaps, of all time, and a few lines written by him are appropriate to the present occasion:

“It is not the tear at the moment shed
When the cold earth has just been laid o’er him
That can show how we mourn the friend that has fled,
Or how in our hearts we deplore him.

“‘Tis the tear through many a sad day shed,
Through a life by his death all shaded;
‘Tis the sad rememberance of him, now dead,
When all lighter griefs have faded.”
Requiescat in Pace. AMERICUS.

HARPER’S FERRY, W. VA.,
Feb. 20, 1902.