Lebanon News
Obituary of Samuel A. Duff

May 14, 1924 SAMUEL A. DUFF DIES AT BELFAST Confederate Soldier And Prominent Citizen Goes To His Reward. On Wednesday, May 14, 1924, near Belfast Mills in this county, where he was born and reared, Samuel A. Duff, father of our townsman, Joseph E. Duff, passed away after an illness lasting for several weeks, and was buried in the family cemetery on Friday at 3 o'clock in the presence of a large gathering of friends from all parts of the county. The funeral services were conducted from the home by Revs. Steele and Larew. 'Sam Duff' has long been a familiar name in Russell county, as he was long a leading citizen not only of his community where he stood as high as any man in it, but of the county in which he was prominent in many respects. Mr. Duff was born October 7, 1846, being in his 78th year when he died. At the early age of 15 years he volunteered his services to the South in the war and enlisted at New-Market, Virginia, as member of Co. C of the famous "Thirty-Seventh", Jackson's Division, Gen. Ewell's Corps, February 8, 1862, and participated in many of the hardest fought battles of the war until taken prisoner at the "Bloody-Angle" in the battle of Spottsylvania Court-House May 12, 1864. He was taken to Fort Delaware and kept as a prisoner of war until exchanged and paroled in the spring of 1865 and returned home just before Lee surrendered at Appomattox. He was a brave soldier, and dying in the faith for which he fought, he has "Passed over the river to rest under the shade of the trees." Mr. Duff was married February 16, 1869, to Amanda C. Smith with whom he lived happily until her death a little more than four years ago, and to this union eight children were born, six of whom survive. Mr. Duff had for a number of years been a consistent member of the M.E. Church, South, while in politics he was a democrat. Firm and positive in his nature, true and uncompromising in his friendship, he was indeed and in truth a man in every respect. The writer of these lines knew him since child-hood almost as a father, and, observing him through a great deal of his best manhood as well as his later years, saw in him many of the things which constitute his ideal of a man. No better husband or father, neighbor or friend, ever lived than S.A. Duff, and his passing causes genuine sorrow among a host of relatives and friends, notwithstanding the fact that he had lived more than the allotted "three-score and ten", and not withstanding the further fact that we cannot doubt that such a spirit as his can never die, and that the best there is of the beyond cannot fail to be his lot. On the hill-top, overlooking the scenes of his childhood, by the side of her whom he loved better than his own life, and among the flowers planted for her by his own hand, he was laid to rest, wrapped in his "mantle of gray" to await that "Roll-Call" which he will answer as unafraid as did he obey the orders of the immortal "Stonewall" in the days that tried men's souls. A long good-night to thee, dear friend; thy better part has found the better place. To that which is mortal and remains with us, we say rest-rest in peace! B.T.W. __________