THE OBITUARY OF SARAH JANE (LARUE) CASTLEMAN

       From the LaRue County Herald, February 25, 1904

       MRS. SARAH JANE CASTLEMAN AFTER LONG YEARS OF USEFULNESS ON EARTH
       ANSWERS THE SUMMON'S OF THE ANGELS

       Mrs.  Sarah Jane Castleman died at her home near Silva, Monday after-
       noon, February 22, 1904, at 5 o'clock, aged ninety-six.  She was the
       oldest person in LaRue County, as well as one of the best-known and
       generally loved women in this section of the State.  In her death is
       witnessed the closing scene of a beautiful and interesting drama, afid
       when the curtain dropped, audiences of friends from many sections saw
       the last act of a pretty life, a life which lef t a stream of sunshine
       from the little box cradle of ninety-six years ago to the open grave
       of yesterday.  Certainly her crown will be full-jeweled.

       Mrs.  Castleman was one of the most intelligent and interesting old
       ladies of our State.  During her life of generous length events have
       compiled histories, and with her life are associated many historic
       occurrences that are intimately associated with out State and County.

       As she sat these many years and watched the shifting scenes of life's
       drama, the actors making their entrances and exits, playing the part
       of the hero or the villian, she fully realized the meaning of Shakes-
       pears assertion.

       She was thoroughly imbued with and controlled by the noblest of
       Christian virtues, for nearly a century her companionship blessed
       those with whom she associated.  In the end. when death quietly drew
       the drapery of her couch about her, It can be said that so noble and
       so unselfish had been her blameless life that the world had profited
       by reason of her having been in it.

       Below is given a brief sketch of the life of Mrs.  Castleman

       Few of the present generation realize what a period in the history of
       our Nation and Commonwealth is covered by the life of Mrs.  Sarah Jane
       Castleman.  She was born October 9, 1808, during the administration of
       Thomas Jefferson and about four years before our second war with
       England.  She remembered the Battle of New Orleans and saw veterans of
       Jackson when they returned to their homes it the close of the War of
       1812.

       Her husband, Lewis Castleman, was a contractor and was employed in the
       construction of the canal around the falls of the Ohio in 1826, nearly
       two years after her marriage to him.  She was the daughter of Jacob
       LaRue, who was born in Virginia May 1, 1744, and was, therefore, only
       eight years younger than George Washington.  Her father came to Ken-
       tucky about the time the State was admitted to the Union, following
       his younger brother, John LaRue, who came here about the year 1780.


Submitted by: Sharon Cubberly
<cubb@pacific.net> 
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997