From the Richmond Times, 9/10/1892, p. 5, c. 1

END OF A NOBLE LIFE.
A GOOD MAN NOW RESTS IN PEACE.
The Last Sad Tributes of Respect Paid to the Memory of the Lamented General Joseph R. Anderson.

The funeral of the late Joseph R. Anderson took place yesterday afternoon at 4 o’clock. Hours before the solemn ceremonies there was an ever-increasing throng about the residence on west Franklin street, and relatives, friends and employees looked for the last time upon the face they had known so well. The employes of the Tredegar Company met at Monroe Park at 3 o’clock, and later marched in a body to the Anderson residence. There were about 500 men in line, half of them being colored. Arriving at the residence they visited in solemn file the apartment where the remains lay in state and took a last look at their old employer and friend. In the file could be seen men bent with age, their hair tinged with a silvery line. Many years had they served him to whom they now showed the last sad tribute of respect.

There were others present – men in higher sphere, men who had been the General’s associates in the business world and men who had known him as a promoter of the common weal.

THE FUNERAL CORTEGE.

The cortege left the residence shortly before 4 o’clock and proceeded down Franklin to Fifth, to Grace, to St. Paul’s church. The white employes, followed by the colored ones, led the procession, followed by carriages containing committees from Lee Camp and the Chamber of Commerce. Then followed the hearse, after which came the carriages containing members of the family, relative and friends.

IN THE CHURCH.

The pews on either side of the middle aisle were reserved, as were also the galleries. The pews of the side aisles long before the remains reached the sacred edifice were filled with people, and many were unable to obtain admittance.

When the cortege reached the church the employes formed on either side of the street and the carriages and hearse proceeded through the line of bowed and uncovered heads.

The solemn procession moved into the church, headed by Rev. Hartley Carmichael, who read an appropriate verse of Scripture. After the remains, borne by the General’s grandsons, Lee Camp’s committee entered, followed by committees from the Pegram Battalion Association and the Chamber of Commerce.

The employes occupied the galleries, the white men being in the eastern and the colored men in the western gallery. The services were preceded by hymn 28, “A few More Years Shall Roll.” The solemn and beautiful Episcopal service was used throughout. Hymns 265, “Fierce was the Wild Billow,” and 507, “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” The services were conducted by Rev. Mr. Carmichael, Rev. Mr. Williams, assistant rector, and Rev. Mr. Pike Powers, rector of St. Andrew’s. Mr. Jacob Reinhardt was at the organ and the choir rendered the hymns in a sweet and solemn manner. The floral tributes were beautiful. Some of them required the services of two men to convey them to and from the church. The air of the edifice was laden with the perfume of so many petals, and some of the designs, especially those presented by the employes, were exquisite.

PALL-BEARERS.

The pall-bearers were: Active – Archer Anderson, Jr., J. R. J. Anderson, St. George Anderson, Morris Anderson, J. R. A. Hobson, DeGraffenreid Hobson, Frank Hobson and Charles Bruce.

Honorary – Robert Stiles, Phillip Haxall, Judge Crump, R. G. Pegram, Anton Osterbind, Edward Wade, Gordon McCabe, Thomas G. Peyton, John Purcell, Gideon Davenport, Dr. McCaw, George P. Perrini, Garland Mallory, Adolphus Blair, P. H. Mayo, James H. Dooley, Judge Wellford, J. H. Montague, Major E. T. D. Myers, H. E. C. Baskerville, Joseph Bryan, William E. Tanner, General Peyton Wise, F. W. Chamberlayne, H. D. Whitcomb, Col. A. S. Buford, A. L. Boulware, Charles S. Stringfellow, W. E. Cutshaw, Arthur B. Clarke, and Tazewell Ellett.

INTERRED AT HOLLYWOOD.

The interment was at Hollywood. Hundreds of people were present. The grave was bricked up after the services at the grave had been concluded.

Among the gentlemen at the church were: Messrs. J. B. Pace, B. A. Hancock, William Ryan, Rev. J. B. Newton, DD., W. G. Waller, John B. Purcell, Rosewell Page, W. W. Archer, H. P. Edmunds, Alexander Cameron, George W. Allen, Rev. J. William Jones, D. D., Thomas Bolling, George B. McAdams, Charles H. Whitlock, R. C. Morton, E. V. Valentine, Thomas Ellett, James Lyons, Allan Tyler, Philip A. Bruce, S. H. Pulliam, Rev. Mr. Mason, C. E. Bolling, C. E. Belvin, S. P. Mayo, John Bell Bigger, Charles P. Bigger and A. L. Ellett.

The Pegram Battalion Association was represented by Colonel Thomas Brander, Captain Thomas Ellett, Dr. H. Cabell Tabb (surgeon), Messrs. R. B. Munford, John Tyler and William Ellis Jones.

RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT.

At a called meeting of the vestry of St. Paul’s church, held yesterday, the following was adopted:

It is seldom that one man signifies so much for so many years to a church and a community as Joseph R. Anderson signified for nearly half a century to the city of Richmond and to St. Paul’s church.

His life was, all in all, so many sided, well rounded, influential and successful. Though its full portraiture may better befit another occasion, yet our holy religion regards every earthly duty well discharged, every earthly station worthily filled as part and parcel of the service and the Kingdom of God.

We cannot, therefore, fairly express the weight of such a man as General Anderson, as a member of the Church of Christ, without noting that, in every department of honorable human activity, in business, in politics, in other matters of general and public interest, in the formation and elevation of public opinion and in society – not less than in the Church – he was, for more than a generation, not only a leader, but, it is perhaps not improper to say, the leading citizen of this community. By his energy, his sagacity, his tact, his public spirit, his liberality, his rightmindedness, his kindly, courtly bearing, his perfect temper, his tender, affectionate heart he built for himself a place and wielded among us an influence to which no one is likely to succeed.

But his richest life, after all, was in his home and his church. As the head of a large circle of children and grandchildren, no man was ever more lovable or more revered and beloved. He loved the Church of God, too, with a devoted and unwearying effection, ever planning, working, giving with a loyalty and a liberality that knew no limit save the Church’s need. His rector always found him a friend full of sympathy, both in his work and in his trials, and this vestry recognized in him its most faithful member and its wisest counselor. When we recall all this – what he was and what he did – and then realize that he is no longer among us, our sense of loss would be overwhelming were it not for what we know of the unerring wisdom and the immeasurable grace of God.

General Anderson was one of the original members of St. Paul’s church and of its first vestry, having been elected vestryman in 1844, and having served continuously and faithfully ever since. Colonel Thomas H. Ellis is now the sole survivor of that original vestry, but he has not for years been a resident of Richmond.

General Anderson was elected junior warden February 5, 1872, succeeding Mr. Macfarland, and senior warden April 1, 1873, succeeding Dr. Haxall. It is not too much to say that loving loyalty to St. Paul’s church was a life-long passion with him, and that his long service in its vestry was marked by a growing perfection of beauty which in late years became almost unearthly. While we all looked up to and followed him as our father and head, yet which of us can ever forget his gentle deference to the opinions of even the youngest of our number, or his tender regard for the feelings of every one of us at all times?

God has called His faithful servant whom we “have loved and lost a while;” therefore be it

1. Resolved. That in the death of General Joseph R. Anderson “there has fallen this day a prince and a father in Israel.” St. Paul’s church has lost a member than whom no other has ever been more faithful, more useful, or more beloved. Our dear rector will miss what he leaned upon next to the very staff of God, and this vestry feels a sense of bereavement and of weakness inexpressible. God grant our grief and loss may drive us all to the only sufficient source of comfort and of strength.
2. That while we mourn we yet rejoice and praise the Lord, who hath given such grace unto His servant, and a second time called him “out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
3. The we tender to his deeply bereaved family our reverent and affectionate sympathy, yet exhort them “by the mercy of God” to find consolation – yes, even triumph – in the thought that he has “fought a good fight” and “finished his course,” and that he has already obtained that “crown of rejoicing” long since “laid up for him.”

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