Troy Times

September 19, 1850 

MONFORT, ELBERT - In this city on the 14th inst., of congestion of the brain, Mr. Elbert Monfort, in the 23d year of his age.  He was a young man possessed of many virtues, and of rare worth, and by his upright deportment and gentleness of disposition had won for himself a numerous circle of friends, who deeply sympathize with his widowed mother, and the other members of the family, in this, their great bereavement.  He was but a few hours in descending the dread declivity of death--so severe was he attacked from the beginning.  The best medical aid was immediately secured, but all was of no avail.  Not even the prayers and tears of a fond mother, nor the anxiety of manifested by friends could stay the march of the merciless destroyer.  Death, the King of Terrors, called him, though he was but 'in the bloom of youth,' and he had no other alternative but to obey the summons.  How solemnly true is it, that in the midst of life, we are in death, and frequently when we least expect it, we are called upon to render up our spirits to the God that gave them.  The above beautiful tribute to our departed young friend, came to our hand without name.  The sentiment as well as the hand, evince that it eminated from the feeling heart of woman.