Individual Details
George Henry FURR
(1833 - August 8, 1920)
Fatal Occurrence -- On Wednesday the 13th, Michael Livick and George Furr got into an altercation as they were returning from Staunton to their homes on Christian' Creek, during which Furr struck Livick in the head with a rock, from the effects of which he died on Sunday last. There were several persons besides the parties to the unfortunate occurrence, in company with them, who state that angry words passed between them. Livick, who was an old man aged, got out of the wagon in which he was riding and approached Furr in a threatening manner, when Furr, a one-armed man, picked up a stone and struck him. Furr was arrested On Sunday by Sheriff Mower and Chief of Police Parrent and lodged in Staunton Jail.
The Valley Virginia, Staunton, Virginia, January 2, 1875
Staunton, January 18, 1875.On last Friday a difficulty occurred between Michael Lirick, an aged man living on Christian’s creek, in this county, and George Furr, a one-armed man, in which Furr struck Lirick in the forehead with a stone, inflicting a severe wound, from the effects of which he died on Saturday. Furr was arrested on yesterday, and is now lodged in jail. The particulars of the affair as we have learned them are about as follows: A son of Furr’s bad been worrying Lirick, about which Lirick and Furr got to quarrelling, and finally came to blows. Lirick had gotten Furr down, but telling him that he did not wish to hurt him, as he was a one-armed man, he released him. As Furr got to his feet he was handed a stone by his son, which he threw and struck Lirick in the forehead, with the result as above stated. His examining trial before a magistrate will take place tomorrow.
Richmond Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, January 19, 1875
In the dusk of Wednesday evening of last week a wagon drove out of Staunton, Va., with five or six men, none of whom had any ill feeling against the other, and this morning one of them is in his grave, one is in jail as his slayer, and another, a boy, is in the cell with him as an accessory. It is what is called an every day quarrel, or, still better, an any-day quarrel. — The parties were Michael Livick, aged 71, a small farmer; George Furr, a one-armed ex-Confederate soldier, also a small farmer, and Furr’s son, a boy of about 13 years. They all resided at Christian’s Creek, and Livick and Furr had been hauling ice with what is called a “spike” team, that is Livick owned one horse and Furr the other horse and the wagon. The quarrel came about just as such quarrels come along with people of their station. The boy put into a conversation between his father, who was driving, and a traveler on the road. Livick reproved him with the old saw about “children being seen and not heard.” An impudent answer from the boy, a threat to thrash, the answer by the father that he would die before any man should thrash his boy, the taunt from Livick that a man whipped him last year and the father didn’t die for him, then dismounting by the father who was riding one of the horses, rocks thrown and a scuffle in which thrown heavily, then a cessation, the passing of the lie, a rock passed into the father’s hand by the boy, and the final blow—all just the way such quarrels go. Livick after the blow mounted the horse and upon reaching home dismounted and unhitched him. — Thursday morning he walked to a neighbor’s, complained of a pain in his head, went back home, became insensible, and Sunday died. The frontal bone was broken for an inch and a half, and a hole was made into the brain in which a large splinter of the skull was imbedded.
The Ohio County News, Hartford, Kentucky, February 3, 1875
During the trial of Geo. Furr, charged with murder, the Court House was crowded. The circumstances of the case as proven by the evidence were substantially as follows: Last winter the prisoner, who is a one-armed man, in company with his neighbor, Michael Livick, started from Staunton homeward—Liyick riding in Furr’s wagon. Some mile or so from town Furr became engaged in conversation with the third party and was interrupted by his (Furr’s) son. Livick remarked that children should hold their mouths whilst older persons are talking and that if that boy was his he would thrash him. Young Furr, who is about 12 or 13 years old, made some impertinent reply, which led to a quarrel between his father and Livick and hot words passed between them. Finally an altercation ensued in which Livick, who was a hale and stalwart man, although 60 years of age, got Furr down and held him there until he cried “enough." This was repeated several times—Livick all the time declaring that he had no desire to injure the accused, and making no effort to do so. At length Furr struck Livick in the head with a large stone, from the effects of which he died in a few days. Mr. Cochran, the leading Counsel for the defense, together with other forcible arguments, maintained that by the use of a stone the prisoner had only equalized his powers with that of his adversary. and that under the law he was only triable for involuntary manslaughter. Mr. Cochran was assisted by Mr. Hudson, and Capt. Bumgardner by Mr. Quarles.
The Valley Virginian, Staunton, Virginia, March 25, 1875
In the case of George Furr, charged with the murder of Michael Lirick, an account of which I gave you at the time it occurred, the jury brought in a verdict of involuntary manslaughter, and fixed his fine at $234. The court has not yet fixed any term of imprisonment, and in all probability will not. It will be remembered that the blow from which the deceased died was from a stone thrown by Furr just after he had a hand-to-hand struggle with deceased and had been overpowered, he being a one-armed man. The stone was handed him by his little son, who was arrested and lodged in jail on account of being an accessory to the deed, but against whom the grand jury found "not a true bill.”
Richmond Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, March 23, 1875
The Valley Virginia, Staunton, Virginia, January 2, 1875
Staunton, January 18, 1875.On last Friday a difficulty occurred between Michael Lirick, an aged man living on Christian’s creek, in this county, and George Furr, a one-armed man, in which Furr struck Lirick in the forehead with a stone, inflicting a severe wound, from the effects of which he died on Saturday. Furr was arrested on yesterday, and is now lodged in jail. The particulars of the affair as we have learned them are about as follows: A son of Furr’s bad been worrying Lirick, about which Lirick and Furr got to quarrelling, and finally came to blows. Lirick had gotten Furr down, but telling him that he did not wish to hurt him, as he was a one-armed man, he released him. As Furr got to his feet he was handed a stone by his son, which he threw and struck Lirick in the forehead, with the result as above stated. His examining trial before a magistrate will take place tomorrow.
Richmond Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, January 19, 1875
In the dusk of Wednesday evening of last week a wagon drove out of Staunton, Va., with five or six men, none of whom had any ill feeling against the other, and this morning one of them is in his grave, one is in jail as his slayer, and another, a boy, is in the cell with him as an accessory. It is what is called an every day quarrel, or, still better, an any-day quarrel. — The parties were Michael Livick, aged 71, a small farmer; George Furr, a one-armed ex-Confederate soldier, also a small farmer, and Furr’s son, a boy of about 13 years. They all resided at Christian’s Creek, and Livick and Furr had been hauling ice with what is called a “spike” team, that is Livick owned one horse and Furr the other horse and the wagon. The quarrel came about just as such quarrels come along with people of their station. The boy put into a conversation between his father, who was driving, and a traveler on the road. Livick reproved him with the old saw about “children being seen and not heard.” An impudent answer from the boy, a threat to thrash, the answer by the father that he would die before any man should thrash his boy, the taunt from Livick that a man whipped him last year and the father didn’t die for him, then dismounting by the father who was riding one of the horses, rocks thrown and a scuffle in which thrown heavily, then a cessation, the passing of the lie, a rock passed into the father’s hand by the boy, and the final blow—all just the way such quarrels go. Livick after the blow mounted the horse and upon reaching home dismounted and unhitched him. — Thursday morning he walked to a neighbor’s, complained of a pain in his head, went back home, became insensible, and Sunday died. The frontal bone was broken for an inch and a half, and a hole was made into the brain in which a large splinter of the skull was imbedded.
The Ohio County News, Hartford, Kentucky, February 3, 1875
During the trial of Geo. Furr, charged with murder, the Court House was crowded. The circumstances of the case as proven by the evidence were substantially as follows: Last winter the prisoner, who is a one-armed man, in company with his neighbor, Michael Livick, started from Staunton homeward—Liyick riding in Furr’s wagon. Some mile or so from town Furr became engaged in conversation with the third party and was interrupted by his (Furr’s) son. Livick remarked that children should hold their mouths whilst older persons are talking and that if that boy was his he would thrash him. Young Furr, who is about 12 or 13 years old, made some impertinent reply, which led to a quarrel between his father and Livick and hot words passed between them. Finally an altercation ensued in which Livick, who was a hale and stalwart man, although 60 years of age, got Furr down and held him there until he cried “enough." This was repeated several times—Livick all the time declaring that he had no desire to injure the accused, and making no effort to do so. At length Furr struck Livick in the head with a large stone, from the effects of which he died in a few days. Mr. Cochran, the leading Counsel for the defense, together with other forcible arguments, maintained that by the use of a stone the prisoner had only equalized his powers with that of his adversary. and that under the law he was only triable for involuntary manslaughter. Mr. Cochran was assisted by Mr. Hudson, and Capt. Bumgardner by Mr. Quarles.
The Valley Virginian, Staunton, Virginia, March 25, 1875
In the case of George Furr, charged with the murder of Michael Lirick, an account of which I gave you at the time it occurred, the jury brought in a verdict of involuntary manslaughter, and fixed his fine at $234. The court has not yet fixed any term of imprisonment, and in all probability will not. It will be remembered that the blow from which the deceased died was from a stone thrown by Furr just after he had a hand-to-hand struggle with deceased and had been overpowered, he being a one-armed man. The stone was handed him by his little son, who was arrested and lodged in jail on account of being an accessory to the deed, but against whom the grand jury found "not a true bill.”
Richmond Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, March 23, 1875
Events
| Birth | 1833 | Virginia | |||
| Marriage | April 21, 1859 | Augusta County, VA - Keturah FAUBER | |||
| Death | August 8, 1920 | Verona, Augusta County, VA |  |  | |
| Burial | Shenandoah Baptist Church Cemetery, Verona, Augusta County, VA | |
Families
| Spouse | Keturah FAUBER (1842 - 1909) |
| Child | Loma Ann FURR (1870 - 1947) |
| Child | John Newton FURR (1865 - 1939) |
| Child | Mary Virginia FURR (1866 - 1938) |
| Child | Lee Washington FURR (1875 - 1946) |
| Child | William Henry FURR (1876 - 1943) |
| Child | Gertrude FURR (1878 - ) |
| Child | Birdie FURR (1878 - 1936) |
| Child | Hattie May FURR (1883 - 1953) |
| Father | Harrison FURR (1801 - 1891) |
| Mother | Sarah Margaret "Sally" FORBUSH (1820 - ) |
| Sibling | Ellison FURR (1835 - ) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth A. FURR (1841 - 1862) |
| Sibling | Mary E. FURR (1844 - ) |
| Sibling | Sarah F. FURR (1845 - ) |
| Sibling | James FURR (1846 - 1862) |
| Sibling | Charles Wesley FURR (1847 - 1928) |
| Sibling | David FURR (1850 - ) |
Notes
Death
George Henry Furr passed away at the home of his son, Lee W. Furr, at Verona, on Sunday evening at six o'clock, after an illness of some five months. His death was caused by Bright's disease. Mr. Furr was 78 years of age. He was an old soldier having fought in the war between the states and having lost an arm in one of the engagements at Richmond. He married Miss Katurah Fauver, who died in 1909. Ten children were born of the union, seven of whom survive: John N. Furr, William H. and, Lee W., and four daughters, Mrs. Mary V. Thompson, of Verona, Mrs. Looma A. Brooks, of near Greenville, Mrs. Bertie M. Brown, of Staunton, and Mrs. Hattie M. Tinsley, of Brookwood. Fifty-three, grandchildren and fifty-six great grandchildren also survive him. Scores of people in this section were acquainted with Mr. Furr, his home being for years at Brand's station. The funeral was held Monday at Verona, the Rev. David F. Glovier, of the U. B. church, of which Mr. Furr was a member, administered the last rites. Interment was in the local cemetery. Pallbearers were: O, H. Drosber, W. D. Tinsley, Fred Tinsley, Jesse Tinsley and L. C. House.The Daily News Leader, Staunton, Virginia, August 10, 1920
Endnotes
1. Virginia Death Certificates, 1912-1987. Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 11 November 2020.
2. The Daily News Leader, Staunton, Virginia,, August 10, 1920.
3. findagrave.com.