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Capt. William Propst was born in Cabarrus County, N. C., February 17, 1831, and died in Concord, N.C., August 11, 1919, in his eighty-ninth year.

Captain Propst was married to Miss Etta Ritchie on June 7, 1854. He is survived by his wife, eighty-five years of age, and three children, John W. Propst, of Concord, N.C., Mrs. C. W. Trice and Henry L. Propst, of Lexington, N.C. (one daughter, Mrs. John R. Patterson, died a good many years ago), also by twenty-seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Captian Propst enlisted in Company F, 57 North Carolina Regiment, and was commissioned captain of the company, serving in that capacity the entire four years of the war. He was a brave and true soldier and was in all the battles under Lee and Jackson until the battle of Gettysburg, where he was severely wounded and left on the field. He was taken prisoner there and sent to Johnson's Island until the close of the war. He then returned to his farm, in Cabarrus County, and started to work, helping to build up the waste places. He was elected sheriff of Cabarrus County in 1882, holding the office a number of years, and he was at one time county commissioner.

Captain Propst was an official of St. James Lutheran church and very prominent in all its interests, faithful in attendance, and a liberal contributor to all objects. He was a man of unusual character, goodness and sincerity, a gentleman in the highest degree, and numbered his friends by the limit of his acquaintances. He was known by nearly everyone in Caburrus County. The many beautiful floral designs attested to his popularity. Eight grandsons acted as pallbearers.