Sunday, September 24, 2017

Obituaries (September 24)

William Hunt
North Christian Advocate, December 23, 1846
Another Revolutionary War Soldier Gone:  William Hunt, the subject of this notice, was born in the State of New Jersey, Aug. 16th, 1763.  He removed to Lycoming county, Pa. at the age of 10 years.  Here he resided until  A.D. 1806, when he removed with his partner in life to Lansing, Tompkins county, N.Y.; from which place he departed to his heavenly rest, Oct. 20th, 1846.  Father Hunt experienced religion under the labors of the ministry of the M.E. Church, in 1794, and from that time until his death, his walk with God and the church, was eminently exemplary.  As a neighbor, Father Hunt was universally respected, and few men were more worthy of respect and confidence.  Eminently of a meek and quiet temper, and peculiarly unassuming in all his intercourse, he gave little occasion for even the most contentious to take offence. As a Christian, his life was marked with uncommon consistency and uniformity, ever seeming to live with direct reference to the glory of God, and the retributions of eternity.  His last sickness was not protracted, but severe; yet during the whole of it he manifested a perfect resignation to the will of God, ever saying, in reference to the result, the will of the Lord be done.  He died in peace and full assurance of hope, and has doubtless gone to the "rest that remains for the people of God," while his aged companion, and a numerous family mourn his departure.  May that all, together with both the writer and reader be prepared to meet him in heaven.  B. Mason,  Varna, Nov. 24th, 1846.
 
Lucinda Knapp
Northern Christian Advocate, December 23, 1846
Lucinda Knapp died in Cazenovia, Nov. 24th, aged 46 years.  Mrs. Knapp had been a consistent member of our church for thirty years.  For more than three months the family has been severely afflicted.  She was the mother of Rev. J.N. Knapp.  whose obituary you published not long since.--Her vigilance at his sick and dying bed, was unabated.  Immediately following his death, Br. Knapp, the father, and a daughter, were taken very sick, and lay dangerously ill for weeks; then Mrs. Bierce, Mrs. Knapp's mother, was attacked with sickness, thus were three of her family for weeks very low.  Her anxiety and care at length exhausted her strength, and she gave up as she said, to die.  Four of the family were now very low, and it was doubted by many whether either of them would recover. At length Br. Knapp and the daughter were permitted to give evidence of recovery, but the aged grandmother, after giving a delightful example of Christian patience and resignation, fell asleep in Jesus.  In one week she was followed by her daughter, who died as above.  In the course of her sickness and in her life of devotion, our departed sister afforded encouraging evidence that she is now entered upon her glorious reward in heaven.  Our Br. Knapp in this severe series of afflictions, has been sustained by the blessed consolations of the gospel, and though himself and daughter are still quite feeble, they murmur not at Divine Providence, but look forward with joy to the time when they shall rejoin their friends who are gone before.  A.J. Crandall,  Cazenovia, Dec. 1st, 1846
 
Henry Clinton Hartshorn
Northern Christian Advocate, March 12, 1851
Henry Clinton, only child of Henry and Dorothy Hartshorn, of Alden Centre [Erie Co., NY], was killed on the 21st inst., aged 4 years and 3 months.  It has seldom fallen to my lot to witness a death that has excited so much sympathy as the one here recorded.  Little Henry Clinton was one of the most perfect specimens of humanity, upon whom the affections of fond parents were ever placed; and, though he has ever been the object of the most watchful care, yet he was removed from the society of his afflicted parents, by one of those singular accidents, which, from a want of foresight to avoid them, often prove fatal to those upon whom they fall.  He has been allowed by his mother, just after sun down to go into the yard in the rear of the house, to divert himself, as he had been accustomed to do and having been out a little longer than usual, the mother stepped to the back door and called him by name, but receiving no answer, she concluded he had gone to the barn.  She hastened towards the barn, and, to her great consternation, found him dead in her path.  He had been playing round a heavy sleigh that had been turned up against the side of an outhouse, and getting upon it, the sleigh turned back upon the boy--the runner, with its heavy iron shoe, falling exactly across the back of his neck. Though his neck was not broken, yet, so heavy was the blow upon him, that his face was embedded in the ground.  He probably died instantly, and apparently without  a struggle.  His parents were overwhelmed with grief, but they sorrow as those who are sustained by the inspiring influence of the Christian's hope.  G. Hines,  Lancaster, Feb. 23, 1851
 
Gracia Saloma (Elwell) Shepardson
Bainbridge Republican, May 20, 1909
Died at Binghamton [Broome Co., NY], Thursday evening, May 6th, 1909, at the residence of her son-in-law, C.B. Treadway, no. 5 Lewis street, Gracia S. Shepardson, aged 86 years, four months and nine days. She was the wife of Alfred Shepardson, a former resident of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], who died 18 years ago and it is somewhat of a coincidence that she died in the same month and same day of the month as her husband, 18 years before. Soon after his death she went to live with her daughter, and by her constant care and faithful attendance to all her wants a long extended life was made possible.  Gracia Saloma Elwell was the daughter of Lansing Gaius Elwell and Caroline (Smith) Elwell and was born at Franklin Del. Co., N.Y., Dec. 27th, 1822.  Her father died before middle age and after a time she, with her mother, removed to Coventry.  She married Alfred Shepardson, Jan. 1st, 1847, and for 44 years they traveled the path of life together. She was stepmother to Horace C. Shepardson.  No woman ever filled the place of a mother more nobly than she.  She retained her faculties till within two or three years of her death, then her mind became confused and her memory failed.  In perfect peace she passed beyond the river.  Her remains were buried in North Afton cemetery.

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