Sunday, December 18, 2016

O'Donnell, John C. - 1895

John C. O’Donnell, formerly of Farmington township, this county, who died in Montpelier, Indiana, on the 17th ult., was a young unmarried man, and a short time previous to his death took out a life insurance policy for $1,000.  It cost him $23.

Recently his brother, C. S. O’Donnell, who resides in Allegheny county, came to Clarion and took out letters of administration on his estate.  His parents being both living they will take the insurance which he held in equal shares, after deducting the expenses of administering on his estate, the expenses of his funeral, and his debts, if he left any.
~ Clarion Democrat, 17-Jan-1895

You can visit the memorial page for John C. O’Donnell.

Wilson, George Raphael - 1895

A small child of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson died recently and was buried at Independence.  Much sympathy is extended toward the parents in their sad bereavement.  (Bela, Toby Township, Correspondence)
~ Clarion Democrat, 10-Jan-1895

You can visit the memorial page for George Raphael Wilson.

Hollister, Washington (Rev.) - 1895

Rev. Washington Hollister, who was appointed to Edenburg charge by the last season of the Erie Conference, was stricken with paralysis at 11:30 o’clock, on Thursday, the 3d inst., and died between 6 and 7 o’clock the same evening.

It was a great shock to everyone, but more especially to his church.  He had served the church about three months most acceptably.  He was a sermonizer (notwithstanding his age) of no ordinary ability.  His sermons were eloquent and impressive, which gained for him large congregations.  In all church interests he was interested and progressive.  His gentlemanly deportment and social disposition won him the friendship of all in other churches as well as his own and those outside the church and the children even loved him.

He attended a wedding Wednesday afternoon, was at the place in the prayer meeting in the evening, and on returning home almost every one had some remark to make in regard to the advice he had given to his people.  He was invited out to dinner on Thursday.

After writing  number of letters, he dressed to go and went to the Edenburg Bank, and changed some money and received a check.  On his way to the postoffice he had some conversation with Mr. Hamm, of the Presbyterian church, with reference to the union prayer meeting this week.  When he arrived at the office his speech had partially left him, so that he as obliged to show how many stamps he wanted on his fingers.

Instead of going to Mr. Jolly’s for dinner, he went home.  When he reached his room, to which Mr. Oaks accompanied him, he seemed to want to write, but could not.  He grew worse, so Dr. W. F. Myers was called.  He soon discovered that it was a critical case and had Dr. Wm. Clover called.  They exhausted all their skill to try to save him, but it was unavailing.

His family at Dunkirk, N.Y., was notified by telegram at once, and they replied that they would leave on the 10 o’clock train to get here in the morning.  The message was sent as soon as he died.  Mrs. Hollister and their son, William, came and were on the 9:30 train Friday morning, heart stricken.  Deceased was 67 years of age and had been 37 years in the ministry.

A memorial service was held in the M. E. church Friday evening.  Rev. C. H. Frampton preached an eloquent and appropriate sermon from Numbers 23:10 and X [sic].  “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last be like his.”  He was followed by very appropriate remarks by Rev. F. H. Earseman. A very appropriate statement was made by Mr. J. W. Smith, an official member, voicing the sentiment for the entire church.

The funeral cortege left on the 7:20 morning train, Saturday. Great respect and sympathy were shown to them.  Quite a large delegation accompanied them to Foxburg.  Their other son met them there.

They conveyed the remains to Meadville, where they will be placed in a vault to await the arrival of his daughter, who lives in Utah.  (Knox Correspondence, same issue): Mrs. Hollister not feeling able to move here, he made his home with Mr. and Mrs. D. Oaks, on south Main street.
~ Clarion Democrat, 10-Jan-1895
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’95 has come with its joys and sorrows.  The joys of the holiday season have been blighted by the angel of death appearing among us.

First Mrs. William Becker was taken and left a lonely husband.  A dispatch from Beaver, Pa. brought the sad intelligence of Miss Jessie Tomlinson’s death, who spent her early life here.

The sudden death of Rev. W. Hollister, pastor of M. E. church, was al [sic] shock to all.  (Knox Correspondence)
~ Clarion Democrat, 10-Jan-1895
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Rev. Wm. Hollister, the aged but eloquent and popular M. E. minister of Edenburg, died at that place last Thursday evening.

In the forenoon he went to the postoffice to mail some letters and in buying stamps made gestures but did not speak.  He had been invited out to dinner that day, but at the noontime hour he fell over on the floor, helpless, paralysis claiming him a victim.  About eight o'clock that evening he died.

Services were held Friday evening by Revs. Harshaw and Frampton, in the church and the early train Saturday carried his remains to Meadville for burial.

Mr. Hollister’s wife and son live at Dunkirk, and he served the Edenburg congregation but a few months.  The people of Edenburg were greatly shocked and deeply grieved at the sudden taking away of their pastor.
~ Clarion Jacksonian, 10-Jan-1895

You can visit the memorial page for Rev. Washington Hollister.

Phillips, A. C. - 1895

One of the most unexpected of the many sudden deaths we have lately been called upon to chronicle is that of A. C. Phillips, a well known and highly respected citizen of Monroe township, which occurred last Wednesday night.

Mr. Phillips, who was a man of 42 years of age, of apparently excellent physical constitution, and as far as was known, free from any disease or ailment, retired about nine o’clock on that evening in the enjoyment of his usual heath and spirits, his wife remaining up some little time later in order to finish some ironing at which she was engaged.

About 12 o’clock Mr. Phillips got up, walked to the bedroom window and remarked that it was quite cloudy and he should not be surprised to see more snow by next morning.  These are the last words he is known ever to have spoken.

He then retired and as supposed to be sleeping, until his mother, who was sleeping in a room nearby, heard him breathing in a heavy unnatural manner, when she called to his wife, who quickly arose and lighted a lamp, but when she approached the bed she was horrified to find that lie was extinct, her husband having just breathed his last.

The household was quickly aroused ad the neighbors summoned, who all did in their power to console and assist the bereaved family in their dark hour of bereavement.  Heart disease is attributed as the cause of his unexpected death.

He leaves a widow and six children, the eldest of which is but sixteen years of age.  Deceased was the eldest son of Michael Phillips, who lost his life in the battle of Green’s Station, Va., in 1865, at the same age of his son at his disease and leaving the same number of children.

Deceased was a nephew of G. V. Phillips, of this place.  The funeral took place on last Saturday when the remains were interred in Leatherwood Presbyterian cemetery.  The sorrowing family, in their great bereavement, have the sympathy of many relatives and friends.
~ Clarion Democrat, 10-Jan-1895
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That life is uncertain was demonstrated as an inevitable truth by the sudden death of Alvin C. Phillips, a respected resident of Monroe township, on Thursday of last week, at 1 o’clock a.m.

The event was indeed sad, but made two fold so by its suddenness, the deceased being in the prime of manhood, aged 42 years.  Mr. Phillips was subject to heart affection for some time past, but of late seemed to be recovering.  On the eve preceding his death he was not cognizant of any apparent danger, retiring at an early hour.  The angel of death, who was soon to visit his chamber, gave not a single warning except in denying repose, as he was heard to remark something regarding his inability to sleep.

Later on he arose and going to a window remarked something to Mrs. Phillips regarding the fall of snow and that he desired to arise early the following morning, naming his object for so doing.  He concluded by remarking something relating to the innocence of a child – alluding to his little daughter - and at the same time kissing her, little dreaming that those were his last words and the last good night kiss, or that in the silent watches of the next two hours death should enter the home and he as it were, should be its choice.

At about 11 o’clock the remaining inmates retired.  Sometime after, the deceased’s mother heard curious noise preceeding from her son’s room, and hastening to his bedside, with the assistance of his wife, raised him to a sitting posture where he immediately expired.

The funeral, on account of distant relatives, was delayed until Friday.  The whereabouts of his brother Sylvester not being known, he was not present.  His remains were interred in the Presbyterian cemetery at Leatherwood, of which church he was a member, Rev. Dible, of New Bethlehem, presiding, and delivering an excellent discourse, dwelling upon the necessity of timely preparation for death and extending his sympathy with deepest pathos to the bereaved friends, which is heartily endorsed by the entire community.  (Binkerton, Porter Township, Correspondence)
~ Clarion Democrat, 10-Jan-1895
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Alvan Phillips, living on the Trainor farm in Monroe township, died suddenly of heart disease between one and two o’clock Thursday morning.

The day before he had made preparations to do some hauling and before retiring told his mother that he had experienced a queer pulsation or beating of his heart.  His wife did not retire till about 11 o'clock; a few hours later Mr. Phillips arose, looked out at the window and remarked that there were indications of more snow, but if he felt unwell he would not venture out to work.  A short time after he was heard to make a peculiar coughing noise, but before a lamp could be lighted and assistance be given he was dead.

Mr. Phillips leaves a wife and six children and an aged and widowed mother to mourn the loss of a kind husband and father and a devoted son.  He was aged 42 years and had been a consistent member of the Presbyterian church.  The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Dible of New Bethlehem and the remains laid to rest in the Leatherwood cemetery.
~ Clarion Jacksonian, 10-Jan-1895

You can visit the memorial page for A. C. Phillips.