Simonton, Benjamin (1794 - 1883)

SIMONTON, BERRY

Posted By: Jim Pearson (email)
Date: 7/9/2004 at 00:20:55

Elizabeth P (Simonton) Berry
Death Notice Letter to Newspaper 1883
Submitted by: Jim Pearson
Transcribed from original

Simonton:

Died at Wiota, Cass Co., Iowa, Jan 9, 1883 Benjamin Simonton aged 87 years and 6 months. He was always a hale hearty and apparently well man up to the day of his death. The evening of the day before he died he ate his supper as well as usual but was taken ill about 2 o'clock in the night and died about 8 o'clock the following evening. He leaves a wife aged 83 and almost helpless having had two strokes of paslsey, also five sons and six daughters besides a large circle of grand children and great-grandchildren. Father and mother had shared together the joys and sorrows of this changing world 63 years and six months. He formerly lived in Portland ME. He was an affectionate husband and father, a good man and a Christian; and was one the few living veterans of the 1812 war. The large family of children, fifteen in number, have had the religious influence and instruction of a praying father and mother. Since my earliest recollection both of my parents have been members of the Baptist Church and the family altar has been kept up in their home. When "Father Miller" made his first visit to Portland they were among those who listened to the truths of the coming of the King to reign in righteousness on the earth made new and although like many others, father at first opposed the doctrine, yet in after years he greatly changed, and has since been a deeply interested reader of both the Messiah's Herald and World's crisis. He sleeps in Jesus, farewell, dear father, farewell. Yes, he sleeps, but not forever, there will be a glorious dawn; we shall meet to part? No never, on the resurrection morn. Lizzie P. Berry
VanCleve, Iowa