Onondaga County New York Obituaries Extracted From The Northern Christian Advocate, Syracuse, NY, 1885

1885 Obituaries from the Northern Christian Advocate in Syracuse, Onondaga County New York.

COUNTRYMAN, Magdalena, Obituary

Magdalena Countryman, whose maiden name was Snyder, was born in the town of Minden, Montgomery Co., N.Y., Jan. 24, 1805. On the 24th day of August, 1825, she was united in marriage with A. J. Countryman, with whom she lived for over fifty-three years, meeting faithfully the duties of a true and loving wife. For many years they resided in the town of Cameron, Steuben County. By industry and economy they secured a pleasant home and a competency to meet all earthly wants. She was the mother of three sons and five daughters, all of whom still live and are members of the Church of God. Two sons are in the ministry, A. F. and J. B. Countryman, of the Genesee Conference. Besides these children, in the line of decendants are thirty grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren. When about twenty-four years of age she was powerfully wrought upon by the Holy Spirit, and she cried to God and he heard her cry and came to her relief and wonerfully blessed her, so that she shouted the praises of God. Soon after, in answer to her prayers, God saved her husband. They joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at Ford's Bush; the first class was organized in their own house. Truly could it be said of both that they were "faithful until death." Mother Countryman was truly a mother in Israel. Her life was full of beautiful ministries "in every good word and work." After the death of her husband, which occurred Nov. 14, 1878, she remained at the old home until her feeble health led her to respond to the earnest request of her children to live with them. Sometimes she was with one and sometimes with another, ever welcome and ever bringing the sunshine of a sainted mother's influence to the homes of her loved ones. The last months of her life were at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C. Bateman, of Scottsburgh, N.Y., where love and kindness did everything possible for her comfort. She suffered much in her last sickness, but by the help of divine grace she was enabled to say "Not as I will, but as Thou wilt" Her sun of life set in a cloudless sky. Near her closing hour her daughter sang "Sweeping through the gates," then asked: "Mother, whom would you like to see first when you get through the gates?" She answered: "Jesus is my object of beauty His light shone upon me and woke me when a sinner." To the pastor at Scottsburgh she said: "It is all right." To her son, A. F., she said: "Good bye; if I don't see you again I shall expect to meet you in the land of rest; I expect to go there. Give my love to your family." To her son, J. B., she said: "God bless you, my son, and be with you. Give my love to your wife and children; tell them I wish them much happiness in this world and everlasting life in the world to come." About noon of June 25, 1885, the tired wheels of nature ceased to move, the vital current stood still and the sainted mother was at rest. Her funeral was held in the church at the old home at South Cameron, and was attended by many of her friends and neighbors. The sermon was preached by her pastor, Rev. C. M. Gardner, from that beautiful and appropriate text, Mark xiv, S: "She hath done what she could." G. [Northern Christian Advocate, (Syracuse, NY), Thursday, August 6, 1885, P.7]

STONE, Martha E., Obituary

Martha E. Stone, daughter of Rev. E. J. Batchelder, of Genesee Conference, and wife of Prentice B. Stone, was born in Jasper, N.Y., May 9, 1843 and died in the same town July 16, 1885, of apoplexy followed by softening of the brain. She was converted at the age of twelve and soon united with the Methodist Protestant church. Eight years ago she connected herself with the Methodist Episcopal church of Jasper. Though naturally retiring in disposition she here became a most efficient worker. She accepted duties as such. At the time of her death she had a Sunday-school class of seventeen young ladies; besided she was superintendent of the Home Department of the Missionary Society and president of the Ladies' Aid society. Though her duties were so numerous she did her work well. The members of her Sunday-school class will not soon forget her efforts to win them to Christ. "She hath done what she could," Sis ter Stone endeared herself to the church by her beautiful Christian character. She was possessed of a sweet spirit. Her religious experience was clear and progressive. Though living three miles from church her place in the sanctuary was seldom vacant - either at the public service or the prayer-meeting or class-meeting. Sister Stone frequently expressed herself as desiring to be ready when the Master might call; he did call and that suddenly. She was present with her class at the morning service on Children's Day. Just before the evening service she was taken with a violent headache. She was soon in a state of stupor from which it was difficult to arouse her. Medical skill was in vain. She was not lucid again except a moment at a time. For five weeks she gradually passed towards the river's brink, then she simply stopped breathing - the Master took her to Himself. Though missed by the church and community she is missed more in her home. She was a faithful wife and mother. May Divine grace sustain her husband and three surviving children til the reunion in the better land. The following resolutions (preamble omitted) reported by the Sunday-school committee on resolutions are self-explanatory: "Resolv ed - That by the death of our co-laborer teacher and friend, Sister Martha E. Stone, Jasper Methodist Episcopal Sabbath School has lost a worthy and useful member and as a school we deeply mourn the loss. Resolved - That we sincerely sympathize with her bereaved husband and family in their sad affliction, and that we invoke the aid of Deity to help them during the dark hours of their mourning: and that this preamble and resolutions be recorded in the Sabbath school secretary's book, also that a copy of the same be presented to the family of our deceased sister. J. CHRISWELL [Northern Christian Advocate, (Syracuse, NY), Thursday, August 27, 1885, P.7]

WATSON, L. Anna Randolph, Obituary

Mrs. L. Anna Randolph Watson, wife of Rev. G. S. Watson, of the Genesee Conference, died at the parsonage in Greenwood, N.Y., May 22, 1885, aged 47 years. She was born in Ontario, N.Y., spent her early life in Gibsonville, a pretty hamlet between Perry and Mt. Morris, in the former of which villages she united with the Methodist Episcopal Church at the age of seventeen, and in the latter began her advanced education in the Young Ladies' School of Miss Mary Green. In 1857, her mother having removed to Rochester for the advantages of its schools, Anna entered with the first class the old High School, now the Free Academy, and two years later graduated from the East Avenue Collegiate Institute. At once she became a teacher in the city schools. Being appointed to No. 13 she remained in that building steadily for nearly twenty years, until her marriage in 1879, since which time her heart and strength were given to the work of an itinerant's wife. Her church home in Rochester was Asbury, formerly St. John's, where she was during those years a Sunday-school teacher and efficient worker and consistent member, also engaging, as strength would allow, in mission Sunday school work in other parts of the city. Our sister was a woman of recognized force of character, conscientious in a high degre, occupied and efficient everywhere and a true teacher. Hundreds of her former pupils will testify to her diligence and success in the class-room. In home life she was tender, true, self-denying and occupied for others, and she never failed to standby a friend. She was a resolute upholder of every right cause, impatient of affectation and shams and not able to have her opinions of course of conduct dictated to her, and always winning her way to a more secure position in proportion as she became more intimately known. In the church she was an interested and earnest worker beyond her strength, before becoming a pastor's wife as well as afterwards, because she had the work at heart. In personal religion she was sincere, intelligent, cautious of too loud profession, consistent and growing, as became one who had been trained in the Methodis class-meeting from the first. Her final illness was short and distressing, and her death the more painful because it seemed premature. The fatal disease was brain fever, which permitted few lucid intervals for intercourse with friends. But no one doubted her entire readiness for the exchange of worlds, nor questioned the Heavenly Father's wisdom and love in releasing her thus early from labor and suffering. Few persons are more trusted or depended upon that was she while living, nor more missed and mourned at death. Her burial was at Honeoye Falls, at the home and in the family lot of her mother, Mrs. Wm. B. Baker. The pastor, Rev. Mr. Hayes, conducted the services and spoke beautiful words of appreciation and consolation. L. F. CONGDON. [Northern Christian Advocate, (Syracuse, NY), Thursday, August 6, 1885, P.7]

WATSON, Rev. Geo. J., Obituary

Rev. Geo. J. Watson, of the Genesee Conference, is passing through deep affliction in the loss of his wife, formerly Miss Anna Randolph, of Rochester. Her death occurred at the parsonage in Greenwood, N.Y., May 22. [Northern Christian Advocate, (Syracuse, NY), Thursday, May 28, 1885, P.5]