Rev.
Tracy Robinson, one of the few remaining aged members of the North Michigan
conference, received his promotion to the heavenly church on November 7th. At the time of
his promotion he was residing near Caro, Michigan and was 73 years of age. Brother
Robinson was born on June 9, 1840, in New York state. When but a boy he came with his
parents to Bary county in Michigan, where he grew to manhood. In his younger days our
brother was engaged in mercantile business. This however, he soon ceased, and became a
travaling missionary in northern Michigan, and finally in 1881 he became a member of the
North Michigan conference of the United Brethren church. The following year he was elected
to the itineracy and in 1890 was ordained as an elder For a number of years brother
Robinson traveled as an itinerant, being located on the following important fields of
labor: Sanilac, Huron, Alma, Colwood, Gratiot, South Boardman, and Midland. When age and
infirmity made it no longer possible to travel as an active pastor he still sought fields
of service and was active as a colporter. He was engaged in this work when the Master
called Funeral services were held at the home of the deceased near Caro, Michigan, on
Sunday, November 10th, conducted by the writer, assisted by the pastor in charge, Rev. J.
M. Meadows. Interment made in the Aimer cemetery. In this notice the writer is laboring
under many disadvantages as these items were gathered from many sources. Doubtless much
could be said with reference to the life of our departed brother that would do his life
credit. Our personal acquaintance with him was very limited but those who have known him
remember and speak of him as a devoted, conscientious minister, and in piety a prince
among men. In his ministerial relations he is said to have been especially qualified as a
pastor. In his death we are again reminded that the fathers of our church are passing
away. As the mantle of lowly Christian service falls on the rising generation may it be to
enlarge our vision of what constitutes real Christian patriotism and church loyalty. At
the time of our brothers death his wife was very low; possibly, ere this, she too has gone
to be with Jesus.
J.
E. Harwood.
Rev. Perry Ritter was
born in Steuben county, Indiana, January 17, 1867, and departed this life at the Hope
Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana, December 3, 1913, aged 46 years, 10 months and 16 days.
He was united in marriage with Tena E. Smith, February 9, 1890. To this union were born
three daughters, of whom Elta R. and Zama B., with the mother survive to mourn their
inexpressible loss of a kind and loving father and husband. The second daughter Loie
preceded the father to the world of spirits when three years of age. Brother Ritter was
converted and united with the church in a meeting held at the Bethesda United Brethren
church by the writer in 1896. He was granted license to preach the gospel in the church of
his choice about one year ago by Rev. C. E. Wolverton, his presiding elder. He was a
fearless, spiritual preacher and much appreciated by those who heard him. His sickness was
of short duration, being taken suddenly ill with acute appendicitis and was taken from his
home in Hudson, Indiana, to the hospital, but only survived an operation a few days. In
his last hours he was permitted to look with spiritual vision and beheld the Golden Gates
ajar for him to enter into the everlasting city, and spoke of crossing the |
ocean
that separated between him and his eternal home. Thank God for the dying tes timony of the
Lord's saints. In his death the village of Hudson loses one of her best citizens, Bethesda
church one of her most useful members, and the home one of the best husbands and fathers.
The Lord of the harvest grant that his mantle may fall on others. The funeral services
were conducted from the Bethesda United Brethren church in Hudson, Indiana in the presence
of a large concourse of relatives and acquaintances, by the writer, and the sleeping dust
laid to rest in the beautiful Circle cemetery near the village, to await the resurrection
of the just. Besides the sorrowing widow and daughters he leaves an aged mother, two
sisters and five brothers with a host of friends to mourn their great loss. May they all
live to meet him in the sweet bye and bye.
E. C. Mason.
Margaret
Gilbert (nee Close), wife of Calvin R. Gilbert was born in Carroll county,
Ohio, November 11, 1830, died November 15, 1913, aged 83 years and 4 days. During this
holy matrimony eight children were born, four of whom with the father preceded mother to
the other side of the river. Our mother was faithful and good. Taught us children how to
pray and warned us of the pitfalls in life and gave us to understand that a real
preparation was necessary to meet our God in peace and to hear him say "well
done." We only have one mother to loose, so what is home without mother. She was a
great sufferer for years and almost helpless for five years. She was anxious to be
restored to health but was ready to depart. Mother let us a greater legacy than land, gold
or silver An evidence that the future to her would be blessed. We humbly submit to the
will of our heavenly Father who doeth all things well because he is too wise to err, too
good to do wrong, too faithful to misrepresent. Gone but remembered for what she hath
done. Goodbye mother we will meet you yonder. The funeral was held at her late home, Mt.
Dora, Lake county and laid away in the new cemetery in the sunny land of Florida, waiting
the call of Gabrial. Her pastor, Rev. A. Bretz of the M. E. church, preached from the
appropriate words found in Rev. 14: 13.
Children.
Thomas Campbell
was born in Miami county, Ohio, January 4, 1830. When he was four years old his father's
family moved to Salem township and settled on the farm now occupied by Wm. Sunderman.
September 25, 1851, he was married to Sarah Goodpasture, who passed away August 4, 1902.
To this union were born six children, all of whom, except one, Benjamin, have preceded him
in death. All of his life since he was four years old has been spent in Salem township,
except about six years that he lived in Wabash county, Indiana. He was a member of the
United Brethren church for many years and a faithful attendant at the services unless
hindered by affliction. He died December 8 1913, at the age of 83 years, 11 months and 4
days. One brother, one son, five grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and many friends
are left to mourn their loss. Funeral services were conducted by J. T. Holmes.
Hannah Fulrath (nee Smith)
daughter of William R. and Elizabeth Smith, was born August 30, 1846 near Chambersburg,
Pa., and died November 27, 1913, aged 67 years, 2 months and 27 days. She came with her
parents to Carroll county, Illinois, in the year 1854, when a child of eight years, and
has resided in Carroll county ever since, with the exception of about four year's
residence in Iowa. She was married to Adam Fulrath, March 13, |
1864, and to this
union were born eleven children, six sons and five daughters, all living. There are also
twenty four grandchildren and a great number of relatives and friends to mourn her loss.
She was converted at the age of thirteen in a cottage prayer meeting at Center Hill and
united with the United Breth-church of which church she remained a faithful member to the
time of her death. Familiarly known as Aunt Hannah, she was greatly loved and respected by
her family and all her acquaintances. She was a regular attendant at the services of God's
house whenever possible, and nothing pleased her better than to be in a good spiritual
meeting, whether in the prayer meeting, love feast or regular preaching services. Her soul
feasted upon the word of God, and her face beamed with light and joy under the preaching
of God's blessed word. She prayed and wept much over the condition of the unsaved. Often
her soul travailed in agony over the unsaved and she offered the prevailing prayer of the
righteous. Her home was always open to the tired and worn itinerant preacher and if ever
the preacher found a welcome home it was at Sister Fulrath's. She will be greatly missed
in every way. In the home her husband will greatly miss a loving companion to cheer him in
his declining years, children will greatly miss mother, and the home will be lonely, but
her sweet spirit has gone to be at rest with God. In the church how greatly she will be
missed! Not many fathers and mothers with us of her great piety and faith. Her last
illness and suffering was of protracted duration and she suffered much for many weeks. All
that kind hands could possibly do was done to minister to her comfort and to make her as
comfortable as possible. She finally fell asleep in Jesus about 2 o'clock November 27.
Thus another saint of God has gone to receive the reward given to the faithful. May
husband, children and all her loved ones cherish her memory, and may all be so fortunate
as to meet her on the side of the church triumphant. She was borne to her last resting
place by her six sons. The funeral was conducted from the Center Hill U. B. church in the
presence of a large concourse of relatives, friends and neighbors, by Rev. A. X Harrison,
Rev. E. E. Plumley assisting. The text was one of her own choice: Luke 23: 28; "Weep
not for me but weep for yourselves and for your children."
A. X. H.
Angeline
Coss was born in Copackflates, New York, on July 3, 1836, and died November 18,
1913, aged 77 years, 4 months and 12 days. She was married to Wm. G. Coss, November 16,
1854, to which union nine children were born, five boys and four girls. They had lived
together and passed their fifty-ninth wedding anniversary. During this time they had lived
in Kansas and in different places in Ohio, and her last days were spent in Findlay, Ohio.
She was converted in 1874, she claimed the blessing of sanctification about six years
after her conversion, and about five years ago she received the pentecostal baptism She
leaves a husband, four sons and one daughter, and a large circle of relatives, the U. B.
church and many friends to mourn their loss. She was a good companion, a kind mother, a
good and exemplary Christian, and a good neighbor. May we all meet her in heaven.
D. O. Tussing. |
