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| Etc. -- Two of Daniel Abbott's 1888 obituaries |
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A partial transcription of
a page 2 column in the 1 Nov 1888 Norfolk Reformer newspaper LANGTON [Unrelated first paragraph omitted.] The many acquaintances of Mr. Daniel Abbott, who saw him at the assizes at Simcoe last week, will be surprised to learn that he was not permitted to reach home alive. He got as far as his brother Isaac's, about two miles from his own home, and had just entered the drive barn when he complained of a strange feeling. He sank down upon the floor and breathed his last without a struggle. He was a man well known in Walsingham, where he had lived for the past forty years. Fortunately he had his will made and his business arrangements completed. His death, although sudden, was not altogether unexpected. His health for sometime had not been sound, and in a conversation with Dr. Hayes, the day before his death, the Dr. asked him if he was not pretty venturesome to trust himself alone so far from home. He will be greatly missed by his friends and neighbors. Everyone who ever knew him regarded him with something better than mere respect. He was always ready with his means and encouraging words to promote every good work. His sympathies were with those who were struggling and his acts of charity and his patience with those who were trying to pay their debts and ma[k]e an honest living will long be fresh in the memory of all who had the honor of his acquaintance. Mr. Abbott was the son of Timothy Abbott who settled on the Lake Road at a very early date. He was one of a family of twelve, many of whom are still living. His upright life and many excellent qualities deserve more than a passing notice and it has been suggested that a few hurriedly written lines be sent to the Reformer now to apprise his friends of his sudden death, and that at some future time a more elaborate sketch be prepared which may be more worthy of so good a man. An impartial and truthful memory of Mr. Abbott night accomplish a great deal of good. Hundreds of our young men might take him for an example; and if all men who do business were as conscientious and honest as Uncle Dan (as he was called by acquaintances) the world would be the better for it.
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An highly edited transcription of
a 7 Nov 1888 British Canadian newspaper article The sudden death of Mr. Daniel Abbott, or Uncle Dan, as he was familiarly called, was a shock to everyone. It had long been known that he was not enjoying sound health. Dr. Hayes, of Simcoe, whom he consulted the day before his death, told him that it was hazardous for him to venture so far from home, but it was not supposed by anyone that death was so near. He left his home one day last week to attend a case which came up at the assizes in Simcoe. Returning, he reached Langton Wednesday evening, and spent several hours with Dr. Tweedale and his family. During the evening the Doctor, in fulfillment of a promise made long before, drew up for him his last will and testament, and this being completed to his entire satisfaction, he seemed to feel a load of care had been removed, and gave himself up to the enjoyment of the hour. He spent the night with his old friend and neighbour George Argyle of Langton, and started at about eight o’clock on Thursday for his home on the 8th concession. He stopped at the home of his brother Isaac on the 10th, and while he was in the drive barn,
immediately after his arrival, he complained of a strange feeling... He sank upon the floor, breathed a few times and was gone. The obituary of such a man should be written by a poet. [Balance of paragraph omitted] Although Dan was given to conviviality and never seemed better pleased than when his friends were accepting his hospitality, he never indulged in intoxicants of any kind. He always took a very active part with those who promoted the cause of temperance, and the only secret organization he ever joined was the Good Templars. He did much for the spread of the Gospel, but was never a member of any church. In his youth he had not the privileges which are so cheap at this day as to be regarded as almost valueless, and whether it was from a sense of loss, or whether he thought that an education gives to its possessor an immense superiority over those who have grown up without it, he was extremely anxious that his children should have all the advantages of an education and not miss what he missed. In his endeavours to give his children the benefits of learning, he was warmly seconded by his amiable wife, who had herself been a successful teacher. Some years ago, the parents had the satisfaction of seeing their two sons and one of their daughters engaged in teaching. It is forty years since Mr. Abbott came into the wilderness of Walsingham and settled on the place where he always lived afterwards. He built a sawmill on the Venison, and, though he was never engaged in extensive lumbering operations, his business brought him in contact with a great many men. All of them would bear willing testimony to his sterling integrity, his freedom from all cant and hypocrisy, his hatred of shams, his unselfish benevolence, his willingness to accommodate others, and particularly his inexhaustible patience with those who owed him money and could with difficulty pay their indebtedness. Thousands of people could tell of sunny hours spent under his hospitable roof before the shadows of dark days began to show themselves and many who learn of his peaceful exit will be ready to say:- "Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his". Telegrams have been sent to a son and daughter in Colorado, who are expected to be here on Sunday to attend the funeral. |
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