Obituaries

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 6, 1910

SNYDER.— Sister George Snyder was born in the town of Reeves, Mich., March 22, 1848, and died Nov. 18, 1909, aged 61 years, 7 months, and 27 days. She leaves a husband, two daughters, one son, four brothers, and many friends to mourn their loss. She was a devoted Christian. She united with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1901, and was all this time untiring in her efforts to advance the interest of the third angel’s message, and the truth she loved so dearly, and was faithful till the day of her death. We laid her away with the bright hope of seeing the Life-giver when he comes to gather home his children. Words of comfort were spoken to a large circle of friends and neighbors by the writer, from Job 14: 14. B. F. STUREMAN.

GIBBS.— Died in Vancouver, Wash., of consumption, Brother Judson C. Gibbs, at the home of his sister, Mrs. J. E. Thomas. He was born in the State of New York, May 12, 1852, and died Nov. 17, 1909, at the age of 57 years, 6 months, and 5 days. He and his family accepted present truth and were baptized with a number of others several years ago, when the writer held a series of meetings in the village of Dundee, Ore. He ever lived a consistent Christian life, standing firmly for the truths as held by Seventh-day Adventists, and died in the triumph of faith in a glorious resurrection at the appearance of a soon-coming Saviour. He talked as long as he had strength, to those who attended him, of those things which he loved, exhorting all to meet him in the kingdom of God. He leaves behind in loneliness and sorrow, a wife, two sons, one daughter, five brothers, and one sister. The thoughts presented at the funeral were based on John 11: 24. There are none who knew him and his triumphant death, that doubt that this text is true in his case. R. D. BENHAM.

TOLES.— Died at Washington, D. C., on Nov. 13, 1909, Sister Phillis Toles, aged sixty years. Sister Toles embraced the truths of the third angel’s message about five years ago, and joined the First Seventh-day Adventist Church in Washington. She lived a consistent Christian life in the fellowship of this church till the time of her death, though not permitted, owing to infirmity, to meet regularly with the church. Her husband, who was also a Sabbath-keeper, died about two years ago. The funeral was held in the First Seventh-day Adventist Church. The writer spoke words of comfort, from the words of Christ in John 11: 25, to the friends and relatives. As loving hands laid her away in the cemetery, amid fading flowers, the blessed hope of the resurrection lightened the prospects of the tomb. G. B. THOMPSON.

OLDS.— Charles Wesley Olds was born in Weathersfield, N. Y., March 23, 1832, and died in Glendale, Cal., Nov. 1, 1909. At the age of seventeen, he went to Wisconsin, where his parents settled in Little Prairie. In 1860 he was united in marriage with Miss Julia Anne Ewer, six daughters crowning their married life. Brother Olds accepted the views of the Seventh-day Adventists in the autumn of 1859, and was soon after ordained to the work of the ministry by Elder James White. He continued in the ministry until less than two years ago, when he came to California for his health. Although prevented from public labor, on account of advanced age and failing health, his interest in the progress of the work to which his life had been dedicated, never flagged. To the last he hoped to see his Lord return, but as he realized that he must bid farewell to earthly scenes, he said he was willing to rest for a time in the grave. A widow and five daughters remain to mourn their loss. The funeral was conducted by the writer, assisted by Elder E. E. Andross and Dr. B. E. Fullmer. J. O. CORLISS.

STEVENS.— Died at Santa Barbara, Cal., Nov. 1, 1909, after an illness of ten months, Hamlet C. Stevens, aged thirty-eight years and seven months. Brother Stevens accepted the Adventist faith in the fall of 1897, in Michigan, his native State. The following spring he connected with the Battle Creek Sanitarium, rendering faithful service there for a number of years. He then came to California, connecting with Loma Linda in its early struggles. He manifested great interest not only in the work at the sanitarium, but also in the surrounding communities, where in connection with his wife he did considerable missionary work. This was especially true in San Bernardino, where a number accepted the truth as a result of the labor performed. During his last sickness, he gave evidence of the presence and grace of God, bearing his suffering with patience, and expressing his submission to God’s will. He sleeps in Jesus, awaiting the coming of him who is the resurrection and the life. A father, four sisters, and a wife mourn their loss, but not without hope. Services and burial at San Bernardino, Cal. RODERICK S. OWEN.

BRISBIN.— Died at Iowa Circle Sanitarium, Washington, D. C., Sister W. L. Brisbin, in the forty-ninth year of her age. Sister Brisbin became a believer in the truth when a young girl in Wisconsin, her native State. In 1898 she moved to Cattaraugus County with her husband and little son Ray. She has ever been a faithful believer in the message, and her cheerful disposition and sterling qualities made her many friends. About a year ago she went to Alexandria, Va., where she soon began to fail in health, resulting in death Nov. 20, 1909, from valvular disease of the heart. Her remains were brought to her old home at Steamburg, N. Y. A large congregation attended the funeral. She was laid to rest by the side of her little daughter Margaret, who died about three years ago. Funeral discourse by the writer, assisted by Elder Peabody. F. H. HICKS.

CALL.— Died Nov. 22, 1909, at the James White Memorial Home, Battle Creek, Mich., Amy Sheldon Call. Sister Call was born in Onondago County, New York, Feb. 12, 1833. She embraced the faith of Seventh-day Adventists nearly forty years since, and was an exemplary Christian to the end. She came to the Home, July 28, 1898. She rests from her labors, awaiting the coming King. L. McCOY.

OATMAN.— Died at the home of her daughter at Memphis, Mich., Dec. 9, 1909, Mrs. Emeline Oatman, at the age of ninety years and five days. Sister Oatman was thirteen years of age at the time of the falling of the stars in 1833, and the memory of that event was fresh in her mind at the time of her death, and she had always cherished a fond hope of being one of the generation that would witness the Saviour’s return. Her remains were taken to the home of her son, Frank Oatman, and interment took place from his home at Otter Lake, in the Watertown Cemetery. Sister Oatman had lived a conscientious Christian life, and her hope seemed bright to the end, notwithstanding her advanced age. She was dearly beloved by a host of relatives and friends. E. K. SLADE.

BENSON.— Died at Newburg, Ore., Nov. 14, 1909, Jerome B. Benson, formerly from York State, aged 85 years, 6 months, and 24 days. He leaves a wife and two sons, two daughters, and many grandchildren to mourn, but not as the hopeless. Being infirm for a few years, he was unable to recover from a fall he received four days before he died. He died as he lived, with a firm hope in the message he had loved for fifty years. To witness the second coming of Christ without death had been his constant wish. But we had to lay him away until this gospel of the kingdom has consummated its work in the earth, when “what a gathering of the faithful that will be.” A few words of admonition and comfort were spoken from Num. 23: 10. “Who can count the dust of Jacob, . . . Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!” C. J. COLE.

TRIPP.— George W. Tripp was born in Steuben County, New York, April 24, 1826, and died of heart failure at College View, Neb., Dec. 9, 1909. He was thus nearly eighty-four years old. He married Nancy Jane Moore, and to this union were born four children. Their only son was Elder Byron Tripp, who was the leader of our first missionary party to the native heathen of the interior of Africa, and he gave up his life in that work. Mrs. Libbie Collins, clerk and librarian of the College View church, is the oldest daughter, and Mrs. Ida Budd, of Roseau, Minn., is the youngest. The other daughter died in infancy. Brother Tripp lived in New York during his early life, then moved to Pennsylvania for two years, and from there moved to a homestead in southern Minnesota, where he lived until about eight years ago, when he went to Roseau County, in the northern part of Minnesota. To that place his body was taken to rest beside his wife until the resurrection morning. He accepted the truths of the third angel’s message about thirty-three years ago. About three months ago he came to College View to live with his daughter, and by his kindly disposition and cheerful ways endeared himself to many friends, assisting his daughter regularly in the work of the tract society office. During the last few weeks of his life he had a very definite experience, and the Saviour was never so dear to him as during his last days. He was a sheaf fully ripe for the Master’s garner. Brief services were conducted by Elder F. M. Burg and the writer before the remains were taken to Minnesota for burial. C. C. LEWIS.