Fayette County Genealogy Project

Death Notices with Fayette County connections - from the
Pittsburgh Christian Advocate 1842-1866
Contributed by Roy Lockhart

Pittsburgh Christian Advocate.
Pittsburgh, Wednesday, November 19. 1845.
Vol. XII.---No. 44. Whole No. 616
Page 175, Column 2
Obituary.
MARY MATLICK.
Mary Matlick departed this life on Saturday evening, the 28th of June, 1845, in the 39th year of her age, her body ripe for the grave and her soul for heaven. She was born in Fayette county, Pa. From thence her parents removed to Preston County, Va., where she was strictly brought up in the observance of the doctrines and rites of the Presbyterian church. Though in early life she was bereft of her father, yet that God who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb, sustained her in that sad bereavement and soon compensated her loss by adopting her in a religious family. She was married to Wil iam [sic] Matlack, who has proved to be a kind and affectionate husband. After becoming the mother of a family she seemed to have her mind much placed on the subject of religion, which was brought on by the death of a beloved child. In the fall of 1835 they moved from their former residence to a place near Evansville, which was in a newly inhabited neighborhood. Religion was then at a very low ebb There was a little class consisting of about ten members, which met weekly at the house of James Jefferys, called the Jeffery's class, his doors then being open for the reception of Methodist preaching. They were taken into the circuit and had regular preaching. Sister Matlick became inter ested [sic] in attending their meetings in April 1837, the Rev. George Monroe then travelling [sic] the circuit. She went to hear him preach, and under his preaching she became more fully sensible of her lost condition. She earnestly sought and satisfactorily obtained the salvation of God in Christ, by the remission of sins and the renewal of the soul in the image of God by the power of the Holy Ghost through faith. She then united herself with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which she adorned the doctrine of God her Saviour by a godly walk and holy conversation, holding the test mony [sic] of a good conscience. As a wife she was attentive, obedient, loving and respectful, which met a return of honor and respect from her husband. In her were found all a mother's care, solicitude and affection, as well as a kind and upright neighbor. By her the house of God was remembered and visited. In her was the temple and habitation of the holy one of Israel, who was a hiding place and refuge through the journey of life During the last two years of her life she was afflicted with a pain in the head. She took the typhus fever, weich [sic] closed the voy age [sic] of mortal life. She was the mother of seven children, four sons and three daughters, three of whom are now in the kingdom of glory. Sister Matlick has left a husband and four children to mourn their loss, with a large circle of friends and acquaintances. She was a woman beloved by all who knew her--a woman whose life is worthy the imitation of all. Well might it be said of her that she was a waymark for the kingdom. She strictly adhered to the directions Paul gave to Titus concerning the things he should teach. She spake evil of no man and was now a brawler, but gentle, showing meekness unto all persons. The Methodist church has lost one of her most worthy members, yet may her life and death prove instrumental in the hands of God in raising up scores of others to fill her place. May God help the surviving friends to be also ready, lest he should come in an hour they think not.
LEWIS JEFFERYS.
Preston Co., Va , Oct. 29th 1845.

Pittsburgh Christian Advocate.
Pittsburgh, Wednesday, February 7, 1849.
Vol. XVI.---No. 6. Whole No. 785.
Page 46, Columns 1-2
OBITUARY.
LEAH JANE RITENOUR.
Departed this life, in glorious triumph, Jan. 20, 1849, in Brandonville, Preston Co., Va., Mrs. Leah Jane Ritenour, daughter of John P. and Hannah Sturgis, of Uniontown, Pa.
Sister Ritenour was converted to God un- [column 2] der the preaching and administration of the Rev. George S. Holmes, in 1832, and joined the M. E. Church in the eleventh year of her age; in which she continued to be a pious member until she was called to join the blood-washed church in heaven. She was nurtured by pious parents, and sent at five years old to the Sabbath school, where so many have been taught of God. She spent twelve years in the school as a teacher, excepting a short time she was with her brother, Rev. A. G. Sturgis, in Ohio.
She was married to Mr. Wm. M. Ritenour March 2, 1847, and removed to Preston Co., Va., where she was much loved by those who became acquainted with her. She was sick 24 days, with puerperal fever, during which time she had the attention of kind friends and good physicians; and what was better than all, God was with her, and his rod and his staff comforted her.
During the last week of her life she was happy while anticipating her end. We have not space to tell all she said to her friends. She bid them all farewell, and made them promise to meet her in heaven, telling them not to mourn for her, "but to look up on high and believe she was there, when she was gone." Her last words, only a few moments before she departed, were, "Praise the Lord, O my soul ; let all that is within me praise his holy name;" "Glory ! glory ! hallelujah !" and when she could no longer speak, she lifted up her hand in token of victory through the blood of the Lamb.
Thus lived and died one of the lovers of Jesus. She has left her husband and babe to lament her early death. May God bless them, with her aged parents, and prepare them all to meet her in heaven.
Her remains were brought to this place, and laid beside her brother's, to await a glorious resurrection.
S. E. BABCOCK.
Uniontown, January, 1849.
[The above obituary peculiarly affects us. We were acquainted with the amiable subject of it almost from her childhood, as we made our home for a length of time in her father's family.
"Friend after friend departs ;
Who hath not lost a friend ?"
The Lord sanctify the afflictions of that often bereaved family to their spiritual good.--ED.]

Pittsburgh Christian Advocate.
Pittsburgh, Tuesday, March 22, 1859.
Vol. XXVI.---No. 12. Whole No. 1247.
Page 48, Column 4
DIED, in Brandonville, Preston Co., Va , on the evening of the 30th of January, 1859, in the 38th year of her age, Mrs. ELIZABETH KIMBERLY.
Sister K. was born in Fayette county, Pa. She was the subject of bodily affliction for eighteen or twenty years, but amidst all her afflictions she maintained her Christian integrity. She lived up to her profession, making religion the one great leading and controlling business of her life. She was truly a bright and shining light. She was unassuming in her manners, faithful (when health would allow) in her attendance upon the means of grace, and possessed the confidence of the entire community. In her daily deportment the Christian character shone forth with more than ordinary excellency and beauty. She was a member of the M. E. Church for about twenty years.
A day or two previous to her decease, as the writer and some other religious friends were singing by her sick bed,
"How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith, in His excellent word," &c.,
her heart grew warm with the theme; and though very weak and rapidly failing, while her husband and children were weeping over her, she raised her hands in holy triumph, and shouted aloud the praises of her Redeemer; said she saw, by faith, "the Lamb on Mount Zion," and longed "to depart and be with Christ."- And when the time of her departure was at hand, she gave her last counsels to her husband and children, commending them to the care of her Saviour; and the words, "Glory! glory!" dwelt upon her tongue while her happy spirit struggled away from its tenement.-- Thus lived and died one of the brightest gems that adorned the Church among us. F. BALL.
[See marriage notice below.]

Pittsburgh Christian Advocate.
Pittsburgh, Tuesday, October 28, 1862.
Vol. XXIX.---No. 44. Whole Number 1435.
Page 176, Column 3
SUSAN H., wife of Amos A. Vandervort, died in peace at her residence in Preston Co., Va., on the 17th of September, 1862.
Sister Vandervort was born in Fayette county, Pa., July 27th, 1827. She was a subject of religious impressions in early youth, and under their benign influence was led to give her heart to God, and to connect herself with the M. E. Church, of which she continued a faithful member until she was transferred to the Church above. She always envinced great pleasure in having the preachers visit her and her family, and in ministering to their wants. Her religious experience was satisfactory. She frequently admonished and exhorted her friends to live for heaven. A little time before she passed away she was asked if she saw her way clear to heaven. She replied: "O yes; I am almost there." Her end was peace. She leaves a husband, who is now in his country's service, and three small children to sorrow, but not without hope.
G. W. ARNOLD.

Pittsburgh Christian Advocate.
Pittsburgh, Saturday, March 12, 1864.
Vol. XXXI.---No. 11. Whole Number 1503.
Page 44, Column 3
CAPT. JACOB G. COBURN died at Hillsborough, Pocohontas county, West Virginia, on the 24th of November, 1863, of wounds received at Droop Mountain, in the engagement under Gen. Averill, November 6th, 1863.
The subject of this brief sketch was born in Preston county, West Va., on the 24th of January, 1823, and was married to Miss M. J. Jefferis, near Uniontown, Pa., on the 13th of September, 1849. He was converted to God in early youth, and joined the M. E. Church, of which he continued a faithful and devoted member until his death. He was serving the church in the capacity of class-leader when he entered the military service of his country. At the introduction of our national troubles he took the high ground in favor of the Union. The writer of this well remembers, at a meeting held in the court house at Kingwood, he proposed for the action of the meeting, "In defense of our Union, we pledge our property, our lives, and our sacred honor." Directly after, he volunteered in the service of the Government, and was promoted to the captaincy. He was greatly esteemed by his compatriots in arms, and saw much hard service, being in the battles of McDowell, Cross Keys, Slaughter Mountain, Rappahannock Station, Lee's Springs, Waterloo Bridge, the second Bull Run, and Droop Mountain. After he was wounded he wrote his wife, "I am resigned to the will of God, and can say, thy will, O Lord, be done."
Capt. Coburn was kind and faithful in all the relations of life. In his death his wife has lost a good husband, the church a faithful member, and the country one of its most courageous and devoted defenders. But he rests where war's rude alarms will disturb him no more--in the mellow light of the throne.
G. W. ARNOLD.

Pittsburgh Christian Advocate.
Pittsburgh, Saturday, April 14, 1866.
Vol. XXXIII. No. 16
Page 64, Column 4

THOMAS ANDERSON, of the McCoy's appointment, Fairview circuit, was born in Fayette county, Pa., October 15, 1808, born again March 10th, 1828, entered into rest January 26th, 1866.
His religious experience was distinct and satisfactory from the day of his espousal to Christ until the termination of his pilgrimage. He was held in high esteem as a citizen and member of the church. Having held the office of Justice for eighteen years, and re-elected for the seventh term, and in the church the offices of steward, trustee, and class-leader for thirty-one years, he was not one to hide his light, but wherever he was, acknowledged Christ. Christ did not forsake him in the dying hour. His own words were, "Death has no terror for me: I have fought a good fight." To his wife who asked. "Is the valley of death dark?" "No, it is lit up." Thanks be unto God who gave him the victory. W. D. STEVENS

Return to Obituaries Index

Return to Main Index