Litchfield enquirer., 1863-01-15
DEATH-ePT ePTHEREy. LYMAN BEECH

Elk, U. D.
 The venerable Rev. Dr. Lyman Beechef died ut his residence in Brooklyn on Saturday evening last. ng-d S7-nearIy one year older than the Dc, laration of Jndepen. snce. His funeral Was held at the Rev Henry Ward Beeclleris Church yesterday (Wedsesday) last. at o'clock r. tn. The Rev. Dr. Le0nard Ba- con of New Haven is expected 10 jr.ach the discourse on the occasion. On ThuIsday. the rtn'aiils, at the request of the deceased will be carried tO New Haven. and buried by the side Of tine Rev. Dr. Tayiog, the distinguished Connecticut theologan
 ' The death of sO aged . man strikes no one with surprise. In fact. to his relatives and friends. the surprise was that he was able te tarry SD long. Several months ago. the almost total extinction of his faculties gave token of what, in an ordinary physical constitution. would haze proved 2 speedy dissolution. Hut. owing te zil unusual inherited vig0r of frame, his betly outlived his mind. adding last year even u,urs than the ordinary helplessness of second childhood. For months past, at long periods, he has been unable tU recognize his own children. yet showing. all the while. un"- sual 1abysieai strength and entire freedom from .lisease or pain; walking ID and down the house in d strange UlliviOusness of the strong aa'd tenacious life which he still lived. About Il fortnight before his death, h.. was confined to his bed, lying mostly in a continuous sleep broken only at brief intervals, when he was purln,st ly aroused. On the morning of the last day. he was aroused with difficulty. show. that the waning consciousness had almost en- tirrly vanished. railing again into aslumber : which became as peaceful as . child's. he lin. gered till about o'clock ia the afternoon, when he glided so gently out ot life that the watchers who stood over him could not deter. mine the precise momeut of his death. Thus in the failness of years and long after he had ended his lahors. he entered into his rest.
 In the absence of any existing biography of pr neecner l'hough we may here mention th;st one aias long been in preparation by his son Als,rles and is now nearly comrlsted in. c!u,i'rg an autobiography. We group together somewhat too hastily for our satisfaction ait the leading. and Some of the minor, incidents of his distinguished career.
 Lyman Beecher was born in New. Haven, Oct, l2, l575-nOt September. as stated in the Brief Memoirs of the Class of l795:" Oe Yale College. His father, David Beecher, was blacksmith. whose strong. positive character whose many eccentricities and whose great dark eyes (said to have been the most beauti- iul in Cunnecticut) gave him a celebrity in all Ihe country round. The house still stan in which he 9ived-a memoria; of the Colonial days and, about six years ago, the olG man acc. mpa'.ird by his Brooklyn Son, paid visit tu h. homestead, drinking ca, h others h, alt'l from the ancient well which it's root covers dug at the first settlement of New Haven. The Doctor took pride in pointing out the spot where Il s fathers anvil stood in the summer time. under the famous tree in whose shade the first cunyresat,On of settlers gathered to hear their minister's first sermon in that solitude!
 Inc eccentric blacksmitl-the grand ati,er of what new are known as The Be. thrr- nu ]. ss than five wives, of whom the fourth Was the mother of Lyman. who died Il few days after his birth. The babe. premaiuie'y. boin. aud weighing on y 33 poxnds,wns shown 10 his mother. who r-fl-ctng, as the Doctor after ward Said, that such creature coull he oi n" to his father. gave him away to bis mothers sister. Mrs. Lnt Bentop of North Guiiiurd. He Was such Tom Thumb for size that he was ofleh set, for exhibition. into silver tankur,i-nn indiaEity for which he aittrwarh t".k a brave revenge on all wine tu!s! Pity" said ihe aeigh bo,s who looked without hope d, the puny face for two or three ,etr.. pity that the little sickly th'ny did not i"l!uw it's moiler into the graye!' But Gods fa-er touched the weakling tili Ae waxed s,rung for A long life and d grei,t wSIk. l. As a boy he WIS trained to EirIi work ex Pectlng to be A farmer. My uncle.' sad the Durtor and ile 4iIea r, eattd the ru,alk. deslairrd after lohg trial rf my cOminp to al, y4hng as a fuam-r, and finally concluded that Was good for nothing bu: to be eddica ted So, one day wheh l was in the apple ol. hard, at work. my unl said T yulan. w,Nld you like to ga to cpl eg-? made uo answer and neither ot us sI..ke another word oD the subj, ct that day. The next day. when we both were at work in the orchard. broke ahe silence I,y answering Yes. uncle. weud like to go to college" Not word fur on ,ale subject was said i,y either of us, hut went to cuiegei"
 This Uncle Lot Benton was the original of Mrs. S,owes' Uncle Iim.' in the :" May. fl .wer."
 During his college career, he earned no dis ai..ct,ol ty scholarly requirements. hut was ear. Y ,so' c ~i as Il rt,nsrkahle vigorous ani or ginal tn nker aid reas4 nsr. In il d. bate uE Baptism. stated a,llong the stu.lsnis. lle took tue Baptist side because he said. nv one tas' would ,ake it." &hHiDg the victcry over al she stHtrpas, he forced his op pOnenis to borrow q tutor to help their side. but ile tutor hims 'lf Wa signominioiislv beaten. Them said the Doctor, "Presd.nt Dwight came and took hold vf my argument. and very socn sh, eded tt at out lut,he student who could thus lh discussion. vanquisn everybody im the college except it's President. was alrea. dy ularked f,l inevitable future fame.
 During.his college life, one night while sleeping ntar window that had lost pane of glass he was awakened by noise. and turning hlseyes toward the window SAW a thief staa- ding .ut,ihe. reaching his hand through the hole aud drawing out the s!eppers coat and trowstr-, which had been. thrown across q char near ,he sash. Instantly learing out of bed aud out 1.-the window. the half naked student tut after the scamp, caught him aftrr hard run. dragged him hack step by stepto the house. fo,ced him into the bedroom, where he shut him fast all night and next morning took him brtoEe Il magistrate. The .culrit then made the customary plea of being the wrong man, and that some other had stolen the clothes. The magistrate, Ike Democratic judge, willing to favor vagsbonds. asked his accuser, :. Did you. for single moment. lose sight Of this man while pursuing himfs " Yes. but only for a single moment while he turned corner ' was the reply. Then you cannot establish his identity.' said the judge and must let him go. This acqutial al ways made the Doctor indignant. whenever afterward he related tn incident violating his se,lse of justice.