The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-01-22
From the New York Tribune.1
Death Of Rev. Lyman Beech
er, ID. ID.

The venerable Rev. DR.. Lyman Bsecher
died at his residence in Brooklyn on Satur-
day evening last, aged s7-nearly one year
older thin the Declaration Of Independence
His funeral will be hell at the Rev. Henry
Ward Bssch.r's Church on Wednesday next
at o'clock, p. m. The Rev. DR.. Leonard
bacon, OF New Haven, is expected to preach
the discourse Of the occasion. On Thursday,
the remains, at the request of ths deceased
will be carried to New Haven, and buried by
the side of Rsy. Dr. Taylor, the distinguish
ei Connecticut theologian.
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 to
tsrry so long. Several months ago the al.
most total extinction of his faculties gave
token Of what, in an ordinary physical con-
ssitution. would have proved speedy disso-
fulton. But, owing to an unusual, inherited
vigor Of frame, his body outlved his mind,
adding latest years even moro than the or.
dinary heplessness Of second childhood
For months past, at long periods, he has
been unable to recognize his own children,
yet showing. all the while, unusual physical
strength, and entire freedom from disease or
pain; walkin up and down the house in a
strange obliviousness of the strong and te.
nacious life which he still lived About a
fortnight before his death he was confined to
his bed, lying mostly in continuou, sleep.
broken only At brief intervals, when he was
purposely aroused. On the morning OF the
last day, he was aroused with difficulty,
showing that the waning consciousness had
almost entirely vanished. Falling again in.
fes slu,nber. which became as peaceful az
child's, he fingered until about o'clock in
the afternoon, when he glided so gently out
OF life that the watchers who stood over him
could not determine the precise moment Of
his death. Thus. iq the fulness Of years,
and long after he had ended his labors, he
sqtsrsd into bis rest,
In the absence of any existing biography
Of DR.. Beecher (though we may here men.
tion that one has long besn in preparation
by his son Charlss, and is apw nearly CON-
gleted. inclpdpgan autobiography, " grosp
together, somewhat to hastily for oar salts
faction, oil the leading. and some Of the mi.
nor, incidents Of his distinguished career
Lyman Beecher vas born in New Haven,
Oct. -, l775-not September, as stated in
the Brief Memoirs of the Class of 1897"
pf Yale College. His father, David Beecher,
Was blacksmith, whose strong, positive
character, whose many eccentrioities, and
whose great, dark eyes. (said to have been
the most beautiful in Connecticut gave him
. celebrity in all the coantry round. The
house still stands in which he lived--a me-
mortal Of the Colonial days; and, about SIX
years ago, the old man. accompanied by his
Brooklyn son, paid visit to the homestead,
drinking each others heal h frnm the ancient
we'll, which it's roof covers, dug At the frst
ssttlement Of New Haven. The Doctor took
pride in pointing out the spot where his
hthsr's anvil stood, ia tho summer time, un-
der the famous trse IN whose shade the first
congregation Of settlers gathered to hear
their ministers first sermon in that soil.
sudej
The eccentric blacksmith-the grandfath-
sr Of what now are known Is The Beschers
--had no less than Ave wives, Of whom the
fourth was the mother Of LYMAN. who dad
fsw days aftsr his birth. Tho babe, pre-
..ta1'ly ssr.. ..a weighing s.;lly h ssssds.