Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-08-11
From the Cleveland Leader.
OBITUARY.

OBITUARY.
MISS BETSEY N. COwLEs.
On the 25th inst, MissBetsey NJ. Cowles.
prominent and well-known lady of Ash
tabula county, died at her residence, in
the ''old homestead" at ''the Center" in
Austinburgh, in the sixty-seventh year of
her age, after an illness OF one week.
In the death of Miss COwles, the commu-
nifty in which she has so long resided has
lost shining light, woman who graced
alike all social circles, from the most culti-
waited and Well-tO-do down to the humblest,
and one who has endeavored in her sphere
and in her quiet way to elevate the unfOr-
tunate and down-trodden,
Miss COwles was born in Bristol, Connec-
ticut, where her father, the Rev. DR.. Giles
Hooker Cowles, was pastor Of the Congre-
gatiOnal Church. In 1911, while she was
still an infant, he accepted a call to the
pastOrate of the church in Austinburgh,
and emigrated to that place with his fam
lily, consisting of his wife and eight child
ren, the Journey being accomplished in
thirty days, in a carriage and two wagons.
Mr.. COwles was first settled pastor in Aus
tinburgh, and he erected the first church
ornamented with steeple on the Western
Reserve, if not in Ohio. 1t was in the
midst of privations incidental to the life Of
a pioneer that Miss Cowles spent her early
days, and it was probably in great meas
ure owing to that circumstance that she
was indebted for her remarkably strong
mind, the great feeling of independence
that was her characteristic, her indOmita-
bic perseverance, and her sympathy for
those who were not much endowed with
this worlds goods.
When quite young, before she was out Of
her teens, Miss Cowles developed passion
for teaching, and she gratified her taste in
that direction by establishing and taking
charge of two infant schools, consisting of
pupils from four to twelve years of age,
one at the 'North End" of Austinburgh
and the other subsequently in the adjoin-
ing township Of Morgan. She had re-
markable faculty for imparting knowledge
to little children as well as to those of
more mature age, hence her great pOpu-
larity and success as a teacher. There are
many now living who remember, in spite
the lapse of nearly half century, the in
FAINT schools they attended and the teach
ings Of "Aunt Betsey"-by which endear-
ing name she was subsequently universally
called by her pupils and dfriends-when she
inculcated in her peculiar and thorough
manner the doctrine of Christian morals
and of our duty to all classes of our fellow
men. Subsequently she prepared herself
for the higher walks of teaching by gradu-
ating at Oberlin some forty years ago.
Since then she has had charge Of a number
of the upper grade of schools, among them
the young ladies department at Grand
River Institute, the Union School at Can
ton, Ohio, and the Seminary at Delhi, New
York. During her career as a teacher,
ending about twenty years ago, she showed
herself to be the same kindly and genial
instructress to all under her charge, and
literally made herself the companion of
her pupils; consequently she was looked
up to more as a mother or an aunt, and it
was this amiable trait in her character that
caused her to be called. by the loving name
of "Aunt Betsey."
She was a blessed and good woman, as
was truly shown by her work in the cause
of religion, the poor and helpless, the
down-trodden slave, of the gallant sick
and wounded during the war of the Rebel
lion, and in the cause Of education. 1t
will be hard for all who knew AUNT Bet
sey' to realize that her noble form, COM
manding presence and kindly and intellec-
tual face have passed away from this
world fOrever-only, however to enter
''that land Of pure delight" After hav-
ing suffered intense agony from the cruel |
disease with which she was afflicted, she |
calmly and imPerceptibly gave up her sPir-
it, surrounded by her loving and weeping |
her pastor was offering in her behalf.
The last work Miss Cowles was engaged !
in, previous to her death, was aiding in |
the building of the new Congregational |
church in Austinburg. 1t was mainly /
through her exertions that that strue- |
ture was erected, and at the time of her /
death it was finished with the exception of |
being painted, and it was the desire of all /
her friends that the funeral services be
held in ''the new church." and thus ap-
preciate the work she had done by having |
the first service in it held over her remains,
sad though it be. The funeral took place
in the afternoon of the 27th. The church
was filled by those who loved "Aunt Bet
sy" and mOurned her departure as though /
she was member of their household. The /
exercises were opened by the singing Of a /
solemn chant by the choir, after which a /
prayer was offered and a short and appro- |
pirate discourse was delivered by the Rev. |
Mr.. Nutting, the present pastor of the /
church. He was followed by the Rev. S.
w. Streetor of SaybroOk, who was the
former pastor Of the church at Austinburg
and who had been intimately acquainted
with the deceased for over a third Of a cen
tury. He delivered most affecting dls-
course, eulOgizing the character OF MISS
CoWles. At times he was so aHeeted as al
most to choke his utteraneeS; lie alluded
feelinglv to the work accomplished by her
in the anti-slayery cause, at time when 1t
was considered to be reproach to be en-
gaged in such work. He showed the be-
5eTolence of her nature and of her con-
stantly performing acts Of kindness. The
reverend speaker dilated in an eloquent
manner on the good influence welded by
Miss Cowles, which was felt from the At
antic to the Pacific, wherever her pupils
had settled" Never was there a more
truthful, more appropriate and a more
deserving eulOgy delivered on the chaFao-
.er Of a woman than the affecting and
discourse delivered over the re-
mains of Betsy NJ. Cowles, by her former
beloved pastor and friend. Quoting the
language of dear friend Of hers, ''No bet
.er woman ever hvedl No whittier or purer
spirit ever entered the abode Of souls
After the funeral services We're over, the
remains were inferred in the Pioneer ceme-
Try at the Centre, in the midst Of five gener,
ltions Of her kindred whom she had loved
and who had loved her.
Miss Cowles was a sister Of Of the late DIR.
E. w. Cewies, Of this city, and an aunt OF
Mr.. Alfred Cowles. of the Chicago Tribune,
n Judpe Samuel Cowles, Of San Francisco,
and of Mr.. Edwin Cowles, Of this city.
A MARTYR TO SCIENcE.-A Burlington