Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-05-06

TO have found field ripe for his sickle in
our good old neighborhood and Is gather
ing his harvest with unrelenting energy.
Within a few months an unusually large
number OF our old citizens have answered
to his summons. Within ten days no less
than three who have lived long, useful and
respected lives among us have gone down
into the "deep dark valley" and as we
write we hear of 9th ers who are "only
waiting" On Sunday OF last week, April
25, Michael Schenck, Sr., who had lived the
allotted "three score years and ten," in
this community, departed, following close
ly his lifelong companion, and leaving
behind him the fragrant memory of we'll
spent life. Mr.. Schenck was a member of
one of the Oldest families on the Bald Ea-
gle, and was ''laid beside his fathers" in
the family burying ground short distance
below the village. Old as Michael Schenck
was he left behind an uncle, Daniel Schenck,
who was a voter before Michael was born,
but who followed him to the same resting
place, but few days after, at the ripe age
of ninety-two years. Daniel Schenck was
born in Lancaster county, April 2, 1888,
and removed with his parents TO his late
home on the Bald Eagle in 1896. This
was then n wilderness, and was a part of
Mifiiin county, compelling the very few
inhabitants of these parts 10 journey all
the way TO Lewistown TO attend court.
From point of time at which the
Nineteenth century, now rapidly nearing
its close, was yet spoken Of as in the future,
until within few days back, Daniel
Schenck has toiled and labored on the
same farm, on the banks OF the beautiful
Bald Eagle and now calmly rests in his
last home on portion of the land from
which, as r boy, he helped remove the
grand old oaks which had held IL in un-
disputed possession for centuries. Mr..
Schencks life was one of honest toll, and
unpretentious piety. For more than sixty
years he was consistent member Of the
Mennonite church. and lived in strict
Observance Of all its ordinances. Mr..
Schenck was in no sense politician at
any period Of his life, but esteemed highly
the privilege Of franchise, and made
conscience Of voting at every election,
first with the Whigs and afterward with
the Republicans. His laborious and pru-
dent life was rewarded with abundant sue
cess, and he leaves four farms, now occu-
pied by his two sons His funeral, con-
Quoted by Rev. Mr.. Cars Of this place,
and Rev. Jno. Brubaker, venerable
preacher of the Mennonite faith, was very
largely attended Ly the relatives and
friends, 10 whom he had been "Tnclc
Daniel for 40 many years.
Scarcely had our community recovered
from the shock occasioned by the death Of
50 old and we'll known a citizen, before 1t
received another in the announcement, BY
telegraph, of the death of Miss Susan c.
Montgomery, daughter of the late Joseph
Montgomery. Miss Montgomery had for
some time been a sufferer from cancer, and
after seeking relief in vain from repeated
surgical operations, visited sister, Mrs.
Campbell, living near Bcllcvillc, Mihlin
county, for the purpose OF undergoing
special treatment there. This also proved
futile, and on Monday last, she gave up
the unequal struggle, and calmly yielded
to the great last enemy, in the ffty.si1ih
year Of her age. For near twenty-five
years Miss Montgomery had been an
active and jealous member oi the Lick
Ran Presbyterian church, and her loss in
this relation will prove only less irrepara-
Bile than that sustained by the family in
which she was held in such afTeciionate
esteem. Possessed Of a religious character
Of great purity; much more than ordinary
intelligence; great viyacity, and a never
ceasing flow of spirits, Miss Montgomery
was not only the life of the home circle,
but so pleasing a social campanion that
her death will leave void in the commu.
nifty that can never be filed She was
buried yesterday morning, and as her re-
lationship was very extensive, her funeral
was largely attended.
These deaths, so rapidly succeeding each
other, and following go close upon others
which have already been noticed in your
paper, cast a shade Of quiet over our COM
muniiy, and yet the busy hum of life goes
on.
Mr.. Lauth's improvements of the old
Howard Iron Works make rapid progress.
The new church built by him approaches
completion, and before many weeks will be
ready for dedication. New houses, barns
and fences, are being erected on all sides,
and changes intended TO facilitate the bus
iness of the establishment seem to be
of daily occurrence.
A nouu,Ia of xoupcr lad;ou dauuhtor aul