Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-07-31

DEATH OF MRS. LYDIA B. HoTCHKISS, AN
AGED MOTHER IN IsRAEL."-Mrs. Lydia B.
Hotchkiss, mother ofMaJ. N. H. Hotchkiss and
Maj. Jed. Hotchkiss of this city, peacefully fell
"asleep in jesus at the residence of Maj. N.
n. Hotchkiss at half past O'Clock last Satur-
day afternoon at the very advanced age OF "
years, 7 months. and % days, and was buried
in Thornrose Cemetery at O'Clock Sunday af'
ternoon, beside her daughter-in-law, the wife
of Maj. N. n. Hotchkiss, with whom she lived,
who was buried just a week before
The funeral services took place in the NJ. t.
Church South. and were conducted, at the re-
quest of the deceased, by the Presiding Elder
Rev. ]. c. Dice, assisted by Rev. J. E. Booker
Pastor of the End Presbyterian church. In &C.
cordance with the request of the deceased, the
text upon which Rev. Mr.. Dice founded his dis
course was Job XIV 14-"If a man die, shall
he live again? all the days of my appointed
time will wait, till my change Gomez
She was probably the Oldest methodist in this
country. She was converted at the tender age
off years, and was connected with the church
on her eighth birthday, and, consequently, had
been, at the time of her death, a methodist for
about eighty years. From her tender infancy
to her remarkably advanced age she illustrated
the virtues of q truly christian character. She
good mental faculties which she retained to
the time of her DEATH Death had no terrors for
her. but was welcomed as a messenger who
summoned her to leave a comfortable home on
earth for entrance into blissful homein heav-
en-. She awaited the summons with christian
hope and patience, and calmly gave directions
as to her burial, designating the text Of the fu-
neral sermon, and requesting her granddaugh-
tiers, not to wear the ''sable habiliments of
VICE." but to array themselves in spotless
white, emblematic of the purity of the saints
and the home to which she was going. A short
time before her departure, she said that she
was "going home" and her last hours were
spent in singing the hymns of her choice, some
of which she learned in her youth. Maj. N. H.
Hotchkiss was dutiful son to his mother, to
whom he was greatly devoted, and of whom
he always spoke with pride and affection. His
mother was theme on which he spoke with
the simple but touching eloquence of deep and
sincere affection. He is doubly bereaved, hav-
ing lost within a week both his wife and moth
er, and he and the other members of his fami-
ly, as also those of his brothers, have the SIM
cere sympatlnies of the whole community.
The pall-b bearers were wv. H. Weller, J. w.
Newton, H. NJ McIlhany, W. j. Nelson, G. B.
Somerville, A. M. Simpson, W. W. Gibbs, and
]. H Blackley.
DEATH OF MRS. MARY E. VARNER.-Mrs
Mary. E. Warner, daughter of VIM. and Rebec-
ca Grove. and wife of Mr.. Nathaniel Macon
Warner, who has been for ten years compost
tor in this Office, died at her residence in this
city, after brief and painful illness, last Sum
day morning at o'clock, aged IS years, s
months, and Is days.
In consequence of the early decomposition of
the body, the burial took place on Sunday
evening at O'Clock in Thornrose Cemetery.
The funeral was from the Baptist church, and.
in the absence Of the Pastor. Rev. ]. NJ. Frost.
the services were conducted by Rev. John b.
Taylor, who preached from the text: Psalms
CXIX: 75-"I know, Q Lord, that Thy judy
ments are right, and that Thou in faithfulness
hast afflicted me-"
The health of the deceased had been quite
delicate for some years, but within the past
year seemed to have been improved, SO that
her death was unexpected. She was not taken
ill till the evening before the morning of her
death, and the sudden and unexpected stroke
of aff1iction as consequently greater shock
to her devoted husband, now wifeless and
childless, than it would otherwise have been.
He has the deep and sincere sympathy of all
his friends, and they are many. for his ire
proachable character, amiable disposition, gen.
tlemanly demeanor, and fidelity to all the du-
ties imposed uron him, have secured for him
the regard and friendship of all his acquain-
tances.
The pall-bearers were 1T. N. Argenbright,
VIM. c. Straughan, VIM. M. Simpson, Charles
L. Weller, T. j. Crowder, and E. Northnagle.