The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-07
FORETOLD HIS OWN DEATH.
A Port Jeryis Preacher Who Prepared His
Own Funeral o,ctmon.

PoRT JERvIs, n Y, July Gin the New
York papers, few days ago, appeared the par
ticulars of singular affair at Valley Cottage,
Rockland county. John Ryder, one of the prom
inent residents of that place, one day not long
ago, made up his mind to die, and die he did,
after predicting his taking off to his friends and
relatives. signing his will, and engaging an I'M
dertaker.
"Now all this seems very singular to per
son" said Squire James Allerton, of this viii
lage "but am prepared to believe that it is an
actual fact I can tell you of more singular
case than that in which death was predicted for
q long time ahead
an 1874 my father the Rev. Isaac Alerton,
then in his ninetieth year. who had been living
with me for time, went to Chicago on a visit
to one of his sons He returned along IN the
summer to Port Crane, Broome county, where
another son was living. During the hot days OF
July and August he suffered very much from
the heat. One day in the latter month he as
tonished his sons family by announcing that on
a certain day in the coming February IN 1879 he
would pass to the other world Although the
family tried in every way to rid him of the pc
culiar idea, he insisted that his prediction would
prove true He calm and composed, and
said something seemed to tell him that his final
dissolution was near at hand
Accordingly he set about to write his fare
of his death would be Monday. On the day be-
FORE Sunday ne would deliver the farewell SER
mon which he was preparing, and on the follow
ing Wednesday he would be buried The sermon
was to he a review of his life work and his relig-
ion, and he spent great deal of time upon 1t.
The title Farewell to Earth He also Sc
lected a spot in the graveyard where he wished
90 be buried and staked IL out, also making all
the necessary preparations for his funeral. He
even went so far as to have the remains of his
wife removed from Port Jervs, where she
buried, to the Port Crane burying ground.
'As the summer waned and fall spent itself
there was nothing in the appearance of father
that would seem to indicate the approach of the
silent messenger AT times he would appear
grave and thoughtful, and would talk to his
family of religious matters, but usually he was
lively and went about in good health. You must
not forget that at this time he was almost four
score and ten, but he was unusually active Well,
as the time neare1 for his death, as predicted, he
assured bis friends that the prediction was cor
rect, and that he would pass away he had
foretold. But no had made a slight error in
some way and he died on Sunday, the day he
was to preach his farewell sermon, instead of on
Monday the day he had fixed upon as the day
of his death.
Another singular thing about it was that the
day on which he died was also his ninetieth
birthday, and as near as could be decided upon
Che hour of his birth and the hour of his death
were identical. Father was not sick or in pain
at any time after he predicted his death. nor
when the end was reached. He simply laid
back his head said he was going, and died.
There have been other singular cases in this
section notably that of Mr. Thomas Van Etten,
father of levi Van Etten of this town, who pre-
dicted his death. In this instance it was only q
short time before death