The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1888-10-19
Obituary..

The sudden death Of Mr.. Edwin .ayley
week, has cast deep gloom over the en-
tire community, and plunged his family
into the depths Of q great affection. For
some weeks past, ana n the day Of his
death, until within a very few moments
before 1t took place, he had seemed to be
toward home from the direction of South
Newbury, about 8 o'clock on Thursday, he
fell unconscious in his carriage and was
taken quickly into the house of John Heath,
his life being so nearly extinct that he
scarcely breathed again. Medical aid was
promptly summoned and anxious friends
soon at his side, bit 1t was too late; he was
or recall. His family who were absent
from town were at once informed of their
| terrible affection, but could not reach home
for many. hours. Meantime his remains
were tenderly cared for by friends, whose
hearts were heavy with pity for the bereav-
ed family and with sense Of personal
loss. The real cause Of his sudden decease
Is not definitely known, but certain facts
give some intimat;on of it. The day pre-
vious he had done work which was alto
gether too severe for him, and about fifteen
minutes before his death he attempted to
IproOt a tree for transplanting, which he
suddenly abandoned as worthless, although
as has since been found it was every way
sound aud suitable for that purpose, hence
1t Is supposed that he was at last stricken
with apOplexy, of which he had possibly
some premonitiOn while digging at the tree
by the road side. Mr.. Bayley was born in
Newbury in 1920, and was therefore at the
When youth of about IL years, he began
business as clerk in a country store in the
town of COrinth, going from there to Post
Mills to engage in the same occupation.
Subsequently he pursued the mercantile
business in Boston and went from there to
of his active business life. Upwards of
twenty years ago he retired from business
and returned to his native town to spend
the remainder of his days. Mr.. Bayley be-
longed TO a family which has always held
an hOnOred place in the history OF Newbury
being descendant of the fourth generation
of Gel. Jacob Bayley, one OF the first Sc tiers
of the town. In personal character he was
always known and hOnOred as man o;
rare integrity and uprightness. His adher-
ence to the dictate of his conscience regard
ing truth and right, was simply unyielding,
and his influence for good was positive. so
great was his adherence of everything low
and vile, that he was always open and pro-
nounced in his denunciatiOn OF it. He was
one of the very few who dare to call an evil
by its right name, and openly declare for
the right according to his convictions, even
though it Shout put him in the minority.
Original and frank in his manner, he was
yet generous and kind in his impulses, and
won for himself hosts OF friends by his
warm sympathy and ready helpfulness.
No man could be taken from the community
who would be so missed and mOurned by
his neighbors and by all in the place. as
Edwin Bayley will be. Although he had
never connected himself with any branch
of the church OF Christ, he had for many
years given gratifying evidence of christian
character. He was strict in his observance
of family worship, regular in his attendance
upon the services of the church and hearty
in his moral and pecuniary support of
them. Many expressions in his public
prayers are remembered as peculiarly sug-
gestive of the uncertainty of human life.
So apt were some of these of late, that,
now that he is gone, they seem almost pro-
phetc of what was to come to him. Though
sudden and crushing as is tits great affiic-
ton to his friends, it is a source of comfort
that he was spared the pain of death and
the anguish OF parting. AS friend writes
to the bereayed family, Going out of the
world in this way can hardly be called
dying He was not for God took him."
and was attended by throng of relatives
and friends from all the region around |
Newbury. Appropriate scripture selections |
were read, followed by brief remarks and |
prayer and the following hymns, favorites of |
Mr.. Bayley, were sung: "Nearer My God to |
Thee, ""Beyond the Smiling and the Weep |
ing'' and ''Rock of Ages" He leaves a |
wife and one son, E. A. Bayley of this
place, to mourn his loss, and in a two-fold
sense the whole community are afflicted in
their affiiction. s.L.B.