Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1895-05-10
CORNEIIIS W, HORES.

Cornelius Washington Hobbs was born
June ., 1896 at Norway, Me. In 1S47
he married Miss Lucy Hobbs of the same
town. To them three daughters were
born. S. Maria, married to \. F. Berry
and now residing in Portland, Me.
Mary E., the wife of f. +. Gonya. who
died November Z, 1876; Winnie r., the
wife of DR.. ]. IL. Linchan, residing mt
Island Pond. Mr.. Hobbs was one of the
original stockholders of the Atlantic and
St. Lawrence Railway Company, and
was one OF the first who entered into the
construction of the road. He came to
Island Pond in 1864, where his wife died
June l, 1880. He commenced running
on the road as brakeman, and after six
months service in that capacity was pro-
NOTED to that OF train conductor which
position he held until 1890 when failing
health compelled him to resign. He was
a charter member of Oxford Lodge, F. &
A. NJ, in his native town. He was
man of robust constitution, and so full
of life and vitality that his life was CON
tinued for five years many times beyond
hope, expectation or seeming POSSIBLE
ties, even surviving severe shock of
paralysis which completely Frustrated
him for twcnty-three weeks before and up
to the time of his death.
The terrors of death with all it's at,
tcndant imaginations of evil. Sombre,
mysterious and gloomy forms and beings
are fast vanishing before the rational
and cheerful light of intelligence and civil.
lization Death is an event which is
getting to be looked upon and met in
more consistent and philosophical manner
than formerly All are more and more
realizing that it is but a step in the pro-
cess of human destiny; and that it is only
a great natural evolution in the being of
each individual, so fixed and certain, and
regulated by such uncrring and exact
laws as to exhibit design which though
beyond humancomprehensiony yet eXcitcs,
even i'll terrestrial minds, wonder and adj
miration. At the same time we are ca
pable of comprchending some Of its eX-
act workings and many OF its apparent
purposes. 1t is oCcasioning less and less
apprehensions and gloomy mysterious
superStitions. AS we grow Older we
seem to be growing into ideas of more
continuous relations the better reconcil-
ing and adapting us to the conditions of
our own going. Perhaps this comes from
the fact that our associations and assoc-
ates are passing us and cOngrcgating be-
You'd us thus naturally attracting us
thither. When a friend dies we do not
now with unsecmly lamentations as the
heather do say he is lost, gone for ever,
but simply that the great transition has
occurred which, if our minds conform to
the conditions OF each case, brings peace
and rest to the dead and comfort to the
living. To be Indifferent to death or to
human responsibility is ignobe To en-
bitter life with SuperSttious fears is
imbecility.
We are freshly reminded of these things
by the death of our kind good friend, the
long time conductor towards whom the
faces OF friends and the travelling public
turned kindly for almost half century,
and whose life extended over nearly 20
years each of which was filled with kindly
offices to all. Death is teaching us much
of its philosophy through the decease of
our friend. Not so much in the silver Of
speech as in the golden silence in which
he lies so peacefully soothed and relieved
by that process through which come per-
feet rest and peace. He was kind and
indulgent father and husband, true, I'M
selfish and uncompromising friend. So
cialIy he was affable and unpretending,
pleasant, charitable and full of condo
scension, kindness and courtesy. AL
though suffering and battling for life
through long years, never was attilction
met with more ample compensations
than in his case. Everything which hui
man love or ingenuity could procure or
invent was furnished him. Care, which
cannot be purchased with money, medi-
cal skill. bestowed with most friendly de-
yotion, came to him as free as air and
more constant than sunlight. And even
death itself came with kindest considera-
ton. Its coming could not have been
t;melier, The wife of his youth was gone.
One child was sleeping beside the mother,
and all the other children were engaged
in new hopes and individuallite purposes,
but from which could be spared all the
care and consolation declining life could
wish. He was patient and cheerful i'll
suffering. He had no need to stay longer.
He felt so. 1t was his time to die. And
so death permitted his friends to look
upon his still face and form so wonder
fully like what he had been many years
before. And as they looked upon that
face so calm and liteike grateful hearts
said 1T is well. Some unseen power has
here done all things well" G.N.p,