Norwich bulletin., 1914-02-21

Edwin Miner, who died Thursday afternoon in Moosup, where he mado his home with his brother, John Mill ner. always had interest in Westerly where he spent his boyhood and early manhood and he said on his last visit here. Although I reside in Aoosup l always feel that Westerly is my home" He has been a frequent visitor here ever since he engaged in business elsewhere some thirty years ago and has always kept in close touch with the town. As a director Of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company, he showed interest in the new railway station. the new freight depot, the elimination of the Canal street crossing and the gen eral improvement and changed aspect of the railroad property and its sur roundings. But for the efforts of Mir, Milner, Westerly would not be favored with one of the most complete and handsome passenger stations on the New Haven road. He took personal in rerest in this matter and as he put it for my home town,'
 Here in Westerly he has done much for some Of his oldtime acquaintances who were honest, industrious, but un- fortunate in the work-a-day life. It was NIr. Milner who provided the tow CT of Christ Episcopal church in Wes- terly and placed therein as line chimes as could be obtained. The tower was dedicated to his friend Rouse Babcock and. the chimes bear this self-explan- atory inscription:
 TO the most high praise to the Triune God and in f11ial and blessed memory of John and Charlotte Mil ner,, 1869-18e2"
 There was brief dedicatory service in Christ church on the morning of August 25, 1905. Rev. William F. Will liamss rector of the church, announced that $hn 0niTpaa aH church by Edwin Miner, of Moosup, in memory of his parents John and Charlotte Dews MiIner. immediately after the formal dedication, Chester H. Meneely of the Meneely Bell company rendered 8 program of seven numbers and in the evening there was another concert of twenty three selections. The donor of the tower and the chimes was not known to the public until announcement was made by the rec tor at the dedicatory service, MT. Mil ner, after leaving Westerly, retained his membership in Christ Episcopal church.
 It is not generally known that Ed ward Ailner was the first to suggest a park for Westerly. While the Memo rial building was in course of con- Struction MT. Milner suggested the pur- chase of the Babcock property to Ste phen Wilcox and expressed willingness to bear one-half the expense. The pro- ject was favored by MT. Wilcox and an unsuccessful effort made to pur- chase the property for park purposes. Mrs. Wilcox knew the desire of her husband in that respect and, after his death, with conditions changed, she purchased the Babcock and other prop critics and Wilcox park came into exist ence- Mir. Miner contributed to the erection Of the Memorial and Library building, but Mrs. Wilcox donated the park as a memorial to her husband.
 Mrs. Nancy M. Celia, wife of Louis |. Celia, died at her home in Liberty street late Thursday afternoon in her
 S4th year MT. and Mrs. Celia were born in Italy and came to Pawcatuck
 over forty years ago, and are among
 the best known residents. By their thrift and careful living they saved sufficient to invest in several pieces of real estate of value, and also reared
 and educated large family Mrs. 1 Celia is survived by her husband, sev- eR sons and three daughters, and her 1 death is the first to occur in the fam 1 fly. Mrs. Celia was in her usual good ! health until last Wedn esday, when she ate some canned corn that resulted in ptomaine poisoning. She was given prompt medical attendance, but failed to respond to the treatment