Norwich bulletin., 1916-04-29
OBITUARY.
Gurdon Bill.

Early Friday morning GurdOn Bill, one of the prominent citizens of Springfield, died at his home in that city in his eighty-ninth year.
 MT. Bill was born in Ledyard, June 7th, 1927, and to the last maintained a close friendly interest in the home was the son of Gurdon and Lucy Ger rington) Bill. His ancestry traced back to the beginnings of New Eng land, and representatives of the family were often called to serve this com munity in positions of responsibility and trust.
 He was one of six brothers, who be- come closely connected in business and were bound together through life by the ties of unusual devotion. Two sis ters died in early girlhood. In 1854, he entered into partnership with his brother, Henry Bill of this city. Later he removed to Springfield and established himself as a suhscrip- tion publisher. Some of the best known books issued by MT. Bill were | The Life of Washington, by Headley, pr. J. G. Hollands Life of Abraham Lincoln, and Abbott's History of the | Civil War, all of which were widely circulated.
 Since his retirement from active | business, more than forty years ago, | he has been connected with many inn portant enterprises, serving as presi | dent of the Springfield and New Lon don railroad, later incorporated in the New Haven system. and as president | of the Second National Bank of Springfield. MT. Bill was one of the l founders of the Hampden County Chill dren's Aid Society, and the Union Re | lief Association, and was generous | supporter of various local charities l In 1853 he married Miss Emily A. Denison, of Mystic. In 1854 he came to Norwich and entered into part nership with Henry Bill, of this city.
 He was deeply interested in al! that consumed the welfare of his city and | the state, was twice a member of the
 common council and elected to the
 state legislature. He gave to Spring
 geld the Soldiers Monument in Court
 Square, and in 1911 presented the Lin-
 coin Memorial Tablet in the City Li-
 brary
 his uprightnesS, his sound judgment
 his kindliness, his generous interest in
 all public enterprises for the good of
 the community. In spite of his years
 he was young in spirit, and maintain
 ed to the last his keen interest in all
 natural processes, the stars, flowers
 trees, all that has to do with outdoor
 life
 He is survived by his brother, Fred
 eric Bill of Groton, and by three chil-
 dren, Nathan Denison Bill of Spring
 field, Mrs. George D. Dutton of Pitts
 field and Charles Gurdon Bill of Hart ford, who were with him during his
 last illness.
 Two of MT. Bills nieces have thei, home in Norwich, Mrs. Joseph H. Sel- den. of Broadway and Miss Jane Bill of Broad street.
 , Mrs. Esther Purdy. l Mrs. Esther Purdy, of this city, diet
 suddenly at her temporary home il
 Southhold, L. l., N. Y, Sunday, Apri 23- Mrs. Purdy has been a faithfu and jealous member of the McKinle1
 Ave. A. M. B. Zion church for nearl1 5 two score years and was dearly be l loved by all who knew her. She wa; } for long time superintendent of tn l. Sunday school, and an active worke
 in all the auxiliaries of the church Il Woman's Club.
 The funeral service was in Ney London, her birthplace, and was large ly attended, Rev. D. George Riddle
 ohciating, quite number going fron u Norwich. The Earnest Workers sen large wreath by Mrs Speed Evan: Mrs. Purdy is survived by a daugh , > ter, Miss Alice Purdy, by a sister r' Mrs. Lucinda Simmons, and by a niece ii i Mrs. Lydia Huggins, all of Brookly a N. Y. U Mrs. Martin Malone.
 Catherine O'Brien, widow of Marti
 Malone. died at the home of her daugh n ter, Mrs. William J. Farrell, of No. 1 if Otis street, Friday noon, after an ill na na ness of about six weeks
 # Mrs. Malone was born in Ireland, 2 :, years ago, the daughter of William an = Mary O'Brien. She came to this coun
 try 45 years ago, locating in Greene
 vile, where some of her relatives re
 sided. She was united in marriae | with Michael Malone by Rev. Fathe Mullen in St. Mary's church MT. Ma
 lone died about 23 years ago. She survived by two sons, Michael J. Ma J lone of Jersey City and Daniel Malon
 of New York. and one daughter, MT
 William J. Farrell of this city. Sh l. also leaves sister in Ireland
 Mrs. Malone was a home loving we
 man and possessed excellent tr1lits ( d character. Her loss will be sincerel s. mourned by her many friends and rel
 atfves.