The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-01-18

Burnham Thomas. was born in Sid
ney, the family afterward moving to
Oakland where Mr. Thomas operated
erist mill The deceased WAS mar
ricd to Mr. Narney in Waterville and
they lived nearly all their married
life in SkoWhegan where Mrs. Var
ney was a member of the Grange and
of the Rebekah Lodge
Besides her husband, she is sur
yiyed by two daughters, Mrs. H. c.
Gage of North Chelmsford and Mrs.
Frank S Sampson OF Penn Van, n.
Y. two sons. DR.. +. f Narney of
North Chelmsford and Wilder s.
Narney of Bangor; six grandchildren,
John and Marion Narney of North
Chelmsford, Mrs. Victor L. Edwards
Of West Boylston, Mass; Or. +. Leon
Gage Of Lowell, Mass. and Iiilda and
Harold Narney of Bangor; and two
great grandchildren, Kenneth and
Ruth Edwards of West Boylston The
deceased WAS interested in the life of
her hometown, but spent all her time
with her family and in home inter
ests. She was devoted wife and
mother and will be greatly missed.
Mr.. ard Mrs. Narney celebrated
their diamond wedding anniversary
during the month of July. 1914 The
following clipping from Massachu-
sets paper will be of interest to our
readers who were acquainted with
the deceased
MIR. and Mrs Elbridge G Narney
celebrated their diamond wedding an
niyersary at their home on Newfield
street. Thursday afternoon and even
ing. The celebration was attended
by a large number of relatives and
friends who were pleased at the OPP
portunity given them to pay their
tribute to this venerable and happy
old couple. Their respects in many
instances were accompanied by Valu-
able gifts in memory of this auspici-
Gus occasion. Added to this might
be mentioned among other things, the
presentation of beautiful Killarney
roses and 60 handsome pinks, each
acting as a mute symbol of every
year of their happy welded life.
Altho in very advanced age, both
Mr.. and Mrs. Narney are still hale
and hearty. and acted as the most
genial of hosts and hostesses in re-
ceiving the sincere congratulations OF
those who visited them turnout the
day. They have made their home in
this locality for the past six years,
previously living in Skowhegan, Me-.
where Mr. Varney followed his occu-
patton of carpenter up to close upon
his 8Oth year. The fact that they
live all alone in their we'll appoint
ed home is conclusive enough that,
despite their four-score years, they
are still in an excellent physical
condition.
Elbridge Gerry Varney is a de-
scendant of William Varney. who
came to Ipswich in 1919. The for
mer died in Salem, Mass, in 1854.
leaving a widow. Bridget Varney who
died at Gloucester, in 1872. and two
sons, Humphrey and Thomas.
Humphrey Varney settled at Dover,
y. H., in 1859 where he married into
a prominent Quaker family that of
Elder Edward Starbuck who with
Thomas Macy were the first settlers
of Nantucket Island The romantic
settlement of the island by Starbuck
and Macy forms the basis of Whit
tiers poem THE Exiles." A large
majority of the descendants of Hum
phrey Varney of Dover, n. H., were
for generations members of the So
ciety of Friend
Elbridge G. Varney was the fourth
child of family of eight children
and is the only member of the fam
lily now living. He was born in
Bloomfield Me, May IS. 1929, and Is
now IS years old He was forty
miner" to California, crossing the
Isthmus of Panama and afterward
wrecked at Acapulco on the west