Obituary for Joseph Abbott (1828-1896)
Uncited clippings from the "Mattie Davis Martin Collection" of Doris Martin Jablonski, 1998.

IN MEMORIAM

Joseph ABBOTT was born in Blackburn, Lancashire county, England, Jan. 11, 1828. Early in life he became a worker in the cotton factories of his native city, which avocation he followed until 1863. By his side worked a young English girl - Matilda WILKINSON. They grew up together, attending the same school and church and on the same night, when in their seventeenth year, they confessed their Savior and became members of the same congregational church.

On March 8, 1849, they assumed the duties and responsibilities of married life. Into their home came eleven precious treasurers, nine of whom are living and two are laid up in heaven.

In 1863, he came with his second son to this country and the next year they were followed by the other members of the family. They settled in Mason county, Ill., which was their home until 1866, when they moved to St. Louis.

There they became members of the Chouteau Avenue Presbyterian church. In 1869 a farm in the southwestern part of this county was purchased and a few years later it became the family home. In that home, on Wednesday, June 3, 1896, after a life of 68 years, 4 months and 22 days, more than half century of which were spent in the Master’s cause and forty-seven of which were passed in the hallowed associations of the home circle, death conquered the body and set the spirit free.

About ten years ago, together with his wife and four children, he was baptized into Christ by their eldest son and brother, T. A. ABBOTT, and became members of Hawk Point church. Though advanced in years, the faculties of mind were well preserved. He was our leader in song, reading and singing without glasses; his memory good, his heart longing; after the pure things of God, a daily student of His word, warm and fervent in his prayers, with high conceptions of right and holiness, he was a man among men.

He leaves to mourn his loss a companion of nearly a half century, two sons, William of St. Louis and T. A. Of Louisiana - and seven daughters, one whom lives in southwest Missouri and the others in this county and St. Louis. For some months he had been in failing health. A few weeks ago a physician was consulted and simple remedies prescribed, but science could not avail. He believed his sickness was unto death and on the morning before his death he told his wife that he heard the Savior calling him.

In the quiet evening hour, when the setting sun had imprinted a goodnight kiss on the rosy cheek of nature’s smiling face, and twilight had deepened as if to draw a curtain around a scene so solemn, his bark loosed from its mooring upon these shores and majestically sailed across the sea of death with God’s hand guiding and anchored within the vale.

Funeral services were conducted by the writer at the Christian church in Troy Friday afternoon and the remains were laid in rest in the city cemetery. "We sorrow, but not as others who have no hope."

R. L. MORTON   

Note regarding clippings from the "Mattie Davis Martin Collection":   Mattie Davis Martin (1875-1943) lived all of her life in Lincoln County, MO.   She collected a large file of clippings of Lincoln County residents.  The majority of the clippings were without citation, and kept stored in an old purse. Doris Martin Jablonski, beneficiary of the collection, has transcribed them for inclusion on our Lincoln County Heritage/Records Page.

File submitted to HERITAGE PAGES of LINCOLN COUNTY, MISSOURI by Doris Martin Jablonski, 22 October 1998.

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