Married December 3rd 1829
in Warsaw, Wyoming County, New York.
*****************************
The Livonia Gazette
Livonia, Livingston County, New York.
Friday, November 22, 1889
DEATH OF MRS. WELCH
Avarilla Lewie was born in Poultney, Vt., May 12, 1810, and died in Livonia on the 3d inst.; so, had she lived till another May, her age would have been the full rounded period of four score years. At an early age she came with her parents to Warsaw, where, when but eighteen years of age, she married Hiram Welch, who preceded her to the spirit world by seven years. By a marked coincidence, her death occurred upon the sixtieth anniversary of her wedding day. Very little faith is required to fancy a reunion of hearts thus briefly separated a reunion never to know a separation. For a little time they lived in Wethersfleld, Wyoming county, from which place they removed to Lima to take charge of the steward's department in the seminary. Here they remained till I860, save three years at the sanitarium at Clifton Springs, when they came to Livonia to spend their remaining years. She leaves behind three children, the Rev. Rollin C Welch, D. D., senior professor of Albion college, where he fills the chair of Greek and Hebrew; Mrs. Eliza C. Barton of Livonia, and Mrs. Laura L. Sylvester of Lima. Such are the simple facts of a retiring, modest, beautiful life. In setting forth such a character, human language furnishes but a poor vehicle. Hers was a perfectly rounded, symmetrical character, marked by a sweet saintliness which attracted all to herself and to the christian life she so fitly and completely adorned. For more than sixty years she lived a Christian life. If in a symmetrical character any trait may be noted as more marked than any other, it is the fact that she was a Christian. This was the central fact, and it moulded and permeated and beautified every other trait. Were any skeptical respecting the reality of a Christian life, upon coming within the sphere of her influence there would be woven about them a spell dissipating their doubts. So unobtrusive was her life, however, the influence she exerted seemed the raying outward of sunshine. No ambition for a place in the great world's esteem ever marred her peace. There was never any reaching outward after world gifts. Her home was her realm, and no queen ever found equal satisfaction within the limitation of her kingdom. Within the narrow sphere she lived her grand life so well that an influence exhaled from it like an aroma, pervading all her environs, enabling large numbers to inhale the sweet perfume. This was specially true when she filled the place of mat run in the steward's department of the seminary at Lima. Her home then received into it all the students and her heart was large enough to embrace them all. Many a student whose eyes may fall upon these lines will recall a home feeling away from home, assured that she had a warm place in her mother heart. Yet so retiring her life, so modest her estimate of personal worth, so unobtrusive her character, she never knew how helpful she was to other lives, and when told in words of warmest thanks she would rejoin with quiet disclaimer. As a Christian, her home was in the Methodist Episcopal church, and none of all her members was ever more interested for her spiritual prosperity. Nor was her interest confined to her local church or even the conference in which it was located. She had been a reader of the Christian Advocate, published in New York, ever since it was founded, and so became acquainted with the entire field. She followed with her prayers every outgoing missionary and read with deep interest, every report of his work. So it came to pass that, though limited in the sphere of her life, her interest and her faith knew no limitations save a world in sin. Such is the story of a grand, simple, beautiful life. And now the writer of this testimonial is confident it contains no word of eulogy, but is the simple statement of facts. This must be true when so discrimating a writer as her former pastor and life long friend. Dr. F. O. Hibbard, could say of her: "I never knew in her a fault." Such is the testimony of those who knew her best, and all who knew her will testify in like manner. Her death was peaceful, the fitting close of such a life. Though her last illness was exceeding painful, causing rebellious questionings to rise in the hearts of loved ones at the goodness of God in permitting so pure a soul to suffer so severely, she quietly repressed all rebellion with calm assurance, affirming: "It's all right." So her death became a translation to the house of many mansions, where, as she expressed it, she wanted all her loved ones "to have their mansions next to hers on the same side of the golden paved streets." S0 her bright spirit in its ascent has left a ray of light upon the horizon of our lives which shall linger there so long as our life's day shall last.
W. O, PEET,
Churchville, November 13, 1889
*****************************
Married December 3rd 1829
in Warsaw, Wyoming County, New York.
*****************************
The Livonia Gazette
Livonia, Livingston County, New York.
Friday, November 22, 1889
DEATH OF MRS. WELCH
Avarilla Lewie was born in Poultney, Vt., May 12, 1810, and died in Livonia on the 3d inst.; so, had she lived till another May, her age would have been the full rounded period of four score years. At an early age she came with her parents to Warsaw, where, when but eighteen years of age, she married Hiram Welch, who preceded her to the spirit world by seven years. By a marked coincidence, her death occurred upon the sixtieth anniversary of her wedding day. Very little faith is required to fancy a reunion of hearts thus briefly separated a reunion never to know a separation. For a little time they lived in Wethersfleld, Wyoming county, from which place they removed to Lima to take charge of the steward's department in the seminary. Here they remained till I860, save three years at the sanitarium at Clifton Springs, when they came to Livonia to spend their remaining years. She leaves behind three children, the Rev. Rollin C Welch, D. D., senior professor of Albion college, where he fills the chair of Greek and Hebrew; Mrs. Eliza C. Barton of Livonia, and Mrs. Laura L. Sylvester of Lima. Such are the simple facts of a retiring, modest, beautiful life. In setting forth such a character, human language furnishes but a poor vehicle. Hers was a perfectly rounded, symmetrical character, marked by a sweet saintliness which attracted all to herself and to the christian life she so fitly and completely adorned. For more than sixty years she lived a Christian life. If in a symmetrical character any trait may be noted as more marked than any other, it is the fact that she was a Christian. This was the central fact, and it moulded and permeated and beautified every other trait. Were any skeptical respecting the reality of a Christian life, upon coming within the sphere of her influence there would be woven about them a spell dissipating their doubts. So unobtrusive was her life, however, the influence she exerted seemed the raying outward of sunshine. No ambition for a place in the great world's esteem ever marred her peace. There was never any reaching outward after world gifts. Her home was her realm, and no queen ever found equal satisfaction within the limitation of her kingdom. Within the narrow sphere she lived her grand life so well that an influence exhaled from it like an aroma, pervading all her environs, enabling large numbers to inhale the sweet perfume. This was specially true when she filled the place of mat run in the steward's department of the seminary at Lima. Her home then received into it all the students and her heart was large enough to embrace them all. Many a student whose eyes may fall upon these lines will recall a home feeling away from home, assured that she had a warm place in her mother heart. Yet so retiring her life, so modest her estimate of personal worth, so unobtrusive her character, she never knew how helpful she was to other lives, and when told in words of warmest thanks she would rejoin with quiet disclaimer. As a Christian, her home was in the Methodist Episcopal church, and none of all her members was ever more interested for her spiritual prosperity. Nor was her interest confined to her local church or even the conference in which it was located. She had been a reader of the Christian Advocate, published in New York, ever since it was founded, and so became acquainted with the entire field. She followed with her prayers every outgoing missionary and read with deep interest, every report of his work. So it came to pass that, though limited in the sphere of her life, her interest and her faith knew no limitations save a world in sin. Such is the story of a grand, simple, beautiful life. And now the writer of this testimonial is confident it contains no word of eulogy, but is the simple statement of facts. This must be true when so discrimating a writer as her former pastor and life long friend. Dr. F. O. Hibbard, could say of her: "I never knew in her a fault." Such is the testimony of those who knew her best, and all who knew her will testify in like manner. Her death was peaceful, the fitting close of such a life. Though her last illness was exceeding painful, causing rebellious questionings to rise in the hearts of loved ones at the goodness of God in permitting so pure a soul to suffer so severely, she quietly repressed all rebellion with calm assurance, affirming: "It's all right." So her death became a translation to the house of many mansions, where, as she expressed it, she wanted all her loved ones "to have their mansions next to hers on the same side of the golden paved streets." S0 her bright spirit in its ascent has left a ray of light upon the horizon of our lives which shall linger there so long as our life's day shall last.
W. O, PEET,
Churchville, November 13, 1889
*****************************
Family Members
Siblings
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
