MAXWELL - William Maxwell. Billy Maxwell. The Noted Elmiran and Temperance Orator Passes Away.
The widely known temperance advocate, William Maxwell, died at the Bath Soldier's Home on Friday afternoon last. He was naturally a brilliant, gifted man and came from an illustrious family. He had been in failing health for a year or more. The news of his death was learned with painful interest. He was known to every man, woman and child almost in Elmira, when he was born on the 31st day of December, in the year 1828. This would make him at the time of his death, nearly sixty-two years of age. He was of the old-time Maxwell family, so prominent and renowned in this valley very many years ago. His father was that noted Thomas Maxwell, an intellectual giant in the days of yore, and of whom there are most pleasant and honorable remembrances. The elder Maxwell was one of the ablest and most remarkable men of his time and was noted for a remarkable memory which, allied with the systematic methods of recording the important events of the interesting period in which he lived and prominently took part, caused him to be looked upon as a reliable historian of the early days of this county and section. Nearly all of his papers, of which he had a vast collection, were, however, unfortunately destroyed. The elder Maxwell himself lost his life in a tragic manner, having been killed by the cars. Billy Maxwell came of good stock - the best there was. He was highly favored naturally and had he in early life applied himself to some profession and proved faithful to it, he would have risen to eminence. He was an original wit, and it was always interesting and laughable to hear him relate, as he was fond of doing in his latter years, his experiences which though of a long and checkered career, were of an eventful character. Mr. Maxwell was patriotic in the war days and as a member of the 161st regiment under the command of Captain Dumars, served with credit. Exspousing the temperence cause he was a faithful, conscientious worker in that noble cause. Both in America and in England he appeared on the platform with great success. He was considered the equal of the great Gough in ability to move an audience, his impassioned appeals carrying his hearers by storm. Thousands took the pledge and kept it through his efforts and eloquence. Mr. Maxwell was really a great temperance orator. He often said to the writer that somehow or other he could never do himself justice before an Elmira audience. He said they all knew him here and it was only Billy Maxwell that was talking to them and he couldn't disabuse his mind of that depressing idea. At other places all say he was grand - a truly eloquent, impressive speaker. He certainly did great work in the temperance field and will be principally remembered for that. Personally he was a genial, companionable man, much delighteing to have about him a little company of congenial souls to chat and laugh with. He will ever be held in kindly memory by all Elmirans - a brilliant fellow and one who by self-martyrdom proved himself worthy of recognition and honor. The deceased leaves a wife, who showed herself faithful and devoted to him in his declining years. The remains will be brought to his old loved Elmira for burial, arriving on the 1:30 Erie train. From the depot they will be taken to Woodlawn.
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