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COMMERCIAL
REVIEW 2.09.1905 OBITUARY WILLIAM AXE William Axe, the son of George
and Hannah (Lessely) Axe, was born in Germantown, Pa.,
April 20, 1823 and died at the home of his nephew, William Axe, Jr.,
in Westchester, Ind., at three o'clock p.m. Jan. 27, 1905, aged 81 years, 9
months and 7 days. He was the eldest of a family of eight children-
three girls and five boys. Four of this family had already preceded William
to the Glory land. They were: Ann Bergman, Peter,
George and Fred Axe. Those whom
survive him are Lyda Drake, Sarah Beck and Charles
Axe. William accompanied his parents from
Penn. to Ohio in the fall of 1837 and in June, 1838, the family moved to Jay
County, Ind., and settled in Bearcreek, township, taking up a homestead in
what was at that time a wilderness. Here the parents of our subject
lived and prospered in spite of the difficulties incident to those pioneer
days. William was never married and after
the death of his father in 1847 he remained on the old homestead with
his aged mother, to whom he was a faithful and devoted son, caring for her
every want and need. The death of his mother in 1888 was a severe blow
to William and somewhat darkened his subsequent life.
For a short time after the death of his mother, he homed with his brothers
and sisters but soon bought property in Portland into which he moved and
lived the life of a retired citizen. Owing to his infirmities and extreme
old age, it was deemed unsafe for him to further live alone, as he preferred,
and he was finally persuaded to go and live with his nephew and name-sake, William
Axe, Jr., of Westchester. While here he spent most of his time
sitting around a warm fire in the country store kept by his nephew's son, George
Axe. It was here that he was constantly meeting and renewing
old acquaintances and was beginning to appear in better spirit of
health. On Jan. 16, he took suddenly and severely ill with acute
congestion of the kidneys which resulted in his death 2 days later. As a citizen, Mr. Axe
was highly respected and won the confidence and good will of all those with
whom he came in contact in social and business relations. All through
life he stood as a model citizen, faithful, upright, sympathetic and
conscientious. In his dealings he was scrupulously honest and a great friend
to the poor. In his personal habits he was always tidy, clean and
temperate. He used neither tobacco nor coffee, and had no use for a
stronger beverage than water. Although not a church member he was
thoroughly religious, having read the bible through several times.
During his last illness he was patient, kind, and obedient to those who cared
for him, and his mind remained clear up to within a short time before his
death, when he sank quietly into a profound sleep and his life slowly ebbed
away without a frown or struggle. "Blessed are they who die
in the Lord." Funeral was held at Westchester U. B.
church, conducted by Rev. Fred Stovenour and was one
of the largest ever held in that place. |