Sunday's Obituary - Arad Franklin (1802-1897)

Arad Franklin, one of my maternal 3rd great-grandfathers, died in Union County, Ohio, on 5 November 1897, just a few weeks shy of his 95th birthday. Following is a transcription of one of several obituaries that were printed in local newspapers.

“Again we are admonished that death is abroad and has chosen for its victim our much esteemed and beloved friend, Mr. Arad Franklin. There is a charm in the life of a good man and its triumphant closing that throws its influence back far beyond the number of his earthly days, and like the setting of a golden summer's sun, leaves its rich gild upon the memory of the living long after he has passed away. It is therefore befitting that such a life and death should be given as encouragement and inspiration before the living that they may imitate the example. And the recent death of Arad Franklin impresses this thought with peculiar force just now. He was born in [New] York state December 9, 1802 and in boyhood came with his parents to Ohio and settled near Millville, Delaware county. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary [Nancy] White, of Pharisburg, who died about 17 years ago, and to them were born 11 children, 8 of whom are living to realize the loss of a devoted christian [sic] father. Some time after his marriage he moved to Union county and bought the property in this neighborhood, where he spent the remainder of his days. In early life he united with the Methodist Protestant church at Pharisburg, but when the Christian Union church was organized at Beech Grove 34 years ago he moved his membership to that church where it remained till he died. Mr. Franklin was endowed with a keen perception of the right and a [unreadable] courage to [unreadable] it and he has held official positions in the church [several lines of text unreadable]

morning at 5 o'clock, lacking only one month and 4 days of being 95[?] years old. The remains were conveyed by Undertaker Thomas to Hopewell church where the funeral sermon was preached by Rev. B. Hogan, after which the Masonic order took charge of the services. A large crowd of sorrowing friends followed the remains to the grave where they were laid to rest to await the resurrection morn."

[Source: "Magnetic Springs," Richwood Gazette, 11 Nov 1897, p. 2, col. 2; digital images, NewspaperARCHIVE.com (access by subscription : accessed 3 Jul 1910).]

© 2011 Denise Spurlock