Person:Aretas Whitcomb (1)

At the residence of Mr. E. A. BOBLETTE, in Blaine, at 3 a. m. Monday, June 25th, 1888, Aretas WHITCOMB, aged 86 years 6 months and 29 days.
Grandpa WHITCOMB belonged to one of the oldest New England families. He was born in Lisbon, Grafton county, New Hampshire, December 26th, 1801. He was married to Miss Lydia PRIEST, with whom he has lived over 63 years, at about twenty-five years of age, and soon after removed to Pennsylvania. Since then he has lived in Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona and Washington Territory. He has lived here eighteen years. He leaves an aged widow and three daughters, Mrs. E. A. BOBLETTE and Mrs. A. DEXTER, of this place, and Mrs. P. HODGKISS, who resides in Colorado. His only son, Josiah WHITCOMB, was killed by the Apache Indians in Arizona about twenty years ago. Mrs. E. HOLTZHEIMER, Clarence WHITCOMB and Mrs. BYCE are children of Josiah WHITCOMB. Grandpa WHITCOMB was a Free Will Baptist, and was a consistent Christian during his life. Death took him early Monday morning after having consumed his strong body by nearly half a year of confinement to his bed. He knew he was going when the last moments came, and was glad. He died without a struggle, just falling quietly away, his breath gradually ceasing. The world has moved since this aged man was born. Thomas Jefferson was just entering upon his first term as president. There have been twenty-two presidents since. Napoleon I rose and fell. The United States has passed through three wars. Four million slaves have been freed. The locomotive, telegraph, telephone, reaping machine, sewing machine and steamboat have come since he first saw the light of day. The funeral service was held Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. A. WARREN.