Lois Meleisa Maxson Langworthy, daughter of David and Esther Peckham Maxson, and widow of the late Russell C. Langworthy, was born in Petersburg, Rensselaer County, N. Y., Nov. 8, 1823, and died in Alfred, N. Y., at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Nathan M. Lamphere, Nov. 7, 1904.
She was the youngest in a family of five children, three daughters and two sons, of whom the two brothers, Lorenzo H., of Farina, Ill., and Dr. Edwin R. Maxson, of Syracuse, N. Y., survive her. In 1824, her parents, with their family, moved from Petersburg, and settled in Alfred, Allegany County, N. Y. The teachings of godly parents and the influences of a Christian home early led her to trust and love God, and commit herself to his service, and when about eleven years of age she was baptized by Eld. Daniel Babcock, and received into the fellowship of the First Seventh-day Baptist Church of Alfred. Some two years later the family moved from Alfred to Adams, Jefferson County, N. Y., and there she united with the Adams Centre Seventh-day Baptist church. Jan. 21, 1847, she was united in marriage with Russell C. Langworthy of Alfred, and soon after returned with him to begin there their home life and to reunite with her first church home. To them was born one child, a daughter, to whom the name Esther, the name of her grandmother Maxson, was given. After about six years they moved from Alfred to Adams, where she again united with the Adams Centre Church, of which she remained a faithful and devoted member until death. Her husband, Mr. Langworthy, died at Adams Centre, June, 1894, since which time the widowed mother has made her home with her only child, Mrs. N. M. Lamphere, in Alfred, where the relations have ever been most cordial, where she has received the most kindly loving care, while no effort has been lacking to make her declining years pleasant and happy. Her old church at Adams Centre was very dear to her, and she loved to talk of it and of her Sabbath School class and her ever pleasant associations there. According to her own desire and arrangements, her remains were taken by her dear ones to Adams Centre, and there tenderly laid to rest by the sleeping dust of her husband and other cherished kindred. She was a helpful, devoted. arid loving wife, a considerate, sympathetic, kind, helpful and loving mother, a true and faithful friend; a devout humble and faithful follower of Christ, one who has sought in every department of life activities to do her part in life, faithfully and well, one who leaves behind her the savor of a good name, and to her many friends the assurance that the coming of death is to her the realization of the believer's greater gain. S. B.
