Thomas Maitlen was the son of Isaac and Sarah Maitlen who were natives of Virginia and settled in Ohio when the subject of this sketch was born, December 25, 1823, and departed this life, March 24, 1901, aged 77 years 2 months and 29 days. In the Spring of 1826 Isaac Maitlen brought his family to this state, locating on a farm two and one half miles southwest of Dunkirk in Niles Township, Delaware Co. Here Father Maitlen grew to Manhood inured to the toils of the Early settler who cleaned the virgin forests and helped to make the beautiful farms which lie all around as to day. Of the large family reared by his parents he was the last one to go home, the rest all having preceded him to that bourne from which no traveler ever returns. - He was united in marriage to his now bereaved wife August 19, 1849 and together they began the battle of life in which they built for themselves a home and a standing in this community as worthy upright God fearing people. During the first year of their married life they lived on the home farm with his mother and in the fall of 1850 moved to the farm now owned by Jno. Rees south of Sugar Grove church where they resided for 3 years. Then purchasing the farm north of the church he built a cabin and moved his little family there, where he resided continuously for 38 years until 1891 when he retired from active life and came to Dunkirk where he has resided for the last 10 years. To them were born eleven children five sons and six daughters two sons and three daughters have gone home and three sons and three daughters remain as the stay and comfort of the aged wife and mother in her loss and bereavement. Brother Maitlen was converted at a meeting held in the home of Eli Anderson under the ministery of Rev. Jno Hull just south of Bethel Church in 1838 at the age of fifteen years and became a member of the Bethel Class. For sixtytwo years he lived in fellowship with the church to which he gave himself when a boy. He was on of the charter members of the Sugar Grove Church and continued his membership in that society after coming to this city. I doubt not but that he is the oldest church member in the charge to which he belonged in continuous membership as his entire christian life was spent in church membership within the bonds of the Albany Circuit Thomas Maitlen was a worthy christian. I do not think he intentionally wronged any one but lived day by day an upright consistent christian life. His deaht [sic] takes away another of the old Pioneers from our midst for as boy and man he has resided in this community for sixty nine years and has witnessed the coming and going of two generations he belonged to that hardy band of early settlers who scarcely knew what it was to be tired but who toiled day after day in felling the forest and cleaning away the deadning, draining the swamps and preparing the way for those who were to follow them. One by one they are passing away soon the last one of that noble band of hardy honest, God fearing men and women will like this father have rounded up there [sic] lives and go to the blessed home awaiting them. Father Maitlen was an honor to our community the blessed influence of his Godly life will long linger among us as a benediction. As a husband tender faithful and true, as a citizen honest and as a neighbor kind and sympathetic as a christian unerring and devoted he has lived well his life fought bravely and successfully its battles and has earned the repose and rest which awaits all those whose lives have been true to the christ life.
Farewell dear father sweet thy rest.
Weary with years and worn with pain,
Farewell, till in some happy place
We shall behold thy face again.
'Tis ours to miss thee, all our years,
And tender memories of thee keep,
Thine in the Lord to rest, for so,
He giveth his beloved sleep.
