Departed this life, at his home in Amity, N. Y., on the morning of April 25th, 1879, Mr. Thomas Williams, aged 80 years, 8 months, and 15 days. The subject of this notice was born in South Kingstown, R. I. When about nine years of age, his parents removed to Verona, N. Y., where a church was organized, his father acting as leader until Eld. E. S. Bailey and others served as missionaries. At about the age of twenty years, he experienced a change of heart, was baptized by Eld. Amos R. Wells, and united with the church. After about three years, he went to the Holland Purchase, now Genesee County, and took up a new farm. Having made improvements, he returned to Verona, and was married to Catherine Devendorph. They were soon settled in their new home, and became two of the nine constituent members of the church known as the Darien and Clarence Church. There they lived and labored to promote the cause of Christ, twenty-five years. Finally, the pastor of the church accepted a call to the First Church of Alfred, and this event was followed by removals, until their church became very feeble and unable to sustain the ministration of the gospel. With anxious forethought, and in behalf of their seven children, some of whom were hopeful Christians, they disposed of their home, and moved to Alfred, seeking better educational and religious advantages. Here their prayers were answered in the conversion of the younger children; and the whole family gathered around the Lord's table. They felt that the blessing of the Lord attended them. But other events were coming. A daughter, then a son, and another son, were called away by death, then the companion of his early choice, his toils, his prayers, his joys, the mother of his children, she is taken away; and recently another daughter, and now the father had gone where most of his family is already gathered on the other shore. He leaves his second wife to mourn his departure; but she has the satisfaction of having been the witness of his ripening faith and daily prayers for his children and grandchildren, during the last years and months of his life. His last illness was very brief, from which he was supposed to have nearly recovered, when, without any premonition, he was awakened by pain about the heart, and, in a few moments, quietly fell asleep in death. Funeral services at his home in Amity, were attended by a large circle of friends and neighbors, after which his remains were conveyed by railway to Alfred, where, in the Second Church, the services were conducted by Eld. N. V. Hull, assisted by Eld. A. B. Lewis. A very earnest and effective sermon was preached from the words: "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
