OBITUARIES

FLOYD / GRISWOLD / HALLECK / JOHNSON August 22, 1821, "Republican Compiler", Gettysburg PA, [Submitted by Nancy Piper] General William Floyd Died on the 4th day of August , inst., at his residence in Western, in the state of New York, General William Floyd, in the 89th year of his age. Thus another patriot of the Revolution is gone! He was one of the remaining four; viz: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Charles Carroll, and William Floyd, who signed the Declaration of Independence. Gen. Floyd began early engaged in opposing the encroachments of Great Britain upon our rights and liberties, and ardently active in promoting the happiness and independence of his country, was chosen a delegate from the county of Suffolk to a Congress of the Colonies of North America, held at Philadelphia, on the 5th of Sept. 1774, of which he remained a member until nearly the close of the Revolution. On that memorable and trying day, the 4th of July 1776, when the Independence of America was declared – while the British were upon his estates, and giving him a foretaste of the destruction that awaited him and all those who were pledging their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor in the support of that doubtful project, should it fail, we find him enrolling his name among those of the patriots who were willing to risk all that was personal to themselves, for the freedom of their country. After the close of the struggle and having passed the most active years of his life in various public situations, always enjoying the confidence and affection of his fellow citizens, he left his estate in Suffolk, and at the age of about 60, as if in the vigor of his years, took up his residence in the then wilderness, now the cultivated valley, of Western, in the county of Oneida, where he has passed the remainder of his days in retirement; retaining his usual relish for social enjoyments, his love of friends, his strength of memory, and all the faculties of his mind. He has left an aged and worthy widow; also children and grand children and many relatives and friends to feel his loss. His fellow citizens and neighbors, who have for many years enjoyed the friendship and advice of a venerable patriot, will long hold him in affectionate remembrance; and his country will embalm his deeds and his character among those who have bestowed lasting blessing upon mankind. (Effingham County, IL) (Effingham Democrat, March 14, 1902 - Submitted by arnetia@consolidated.net]) SAMUEL C. GRISWOLD Samuel C. Griswold was born in Oneida County, NY, June 5, 1821: died March 5, 1902 at 9:15 a.m. aged 80 years. His early days were spent on a farm until he entered college. He was married June 20, 1847 to Miss Lavinna Foreman of Madison County, NY and moved shortly afterward to Wisconsin. After remaining there for some time he moved his family to St. Louis, MO, and from there to the place where he resided until his death. To them were born six children, three of whom are still living, three having preceded him to the better world. His last illness was very brief and his death was a great surprise. His son Frank, of St. Paul, Minn., came down to attend his funeral. He was a obliging neighbor and a law-abiding citizen. The bereaved family has the sympathy of a host of friends. General W. H. Halleck's Grandfather. This venerable man, Deacon Jabez Halleck, in his one hundred and third year, died in Westernville, Oneida County, New York, September 17. He was a native of Long Island, and settled in Westernville about the year 1800, having survived all the original settlers, and been an officer of the church there forty-five years. He was a large man, tall and imposing in his personal appearance, with a constitution capable of almost any amount of endurance, was strictly temperate, and till with in two or three years has almost daily performed some manual labor. He saw the first great  contest for the establishment of our Government, and lived to see the beginning of this great contest for its preservation, which can be said of few others. His fat her, Major Peter Halleck, who died 1791, and his grandfather, Peter Halleck, who died 1756, were buried in the old grave-yard at Mattituck, L. I., where their moss-covered grave-stones may still be seen, these being the great-grandfather and great-great grandfather of our present General-in-Chief. Their ancestor, and the ancestor of all the Halleck family in this country, was Peter Halleck, who was one of thirteen heads of families who came over from England in 1640, and took up their abode on the northeastern branch of Long Island, landing at what is now Southoid village, a part of which is still called “Halleck's Neck,” they being the first white settlers on that part of the island. This Peter Halleck settled on a farm two miles westward of Mattituck, where his descendants have continued for eight generations, till the present time. On this old Halleck homestead Deacon Jabez spent the earlier years of his life; and there five generations of his ancestors lived and died. Relati ves who wish further facts of their ancestry may obtain a brief sketch from Dr. Halleck, Tract House, 150 Nassau street, New York. Portrait Monthly, New York Illustrated News,  NOV. 1, 1863. Submitted by Candi. [Batavia Herald, 9 July 1896] Death of Mr. Spencer JOHNSON At Garden Grove, Cali., June 26, 1896, Aged 82 Years. A Pioneer of Kane Co (Illinois), and for Many Years a Highly Respected Resident of Batavia, IL. Mr. Spencer JOHNSON, one of the old Pioneer settlers of Kane Co., who came here some 59 years ago, when this beautiful country was but a wild prairie, and assisted in breaking its soil, establishing our city, and to build our school and churches, passed away at his home in Garden Grove, California, June 26th 1896 after a long illness, aged 82 years. Deceased was born at Camden, Oneida Co., N. Y., June 15th, 1814. In 1835 he located at Dover, Ohio, where for some time he followed teaching; came to Illinois in 1837, and purchased a claim in Virgil Township, and for a number of years followed the occupation of a farmer. In 1849 he purchased a fine grain and dairy farm, one mile east of Batavia, which he owned at the time of his death; it being carried on by his son, Wm. R. JOHNSON. March 24, 1842, Mr. JOHNSON married Miss Sarah M. CHAFFEE, of Campton, Ill., with whom the past 54 years of his life have been pleasantly spent. Ten children were born to them, six of whom are still living, and with the aged mother, are now left to mourn the loss of a kind husband and father. Deceased was a staunch Republican, a valued member of the Batavia Cong’l church, and for some time served as a Trustee. About ten years ago he moved to Garden Grove, Cali., where he owned a fruit farm, and where one son, E. S. JOHNSON, and a daughter, Mrs. WARE reside, and who tenderly cared for him in his declining years. Mr. JOHNSON was a man highly respected by all, a promoter of good, and a valuable citizen, whose memory will be cherished through all time, and his life be a worthy example to his family and friends. The remains were brought to Batavia, Thursday, July 2d, accompanied by his son, Edmund; (the wife being in too feeble health to endure the long journey.) They were met upon their arrival by the children and friends, and tenderly conveyed to the home of his daughter, Mrs. M. M. KINNE, where funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m., and were largely attended.

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