https://www.fepl.ca/localhistory/files/original/82a52da89fde7fb5355a970f21bf2d0b.pdf 1f2638035625c93a045ca0de8d1a2ad2 PDF Text Text 3Jn ~cmoriam �3J n 1Lobing Mtmorp of j(Mp i!ltar •tte Abby Louise Gibbons was born in Buffalo, N. Y., on Febuary 11, 1852. She was a Vassar student, class of '70 and was married to John C. Dunham in her parents' home on September 6th, 1875. Their two sons had already begun to plan the Golden Wedding anniversary which would have taken place this year (1925). Mr. and Mrs. Dunham had three children, Thomas M., of Aurora, Ill., a manufacturer; Frederic G ., of Ridgewood, N. J., a lawyer; and the late Mrs. Walter D . Smethurst, who died on April 3, 1924. ~bat tbe 1Ligbt l\ebeals "I will leave a light." So far as is known, these were the last spoken words of Mrs. Dunham. A sermon could be preached on those words. For Mrs. Dunham has left a light. Her life was the quiet, unobtrusive life of a wife and mother and neighbor and friend. She was always thoughtful, always kind, always generous and alwa:ys patient. The light she has ldt reveals clearly that even in a life with its share of sorrows, the nearest approach to earthly happiness comes from being gentle and helpful and charitable in thought and action.The Fort Erie Times {February 27, 1925). �MRS. JOHN C. DUNHAM DIES SUDDENLY TO HOLD FUNERAL IN HISTORIC HOME Passed away sometime last night from heart failure - Had not been ill Services for Mrs. John C. Dunham Today - Former Buffalonian The many friends of Mrs. J. C. Dunham, Niagara boulevard, Fort Erie, will be greatly shocked to learn of her sudden death last night (Thursday). She had not been ill recently and her death was therefore entirely unexpected. Dr. Wm. Douglas and Dr. R. W. Clarke, who examined the body after it was discovered about nine o'clock this morning by a neighbor who had been staying in the house during the absence ·o f Mr. Dunham in New York, said that heart failure was the cause of death, and expressed the opinion that Mrs. Dunham had died about twelve o'clock last night. She passed away quietly while in her bed. A book she had been reading lay across one arm, apparently dropped from the other hand when she expired. Mrs. Dunham, who was born Feb. 11, 1852, was much loved by all who knew her for her gentle, kindly disposition. She was born in Buffalo, her maiden name being Gibbons. In 1875 she married J . C. Dunham and the couple would have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary this year. Two sons survive, Frederic G. Dunham, of Ridgwood, N. J ., and Thomas M. Dunham, of Aurora, Ill. A daugihter, Mrs. Walter Smethurst, died last April. The news of Mrs. Dunham's death was telegraphed to her husband and sons this morning and funeral arrangements will be announced later.-The Fort Erie Times, February 20, 1925. Funeral of Mrs. John C Dunham will take place to·day from her historic home at Fort Erie where she lived for the last twenty years. Burial will be in Saint Paul's churchyard. Mrs. Dunham was < b orn in Buffalo, but moved to Fort Erie about twenty years ago. Her death occurred there suddenly Thursday, while her husband was visiting a son, Frederic G. Dunham at Ridgewood, N. J . Another son, Thomas M. Dunham, lives in Aurora, Ill. A daughter, Mrs. Walter A. Smethurst, died at Waterbury, Ct., a year ago.-Buffalo Courier, Monday, February 23, 1925. 1 LAST RITES FOR MRS. JOHN C. DUNHAM The last rites for Mrs. John C. Dunham, who died suddenly last Friday morning, took place in her home in Fort Erie at 2 o'clock on Monday afternoon, the ·b eautiful service ·o f the ·Church of England being conducted by Canon D. Russell Smith. Mrs. Herbert Montillon was at the piano, and four members of St. Paul's choir sang. The casket was in the room ·o f the Dunham home where is a stately mirror before which Mr. and Mrs. Dunham were married on September 6, 1875. The chief �mourners, bes1des Mr. Dunham, were the two sons, Thomas M. Dunham, of Aurora, Ill., and Frederic G. Dunham, ·of Ridgewood N. J. Mrs. Frederic Dunham and Mrs. Chapin, of Buffa~o, a cousin and friends, were also present, as were scores of the townsfolk and friends from Buffalo and elsewhere who remembered Mrs. Dunham as the gentlest of women and the kindest of neighbors. Burial was in St. Paul's churchyard. 'Dhe bearers were J. M. Mann, J. K. Crane, H. G. Montillon, Henry Lewis, George H. Stratton and J. George Johnston. The breakup of the Dunham home in Fort Erie will cause universal regret. Mrs. Dunham's personal belongings, many of them heirlooms, will go to the sons, some to friends, who are certain to treasure them. Mr. Dunham will spend perhaps three months of the year at his old ihome, it is expected.-The Fort Erie Times, February 27, 1925. AN HISTORIC HOME One of the oldest homes in Fort Erie which is still a habitat was that in which Mrs. Dunham died on February 20, 1925, and. which had .b een occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Dunham for twenty years. The house faces the river four blocks north of the ferry landing. It was built, it is believed, in 1826, and although the cla·pboards of modernity cover its exterior, the beams are sturdy, rough-hewn pro·ducts of the pioneer forester who built of the timber he cleared from the sirte. . This house and its gardens have long been the admiration of those who appreciate the quaint and the beautifully old- fashioned. There was a deal of history attached to the building, for it was the center of the community for more than a generation But it has 1b een most charming in its old age, in the last twenty years t hat Mr. and Mrs. Dunham were busy transforming it . from an abandoned tavern into a home. · The garden was a constant deiight from June to September. Mr. and Mrs. Dunham each year were successful in the most colorful blooms of all t he kinds of flowers t hat were heard of in grandmother's day, the beauty of whidh is often forgotten in this era when folks are likely to seek precision rather than profusion. The house .itself only -two years ago was remodelled. The large panes of glass were replaced by the small panes in keeping with the square •architecture of the so'1id s tructure, and Jesse R. Porter, the Buffalo architect, designed an entrance porch t hat in detail and general effect is perfectly appropriate. The interior at the same time attained an added charm from a doing-over in colonial white and soft-colored panels which contrasted charmingly with the dark maple of the balust rade. Mrs. Dunham had inherited from h er mother many dainty and beautiful pieces of jewelry, ·c hina, furniture ·a nd t hose bits of lace and other finery which one associates with bygone generations. This really fin e old furnit ure and other lares and penates were in their proper sett ing in one of the oldest livable houses in t he vicinity.Buffalo Express, Feb. 14, 1925. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louis McDermott Collection Subject The topic of the resource Local history, Fort Erie and surrounding area. Description An account of the resource A collection of historical documents, photos, news clippings, letters, and writings, assembled by local historian, Louis McDermott, and donated to the Fort Erie Public Library. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Louis McDermott Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived FEPL-LH -Louis McDermott Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Included in this collection are writings, historical documents, news clippings, images, maps, and more. They were written and compiled by Louis McDermott into a series of binders. The digital collection has been scanned from these physical copies. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Fort Erie Public Library and Louis McDermott Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Abby Louise Gibbons (Dunham) Description An account of the resource Listed here is a memoriam for Abby Louise Gibbons-Dunham following her death in 1925. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Louis McDermott Collection 1900s Fort Erie Louis Mcdermott Collection memorial