This post was contributed to the Crawford County Chapter of OGS by Kristina Stearley as part of the Florence Siefert Scrapbook in 2010.
The scrapbook is compiled from undated, unidentified newspaper clippings involving events in the lives of Crawford County citizens living in or having connections to New Washington, Tiro, Shelby, Sulphur Springs, Chatfield, Bucyrus, Ashland, Mansfield, and other areas. Only minimal spelling or punctuation corrections were made. Unreadable areas are shown by underlines, dots &/or question marks. This collection has been scanned, “optical character recognized” (OCR’d), proofed, then coded for HTML by volunteers of the Crawford County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. Since the copies are not of the best quality errors may have been made. Please contact us if you find corrections needing to be made or can verify any missing dates which could be added.
THE VETERAN OF VETERANS, ANSWERS THE FINAL ROLL CALL.
W. C. FRAZEE,the Widely Known Furniture Dealer, Follows a Day Later
LEVI BUCHANAN and OthersDeath’s
Big Harvest – Two Knights Templar Funerals in One Day.
The life of Maj. Geo. W. Urie slowly ebbed away, and Sunday morning, Jan. 15(?) at a quarter to eight o’clock, he peacefully breathed his last. As he lived he died, without a struggle or a disturbance, quietly and gently.
In his closing days, though he had lived for nearly 93 years, he suffered very little sickness. About two months ago he suffered what is now believed to have been an attack of the grip, and for (unreadable) days he was in a serious condition, but he rallied and after that, though he was unable to leave the house, he was not confined to his bed, and only last Friday did his condition become such as to cause apprehension. Saturday he lost the use of his limbs, and he became somewhat alarmed himself. About two o’clock Sunday morning he awoke much troubled with his heart and lungs. His granddaughter who lives with him, summoned Dr. W. M. McClellan, who administered medicine, and he fell asleep.
About five o’clock he relapsed into his weak condition again, and his lungs filled up. He lingered until 7:45 o’clock when the final summons came.
The passing away of Maj. Geo. W. Urie ended a life seldom excelled in length or prominence of service in local affairs. He lived in Ashland county, part of the time called Richland, for 84 years. He was the son of Solomon Urie, and was born in Washington county, Pa., on Feb. 28, 1806. There were many who had expressed the hope that he would live a full century, but that was beyond reasonable expectation. He did live ninety-three years, excepting 44 days. He came with his father to this county when but nine years old. In the fall of 1815, they settled upon a farm of 160 acres in Orange township, and the senior Urie also located another 160 acres in Montgomery township. On the Orange township farm Samuel Urie built the first blacksmith shop in the township. The first winter he lived in this state the subject of our sketch saw his father bring home 40 deer, eight large black bears, many wolves and other game. More than once the wolves had to be kept from the door literally rather than figuratively. The sports of the pioneer days were attractive to young Urie, and he became a great athlete and lover of hunting and contests of strength. He adopted the trade of carpenter and also of millwright, and followed these for years, especially that of wood working. As a contractor he helped to build the first infirmary in this county.
It was in very early days that he earned his title of Major. He joined the militia under the old state law years and years ago, and passed from captain on up to colonel of a regiment of independent rifles. He made a fine appearance on drill, was tall and as straight as the tree that symbolizes the political doctrines he so strongly advocated. When the Mexican war broke out, he was anxious to go to the front, but on the advice of his physician remained at home. He took some part in politics as a thoroughbred Jacksonian democrat, and in 1845 was elected treasurer of Richland county. In 1846, Ashland county was organized, and Maj. Urie was elected the first treasurer. He was reelected, and again in 1865 was chosen county recorder, holding that office three terms in succession. In 1853 he was elected a member of the state board of equalization, in 1857 was appointed deputy United States marshal for the northern district of Ohio, and in 1860 was a census enumerator. The people still had faith in his official uprightness, and elected him mayor of Ashland in 1874, where he served for two years. In these numerous ways did he serve the public in positions of trust.
Maj. Urie was a characteristic American citizen. A truer democrat never lived. He believed thoroughly in the principles of the party, and was steadfast to the organization all through the century down to the day of his death. The momentous events that he witnessed and the wars that he lived through, from the war of 1812 down to the war with Spain, only strengthened him in his democracy and in his simplicity of life as a citizen of the republic. He was honest, faithful, true, loyal, and a lover always of the people’s rights. In charactor he was pure, in manner sociable and friendly without fail, and in the lodge was as true as steel, and in all respects a good man.
He was a member of church from 1867, and was probably the oldest Free Mason in Ohio. He became a Master Mason at Mansfield on Jan. 12, 1843, and joined Clinton Commandery No. 5, Knights Templar, of Mt. Vernon, on Jan, 22, 1849, and afterwards became a member of Mansfield Commandery No. 21. When the Ashland lodge was established on Oct. 19, 1846, he was one of the charter members. He never failed to express an interest in the welfare of his order.
All of his life after his removal to Ohio was spent here except a year passed in California. He made the trip there and back by water, crossing the Isthmus of Panama, going and coming. Up to but a few months ago he devoted himself to the insurance business.
Maj. Urie was married twice, first to Elizabeth Murray, to whom were born five daughters and one son. The living daughters are Alice, wife of T. M. Beer; Elizabeth, wife of Rev. W. W. Anderson, of Loudonville; Sarah, widow of S. W. Beer. The son and one daughter died in childhood and another daughter, Mrs. Mary Porter, died in 1875. Mrs. Urie died on Oct. 13, 186(unreadable), and in 1865 he was married the second time in Minnesota to Mrs. Maggie Blackstock. She died a few years ago.
Maj. Urie died at his home on Cleveland avenue, but the body was buried this forenoon from the home of T. M. Beer, on Claremont avenue. The services were conducted by Rev. W. G. Schoppe, of the Congregational church, where the deceased was a member. Rev. D. B. Duncan assisted, and the Mansfield Commandery, Knights Templar, will attend the funeral and do honor to a member. An honored patriarch and citizen has gone. Everlasting peace to his memory.
