Sussex County, New Jersey Obituaries

Sussex County, New Jersey Obituaries

Dr. C. S. Dey
At Newton, N.J., April 30, of apoplexy, Dr. C. S. Dey, formerly of this city, illness of eight months
[The Henry Republican, Henry, IL, May 7, 1874 - Submitted by Nancy Piper]

JOSEPH HENRY JOHNSON
Joseph Henry Johnson was born in Tylersville in the central part of Pennsylvania, April 13, 1870, being 61 years old at the time of his death. His parents were the late Jacob E. and Isabella J. Johnson. When he was quite young the family moved to Easton Pa., which is situated at the junction of the Delaware and Lehigh rivers. The family homes have ever since been at the place, and it was here that he joined the Methodist Episcopal church. His father was for years a well known passenger conductor with the Lehigh Valley RR and three other members of the family have held high official positions with at road. For a while after completing his schooling at Easton, he was salesman for a grocery firm during which time his route was through the Pocono mountain district in eastern Pennsylvania. Following this, he was for some time, buyer for the Supply Department of a railroad construction company, then building that part of the Lehigh Valley railroad which runs through the Pocono mountains. Later, he held a similar position with a company putting in a railroad line near Abingdon, Va. Mr. Johnson's love for horses was developed very early. Fine horses were much sought after at that time and several men with whom the family were acquainted, took great pride in owing these. One of these gentlemen, seeing the interest which the boy took in horses and the good sense and love he had for them, hired him to exercise his horses daily in the paddock. This was a delightful experience for the young boy and one which he always treasured. Upon his marriage in1897 to Emily B. Strait of Sprat, New Jersey – they settled in Newton, N. J. and several years were spent there, while he traveled for the firm of Strait Bros. Wholesale Grocers; the members of this firm being the four brothers of Mrs. Johnson. It was at Newton that Marion, now Mrs. E. W. Hellie, was born. In 1903 a move was made to Phillipsburg just across the river from Easton and here Mr. Johnson purchased a laundry. He owned and operated this business for about 9 years, being then compelled to dispose of the property due to a federal order having been issued for a postoffice to be erected on that site. Here Kelsey R. was born. It was in 1912 that the family moved to Albert Lea and at this time transferred their membership from the Easton church to the First Presbyterian of this place. He had been engaged as manager of the Thompson Laundry and soon after he became financially interested in the business. Subsequently, the business expanded; the name was changed to Johnson Laundry and a corporation was formed with laundries at Austin, Mankato, Albert Lea and Spencer, Iowa. On April 8, 1916, he suffered the loss of his wife. He remained in Albert Lea and continued in the laundry business. On October 30, 1920, he was united in marriage With Mrs. Anna H. Armstrong. Six weeks ago he suffered a terrible accident due to monoxide poisoning. It was evident almost from the first that his nervous system had been severely shattere3d, and the disturbances due to this condition increased during the weeks which followed. On February 9 news was received of the death of his mother at Easton, Pa. The accident and its attendant nervous disorders of such extreme severity, with the addition of the loss of his mother at this time, overpowered him and he died Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 17th. There remain of his family, his wife, his daughter Mrs. E. W. Hellie and her children, Manderville R., Emmy Lou and Joan; his son Kelsey R. all of Albert Lea; Captain C. H. Armstrong now of the Philippine Islands; and Mrs. L. D. Flory of Fort Monroe, Va. The later tow being the children of Mrs. Johnson; his brother Harry K. Johnson and sisters Mrs. W. Semple and Miss Kate I. Johnson all of Easton, Pa. The following is an excerpt by a brother Knight Templar and read at the final services: Sir Knight Johnson was raised a Master Mason in Harmony Lodge No. 8 in New Jersey. All the York Rite degrees were conferred upon him in Albert Lea. He became a Royal Arch Mason on June 20, 1912 and was Knighted in the order of the temple on Feb. 19, 1913. Later he became a member of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Zuhrah Temple in Minneapolis. For 20 years Sir Knight Johnson has been engaged in business in Albert Lea and during the later years extended his business interests in adjoining cities and Northern Iowa. In his business he had no superior. No one has ever attacked or questioned his integrity and honesty and his work was always present between him and all his employees. He had a very warm love for horses and dogs and was never with the companionship of either. Albert Lea has lost another valued, loyal and highly esteemed citizen. [The Evening Tribune, Albert Lea, Minnesota | Thursday, February 25, 1932 | Page 7 - Submitted by Rita Bergendahl]

Rev. Lydia Casad Sexton
A Mother in Israel
Rev. Lydia Sexton, who was so well known in many in the Church, passed peacefully away at the residence of her late son, Joseph Z. Sexton, in Seattle, Washington, on the evening of December 15, 1894, aged 95 years, 8 months, and 3 days. Mrs. Sexton was born in Sussex (now Rockport) County, N. J., in 1799. She was the daughter of Rev. Thomas Casad, a Baptist minister, and was a cousin to Bishop Matthew Simpson, of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Her father died when she was nine years old, and for six years thereafter she lived with relatives or strangers respectively, and earned her own living amidst many trials and hardships. When in her sixteenth year she went with her brother Anthony to Ohio. The journey of eight hundred miles was made with a horse and cart. In 1820 she married Joseph Sexton, of Jacksonborough, Ohio, and with him lived happily for more than fifty years.
Mrs. Sexton was converted, and joined the church of the United Brethren I Christ, near Germantown, Ohio, in 1834, under the labors of Rev. Jacob King. Soon after her conversion she felt that it was her duty to preach the gospel, but from a sense of her inability to perform such a responsible duty, and because there were so few women in the Church, she resisted the divine call for some years. Finally, yielding to the judgment and advice of the leading ministers and the leading of the Holy Spirit, she began to exhort sinners to flee from the wrath to come. In 1851 she was licensed by a quarterly conference, held on Iroquois Circuit, in Illinois, to peach, Rev. Josiah Terrill being the presiding elder. Mrs. Sexton was eminently successful in promoting revivals of religion.
She, in company with her husband, traveled extensively in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas holding revival meetings and organizing societies. Everywhere her labors were blessed of the Lord, and thousands of souls were converted and led to Christ through her instrumentality. At a session of Upper Wabash Conference, in 1850, she was most heartily recommended to all the churches as a successful helper in Christian work. This recommendation was signed by Bishop Edwards and Secretary Cougill. The invitations that she received to hold revival meetings far exceeded both her time and her strength.
In 1870 Mrs. Sexton was appointed to the chaplaincy of the Kansas State Penitentiary. Very marked success attended her labors among the prisoners, many of whom, by her presence, were reminded of their own mothers. At the close of her term of service as chaplain she counted ninety-five among the number of the inmates of the prison who had been converted under her labors. The last years of her life were spent with her two sons, David F. and Joseph Z. Sexton, in Washington. Her last sermon was preached at the First Methodist Protestant Church, in the city of Seattle, Wash., when she was ninety-three years old.
Her son, Joseph Z. Sexton, with whom she spent the last days of her life, preceded her to the glory world just one month and ten days. Mother Sexton became blind toward the close of her life, but although deprived of her natural sight she was cheerful and happy in possession of that spiritual vision which beholds the beauties and glories unseen by mortal eyes. She retained consciousness to the last, called her grandchildren by name, and spoke of the many loved ones who had gone before. She was buried from the First methodist Protestant Church in Seattle, Rev. Clark Davis, the pastor preaching the funeral sermon.
Submitted by Sara Hemp

LEWIS WESTFALL, M. D.
LEWIS WESTFALL, son of Matthew Westfall, Esq., of Wantage, Sussex County, N. J., was born in that township, October 29th, 1839. He pursued his earlier medical studies at Cambridge, N. Y., under the direction of Dr. Henry Gray, and graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in the city of New York, in March, 1863. In the same month, he was appointed Acting Assistant Surgeon in the U. S. Navy, and was ordered to duty at the West, on the U. S. gunboat Queen City. In what estimation he was held at that stage of his professional life, will be seen from the testimony of gentlemen closely connected with him at that period. A note from C. S. Sims, U. S. Consul at Prescott, Ontario, says: "Dr. Westfall and I were together as room-mates, from April, 1863, until the close of the rebellion, and we were very intimate friends. He was a faithful officer and a man whom all his shipmates admired and respected. I was with him at the battle of Clarendon, when he was wounded, and I suppose that it was the injury he received then that eventually carried him to his grave."
After having been at home some months, on sick-leave, he returned to duty on the U. S. steamer Siren, from which he was transferred to U. S. Hospital Pinkney, at Memphis, Tenn. Fleet-Surgeon Pinkney, in a communication to Dr. Westfall, uses this language: "I feel it to be my duty to acknowledge the fidelity with which the duties assigned you have been performed. Your conduct, during a period of two years and four months, entitles you to my respect and confidence."
Surgeon Grier, in charge of Hospital Pinkney, speaks thus: "Permit me to say, that during your connexion with me at this Hospital, (four months,) you have performed your duties faithfully, and your conduct merits my highest approbation."
Having been honorably discharged from the public service, on Nov. 6th, 1865, Dr. Westfall returned to his home, resting and recruiting his impaired health, till 1867, when the late Dr. Alexander Linn, invited him to take charge of his wide practice. He entered on and prosecuted this work with characteristic zeal, devoting to it all his time and strength, winning largely the confidence of the community, and giving promise of attaining eminence in his profession. But, one cloud shaded the prospect. It soon appeared evident that his strength was unequal to his task. In February, 1869, he was compelled to relinquish practice, and on the 29th of May, in the same year, he died, greatly regretted by all, leaving a young wife, to whom he had been united but a few months.
Not only as a physician of attainments and promise, but as a man and a citizen, a friend and neighbor, Dr. Westfall deserved and won esteem. He was morally correct and firm in principle, and exemplary in his conduct. Receiving the religion of the Scriptures as true and divine, he practically respected its claims and institutions. Its hopes cheered his wearisome nights and days, and by its light he descended into the vale of death.
[Source: Transactions of the Medical Society of New Jersey By Medical Society of New Jersey; 1868. Newark, N.J.; Printed at the Evening Courier Office, 309 Broad St. 1868, pg. 85-86, submitted by Michelle Byrd]