Orleans County VT Archives Obituaries.....Somerville, Judith Sleeper Smith November 2, 1904 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/vt/vtfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Jan Jordan jnrose@webtv.net May 28, 2006, 4:23 pm see below OBITUARY (OB Express & Standard Newspaper Newport, Vermont 4 Nov. 1904) (My thanks to the Memphremagog Historical Society for finding this Obituary) JUDITH SLEEPER SMITH SOMERVILLE Mrs. JUDITH A. SOMERVILLE, wife of the late Rev. WILLIAM C. SOMERVILLE, D.D., died at her home in Coaticook, PQ., on 2 November 1904, age 86 years, following a short illness. Prayers & service were held at the home on November 3rd., Rev. WILLIAM STEVENS, rector Episcopal Church in Coaticook. On Nov. 4th, remains were taken to Newport, Vermont. Services held at St. Mark's Episcopal by Rev. Mr. MURCH, besides by Rev. WILLIAM STEVENS, of Coaticook. JUDITH was the daughter of HEZEKIAH and HANNAH SLEEPER, the last one of a family of eleven children. Educated in Stanstead Academy. Went to St. Louis, Mo., about 18 years of age to visit her sister, (HARRIET SLEEPER and husband EBENEZER DAVIS) met and married after a short acquaintance, JACOB SMITH, a most estimable young man. After a short residence in St. Louis, the couple went to Galveston, Texas, then a very small place and part of Mexico. She resided in Galveston from 1837 to 1859, when Mr. SMITH died and was buried in the city he loved so well. During that period she lived under three different governments: Mexico, Republic of Texas and State of Texas. She witnessed Galveston's growth from a little place of only a few houses to becoming the leading city of the "Lone Star State". These were stirring days in Galveston's history and Mr. and Mrs. SMITH were prominent figures and acted well their part in the building up of the city. After her first husband's death she came to Coaticook, Canada to visit her brothers, the late LEWIS and WRIGHT SLEEPER, remaining during the Civil War. After the war she returned to Galveston, and on November 11, 1868 married Rev. WILLIAM C. SOMERVILLE, D.D., then pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Houston City, Texas. In 1870, she and her husband Dr. SOMERVILLE, accompanied by Miss ELLEN A. BLACK, to Stanstead and Coaticook to visit relatives. Soon after arrival, Dr. SOMERVILLE was called to be pastor of the Congregational Church at Newport, Vermont, remaining for four years and then to the Congregational Church at Coventry for 7 years. When he voluntarily retired after an active life as minister of the gospel for over 40 years, 1881, the deceased and her husband purchased a home in Coaticook, Quebec, Canada where they lived a quiet and happy life. Dr. SOMERVILLE died in 1899, and was buried in West Derby (known today as East Main Street Cemetery) and now she who was a most estimable wife and companion in life has passed on. Mrs. SOMERVILLE was an educated, refined accomplished, Christian lady, whose chief delight was making her home cheerful & happy and spreading sunshine along the pathway of life. She was kind to the poor and needy and no one has left her door hungry or empty handed. She was the last of a noted family of 11 children and after a long well spent and happy life has gone to reap the reward of the faithful. She leaves nephews, nieces and a large circle of friends to mourn her loss. Of her it can be most truly said, that none knew her but to leave her, none named her but to please. ============================================== Notes for JUDITH SLEEPER: Residence: Bet. 1837 - 1859, 1868-1870 Galveston, TX ============= 1891 census Canada Quebec Coaticook SOMMERVILLE, WILLIAM age 70 b. Ireland : Presby. Clergyman SOMMERVILLE, JUDITH (SLEEPER) b. Quebec age 60 Presby. WELCH, MAGGIE age 19 b. Quebec occ: servant Baptist. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/vtfiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb