ANDERSON - In Barrington, Saturday, September 15, 1928, Miss Dora Anderson, aged 77 years. Miss Anderson was a former resident of Benton. Charles Anderson is her only near surviving relative.

The funeral was held from the Thayer Funeral Home in Penn Yan at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, Rev. S. G. Houghton officiating. Burial was made in the Baldwin cemetery, Benton.

 Penn Yan Democrat   Friday   July 3, 1936   by Dianne Thomas

Paper on Marcus Whitman - Paper Given by Mrs. George Fitch, of Rushville Before D. A. R. -  After listening to the wonderful talks and eulogies given by educated men June 4th in memory of Marcus Whitman and Narcissa Whitman, "I feel in giving this paper like the little boy who, with his playmates, was playing automobile with an improvised steering wheel fastened to an old cart, and honking the horn.  All the boys were riding but the littlest boy of all, who was trudging along behind.  A person said, "My Little man, why don't you ride too?"  "No I can't ... I'm just the smell." 

When I tried to beg off writing this article, Mrs. Kelchner said she would like to have it written by someone living in Rushville, and I immediately thought of a story, I once heard.  A gentleman had never agreed with his mother in law.  She had proved to be the kind we so often hear about.  Her daughter was very ill, in fact, she knew she had not long to live, so called her husband to her and said "I have a last request to make of you, and that is, the day of the funeral I would like to have you ride, with mother".  He replied, "Of course I will do what you ask, but the day will just be spoiled for me."

One of the greatest gifts parents can bestow upon their children, is a gift of being well born.  Both Marcus Whitman and Narcissa Prentiss, had this beginning.

Marcus Whitman's mother and father, Beza and Alice Whitman came to Rushville in 1799, settling a few rods from from Yates County Line.  His grave is in the Baldwin Cemetery, one and one third miles northeast of Rushville.  Typical of the Puritan spirit of those days, is the epitaph on his tombstone: 

"Stop here, my friend, and think of me 

I once was in the world like thee, 

This is the call aloud to thee, 

Prepare for death and follow me. "

Here in Rushville, his third son was born Sept. 4, 1802. This son was christened Marcus Whitman. His father died when he was eight years old.  

He was then sent to Plainfield, Mass., to his paternal grandfather, Deacon Samuel Whitman, for education and religious training.  He remained there ten years.  He returned to Rushville, his heart set on studying for the ministry.  

Narcissa Prentiss, father and mother, Stephen and Clarissa, settled in Prattsburg in 1805. He was a carpenter and later served as an associate county judge.

The family took an active part in the church and community affairs.  There were nine children, four boys and five girls: Narcissa, being the third born in Prattsburg, March 4, 1808.  She early developed a fine soprano voice and always sang in the choir. Her parents gave her what was considered a good education in those days, for a woman.  Narcissa's diary reveals a character remarkable for strength of courage, wisdom and the refinement of true Christian devotion. Had she been other than she was, there would have been no Whitman story to relate. 

I knew an old lady who knew Narcissa when she came to Rushville as a bride.  She described her as quite slender, above medium height, pretty with beautiful blonde hair.  Narcissa experienced a spiritual awakening when she was 16, and felt she had a call to go as a missionary to the heathen.

The story of the White man's book of heaven seems to set on fire the pioneer spirit of those who every thought of being missionaries.  

March 1, 1833, The New York Christian Advocate carried the famous letter which told of the arrival of four Indians at St. Louis, who came from beyond the Rockies in search of the white man's religion   (continued on Pg 6)......