OBIT: Josiah Foster ELLSWORTH, 1918, Williamsburg, Blair County, PA

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WILLIAMSBURG LOSES OLDEST OF RESIDENTS
J. F. Ellsworth, a Remarkable Nonogenarian, Slips Into Life Eternal

EMINENT CHURCH AND LODGE MAN

JOSIAH F. ELLSWORTH [photo]

  J. F. Ellsworth, remarkable nonagenarian, passed to his reward.  
Josiah Foster Ellsworth, Williamsburg's most venerable citizen, 
patriarch churchman, and the oldest lodgeman in Pennsylvania, passed 
"to the undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns" at 
12:15 Wednesday noon after an illness of twenty weeks duration.  In 
declining health for the past several years, the gradual waning of 
mental faculties - vigorous for a period of almost a century - became 
apparent to those about him, but owing to remarkable vitality he 
lingered through many weeks of suffering.
  Born in the village of Leesburg, three miles east of Shippensburg, 
Cumberland county, July 18, 1827, a son of Thomas F. and Margaret 
Gibson Ellsworth.  Early in life he apprenticed as a millwright to 
which profession he devoted his best efforts.  By honest work and the 
application of high principles of integrity and clean Christian 
character to his business, he soon mastered his calling and forced 
recognition as one of Pennsylvania's foremost millwrights and most 
successful business men, having constructed more than a hundred four 
and iron mills in the sixty years he was engaged in that occupation.  
He built the first flouring mill in the southern end of the county at 
Mt. Etna, his crowning effort and final activity being the supervision 
of the construction of the Williamsburg paper mill which is conceded to 
be one of the best paper mills in the world, of which he later became 
president, serving in that capacity for four years.
  Though always busy, he never neglected the finer things of life and 
attended to his spiritual culture with the same zeal and diligence as 
that of the things material.  Fittingly he had been an elder in the 
First Presbyterian church of Williamsburg for three quarters of a 
century, and for sixty years teacher of the Men's Bible class, only 
relinquishing his activities when compelled by the burden of years.  He 
has traveled extensively and read much, which together with his long 
experience in worldly affairs, made him a most interesting 
conversationalist and companion.  He was not only the oldest male 
resident in Williamsburg borough and vicinity, but he had outlived most 
of the adult residents of Williamsburg when become a full grown man.
  In politics he was a Republican, always manifesting a keen interest 
in the events and things of import to his community and his nation.
  He was a charter member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of 
this place - 1848 - and was a member of Juniata lodge, Free and 
Accepted Masons, Hollidaysburg, for a half century.
  He was twice married - in 1851 to Miss Mary Irvin, to which union the 
following sons and daughters survive: Elmer E., of Los Angeles, Cal.; 
Grier M., of Altoona, and Mrs. Carrie Ramey, of Williamsburg.  On 
January 7, 1873 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Biddle, who 
died in 1907.
  Funeral services will be held on Saturday afternoon at the 
Presbyterian church, conducted by his pastor, Rev. James E. Irvine.  
Interment in the Presbyterian cemetery, Williamsburg.

Altoona Tribune, Thursday morning, August 1, 1918, page 12

FUNERAL NOTICE.

  The funeral of the late Joseph F. Ellsworth will take place at 
Williamsburg at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon from the family residence.  
Interment will be made 
in the Presbyterian cemetery, Williamsburg.

Altoona Tribune, Saturday morning, August 3, 1918, page 10

FUNERAL OF J. F. ELLSWORTH.

  The funeral of the late J. F. Ellsworth, the venerable and honored 
citizen of Williamsburg, which occurred Saturday afternoon at the 
Presbyterian church, was largely attended by relatives, friends and 
brothers of fraternal organizations.  The services were in charge of 
Dr. J. E. Irvine, pastor of the church, and Rev. J. C. Kelly, formerly 
of Williamsburg, who for many years was intimately associated with the 
deceased.  Rev. Mr. Kelly made the principal address - a touching and 
beautiful eulogy on the life and character of him who had departed.  
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic fraternity were 
largely represented, the latter having charge of the final ceremonies.  
Many beautiful floral tributes were laid upon the bier.  Among those 
present from a distance: Mr. and Mrs. Grier M. Ellsworth, Mrs. J. Dean 
Clark, Mrs. Ida Clark Clemson, Mr. and Mrs. George Ake, Altoona; Mrs. 
E. C. Etters and brother, Chambersburg; Mr. and Mrs. George Brenneman, 
Mr. and Mrs. William Brenneman, Hollidaysburg; Mr. and Mrs. A. C. 
Sweiter, Frank Isenberg and J. C. Elliott, Huntingdon; Martin Graffius 
and wife, Martinsburg.  Interment was made in the Presbyterian 
cemetery, Williamsburg.

Altoona Tribune, Wednesday morning, August 7, 1918, page 4

CARD OF THANKS.

  We wish to thank the friends who offered their services during the 
sickness and death of our father, J. F. Ellsworth.  We also wish to 
thank the lodges and friends for the beautiful flowers they gave 
father.
    MRS. CARRIE E. RAMEY.
    G. M. ELLSWORTH.