Pruyn, Henry

Henry Pruyn
June 29, 1829-May 21, 1900

Niles Republican, Thursday, May 24, 1900, page 6, col. 3, reprinted from Niles Daily Sun, Tuesday, May 22, 1900, microfilm Niles District Library


From Tuesday's Sun.

    Comparatively few of those permitted to journey together through life ever reach the "jubilee year." One or the other falls on the way; and it is certainly most fitting and proper that when the union is prolonged so many years, the "golden wedding" should be enjoyed by as many of those near and dear, as can come together.
    Accordingly the children of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pruyn, together with their neighbors and intimate friends, intended meeting today at the parental home, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of their parent's marriage.
    This was to have been their jubilee day.
    In view of the above it is, indeed , a painful duty to chronicle a sad affair today in the death of Henry Pryun, which occured[sic] last evening after a brief illness.
    Mr. Pruyn had been afflicted with acute kidney trouble for some time but had not exhibited any startling symptoms of late. He was, however a trifle worse for the past few days and kept to his bed during the greater part of yesterday, but was was able to rise and sit in an armchair last evening.
    In the course of the evening he discussed his approaching anniversary and, as he gazed out over the meadows in which the fair flowers blossomed his spirit was uplifted and his soul was stirred as he looked back over half a century of time and reviewed old familar[sic] scenes.
    As Longfellow, in a prose passage, has expressed it:  "Even scenes unlovely in themselves become clothed in beauty when illuminated by the imagination, as faces in themselves not beautiful become so by the expression of thought and feeling.
    Another has expressed himself thus:
"Old tunes are  precious to me as old paths,
    In which I wandered as a happy boy.
In truth, they are the old paths of the soul,
    Oft trod, well worn, familiar, up to God.
And with the music clearly ringing down through the years, the old gentlemen slumbered, and at 9:30 o'clock, like a care-free bird, his soul took its flight joyfully leaving all its burden of earthly care.
    Mr. Henry Pruyn, was born in Kinderhook, New York in 1829, and was therefore 71 yeas of age. He was married in Kinderhook and together with his wife, came to Michigan 35 years ago and settled on the old homestead near Barron Lake, where he had since resided.  The fruit of this union was seven children, four of whom, together with their mother, deplore the loss of a kind husband and indulgent father.  The children are:  John, of Grand Rapids and Misses Louise, who resides at the homestead, Kathryn of Kinderhook, and Jennie of Bowlder, Cal.
    Deceased was widely known and was loved and respected by his neighbors and acquaintances.
    The funeral will take place at 2 o'clock Wednesday, Rev. Eyles officiating at the home.  The funeral will be in charge of St. Joseph Valley Lodge, F.& A.M., of which order deceased was a member.
    Interment will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.