JOHN
McKENZIE
“In Constable, New York, of typhoid pneumonia on Friday, April 23,
1886, John McKenzie, aged 66 years.
The
deceased was born in Crathie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. In 1656, he
came to Canada, and located at Athelstan, P. Q. He purchased in 1860
the grist mill property near the village of Burke, and carried on
at that place his life business
of
milling until 1877. Then he removed to Constable, where in addition
to other improvement, he built a neat commodious, and pleasant house,
which he occupied only a few months when the summons came to call him
home.
He
was a public spirited citizen, ever alive to every effort to
ameliorate the condition of his fellow men. Generous to a fault, yet
strictly honest - shunning all the tricks of trade - his word was as
good as his note. At home he was the tender, affectionate, faithful
and loving husband and father.
His
Christ-likeness was, however, the crowning feature of his character.
As a Christian man, we love most to think of him. In early life he
sought and found Jesus as his Savior, took a public position among
the children of God, and sought in Christian integrity to maintain
the profession he had made. Wherever he
located
he at once identified himself with the people of God. He united with
Presbyterian Church of Burke after his removed to that place, was
chosen as one of its
deacons
in 1869, and was elected to the eldership in 1875. He honored these
offices while life continued. He was learned in the scriptures.
God's word was his chief delight. His other readings were mostly
religious. The light literature of the day had but little attraction
for him. His Christian experience was deep and spiritual. His
growth in the divine life was apparent to all who watched his
Christian career. The large multitude from far and near who attended
his funeral testified to the high esteem in which he was held by
communities in which he had lived. The funeral address of his pastor
was based on Psalms XXXVII, 37.
We
laid his remains in the town cemetery of Burke, by the side of his
wife, with whom he had lived for nigh two score years. May the God of
the father be the comforter, guide and shield of the children until
an undivided family shall
join
in the United Praises of Heaven."
--- the Obituary from the
Palladium -Malone, New York.
