Royal A. Straight

Died March 1st, 1876 at the residence of his son-in-law, J.T. Whitlow.

Royal A. Straight aged 75 years, 10 months, and 26 days. He leaves a widow and five children: two sons and three daughters. The deceased was born in Charlotte, Chittenden Co., Vermont April 6th, 1800.

At the age of 25 he married Nancy A. Swift they celebrated their golden wedding in November with one son and three daughters, their families being with them. At the age of twenty seven he made a profession of religion uniting with the Baptist church at Newstead, NY. He afterward moved to Rome, Ashtabula Co., Ohio uniting with the Baptist church in that place for 24 years. Four years before the b[ring]ing out of the War of Rebellion he moved to Tennessee from which he was exiled for his strong adherence to freedom and the welfare of our common country. He gave three sons and three sons-in-law to our country in her hour of peril, one son and one son-in-law being incarcerated in that terrible prison [?] at Andersonville, the son-in-law losing his life there. He always voted on the side of liberty and justice alike to all men. He was a man of uncommon vigor, both of mind and body. He has been afflicted with Paralysis for the last for years. The last year and a half being entirely helpless having completely lost the use of both hands and feet. His suffering has been borne with great patience and Christian resignation. During his last day on earth he was more cheerful and social than he had been for some time during the afternoon as he lay in his bed he was heard repeating the lines
"And must this feeble body fail
And must it faint and die
My l shall quit this mournful vale
And soar to worlds on high
Oh what are all my sufferings here
If lOrd thou count me meet
With that enraptured host to appear
And worship at thy feet"
At six o'clock he fell asleep in Jesus after a few moments of excruciating pain. His mind was clear in his last moments. His funeral sermon was preached by Elder J.H. Morrison from the words "There remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God" Hebrews 4:9.
He has gone from among us and oh, how much we miss him yet we feel that our loss is his gain.
(signed) Anna S. Whitlow
Algoma, Michigan
March 5th, 1876

I have copied the lines in this book feeling that someday my children and grandchildren may think it a privilege to read them.
Laura A. Straight
Mayfield, Cuyahoga, Ohio
January 19th, 1895