William R. Aitchison

William R. Aitchison

• William R. Aitchison was born on 23 July 1831.
• He married Jane T. Blythe, daughter of Thomas Blythe and Elizabeth Wilson, in January 1860.
• William R. Aitchison died on 16 August 1872 at age 41.
• Jane T. Blythe became a widow at his death.
• The following appeared on 3 February 1922 in the Potsdam Herald -Recorder: Mrs. Jane Blythe Packard passed away in Madrid Monday afternoon, January 23, 1922.
       Jane Blythe, one of a family of six daughters of Thomas and Elizabeth Wilson Blythe, was born Dec, 1, 1836, in the town of Waddington where her childhood and life passed until her marriage with William R. Aitchison January, I860. She then lived in Madrid on a farm near the Waddington road. To them three children were born, James W., Thomas B. who died in Rutland, Vt, Feb. 1894, and Elizabeth E., now Mrs. Edward Maxwell of Montreal, Canada. Mr. Aitchison died August 11, 1872.
       March, 1879, she was united in marriage with Hoyt O. Packard of Waddington and they made their home near Chipman, where she resided until she came to Madrid in August, 1919 and has made her home with her sister, Mrs. Mary Ann Short. Mr. Packard died in December, 1897.
       For a number of years she was a patient sufferer from a cancer that eventually caused her death.
       Mrs. Packard for a time attended the Presbyterian church at Waddington and for years had been a member of the Scotch Presbyterian church at Chipman from which she had never withdrawn. She contributed to its support and also assisted in every way she could for its betterment.
       She was a woman of strong character, kind disposition and always very thoughtful of others, ever ready to give a helping hand or kind word to her friends and neighbors.
       She is survived by her two children, Dr. James W. Aitchison of Madrid and Mrs. Edward Maxwell of Montreal, by two sisters, Mary A. Short of Madrid and Mrs. Samuel Young of Waddington, grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and a large circle of friends.
       The funeral was held from the home of Mrs. Mary A. Short Wednesday afternoon at one o'clock. The pastor, George R. Harland of the Scotch Presbyterian Church of Chipman officiating, assisted by Rev. I. Steenson. Burial in the family plot in the old cemetery.
       The out of town relatives present at the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Edward Maxwell of Montreal, Mrs. Samuel Young of Waddington, Mrs. B. T. Scott of Potsdam.
• He was interred at Madrid Cemetery, Madrid, St. Lawrence County, New York.

• Last Edited: 28 Nov 2015