Azor Kellogg, Obituary/Death NoticePorter County obituaries and death notices . . . .
Azor Kellogg
In Memoriam.
The long eventful life of Azor Kellogg terminated Oct. 14th, 1885, at 8:30 a. m., at the residence of his son John W. in Valparaiso, Ind., and had the flickering lamp of life held out to burn until the 27th day of January next he would have passed the 90th milestone down the wearisome journey of life.
The subject of this brief sketch was born in the township of Mount-pleasant, county of Wayne, (then Lancaster) state of Pennsylvania, on the 27th day of January 1796. From the earliest period of his boyhood the sound principles of morality and uprightness which always characterized him in after years were strongly developed and won for him a name and reputation that clung to him as long as life lasted. At the age of 24, when he was nearing the prime of life, he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Sterns, the choice of his life, with whom he lived happily long enough to celebrate his golden wedding -- fifty years and more! The fruits of this union were five children. The first the former wife of the late Daniel S. White, the three sons so well known here as our prominent business men, and the youngest, Silas, who died in his boyhood. Two of the sons, Alfred and John, are yet living, but Dennis the 3d son preceded him to the Spirit-land.
The place of Mr. Kellogg's birth was his home until the year 1849, when he mingled with the tide of emigration that was flowing westward, and by the slow process of travel, which was at that time the principal one, the covered wagon and team, he wound his way toward the broad prairies of Illinois, and settled near the town of Woodstock in McHenry county. His residence there was only for a short time, for in Nov. 1850 he returned east as far as Valparaiso, Ind., where he continued to reside up to the time of his death.
During all the long years of life that were given him he never swerved from the principles of morality and right and honesty in all that the word implies, was constantly his beacon of light, in all his actions among his fellow men, and as a consequence he was always recognized in society as a leader and listened to for his good counsel, and often he was chosen from among the people to advise, counsel or correct, as the occasion demanded, and none were so daring as to dispute when he enunciated what he thought to be right or wrong.
In early years he adopted the political faith of his ancestors, but in the eventful days of '55 and '56 when the pulse of this nation was throbbing for liberty and freedom -- when the greatest contest was beginning between slavery and free soil, Mr. Kellogg was then found on the side of God and humanity, and continued to aid his cause to the day of his death, always being opposed to making chattels of human flesh, and there principles were as dear to him as his life.
Soon after the death of his beloved wife, which occurred in 1879, his health began to fail and his loneliness began to tell upon him; and there seemed to be 'an aching void that this world could never fill,' and shortly his nearest relatives began to discern that his mind, which for many years had been a tower of strength, was beginning to follow his body, and crumbling into decay and slowly yet surely, the downward course has been marked and apparent from year to year.
Previous to 1850 Mr. Kellogg never made any profession of Christianity publicly, but always gave a firm adherence to the principles of the Christian religion, never opposing by word or deed any efforts of the Christian people, but when he came to Valparaiso himself and wife both identified themselves with the Presbyterian church, then under the pastoral care of Rev. J. C. Brown, and both continued worthy and honored members up to the times of their deaths.
Mr. Kellogg lived under the administration of all the presidences and had the privilege of casting his vote for a large number of them, the last one being for Blaine in 1884.
Thus has passed away a good man, missed by the community and the world at large and mourned by a large circle of relatives and friends, and while the last 20 years of life have been spent upon God's time, the gently faded as the morning flower, and life the silent ticking of a clock, the pendulum of life vibrated slower and slower, and without a struggle or a groan the soul of Azor Kellogg passed away like the setting sun beyong the confines of this world into the boundless ocean of eternity.
Newspaper: Porter County Vidette
Date of Publication: October 29, 1885
Volume Number: 29
Issue Number: 44
Page: 4
Column(s): 4 and 5
Key to Newspaper Publication Locations:
Newspapers Published in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana
Chesterton Tribune
The Tribune
Westchester Tribune
Newspapers Published in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana
Porter County Vidette
Practical Observer
Valparaiso Practical Observer
Vidette and Republic
Western Ranger
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Obituary/death notice transcribed by Steven R. Shook