This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/BUB.2ACI/6036 Message Board Post: His Life Spanned the Greater Part of the History of Our Town. In the death of Mr. SKIFF, which occurred on the morning of the 15th inst., the town of Hume loses one of her best citizens. He had been ill of late, but was understood to be improving, and when the announcement of his death was made, it was a painful surprise to our people. Joseph BATES, the second son of pioneer Joshua SKIFF, who was the first supervisor of Hume, was born on the old SKIFF homestead June 14, 1816, known to old people as the ‘cold season.' His birthplace was the humblest of domiciles, the primitive log cabin of his father. His mother was Lucina, a sister of the late well and favorably known Henry C. WRIGHT, who was a veritable apostle of peace and author of ‘A Kiss for a Blow,' and other works of kindred nature. She was a woman of sterling worth, who left the loving impress of her christian teachings and example upon her children and died in 1843. Milton W., the older brother, died some years ago at Hume village, while a sister Elizabeth Miriam, died over half a century ago, leaving Harvey J., now an old man living in Newton, Iowa, the only survivor of the Joshua SKIFF. Truly was Mr. SKIFF ‘native and to the manor born.' His whole life being passed in this town, he was with the exception of the venerable Mrs. Sally MEACHAM of Fillmore the longest resident citizen of Hume. The first scenes which greeted the gaze of his infant eyes were associated with pioneer events; the rude log cabin with its ample fire-place, the stick chimney, the bake kettle and bake oven, the spinning wheel, the loom, and ‘e'en the rude bucket which hung in the well.' The newly cleared fields, thickly filled with stumps, the burning log heaps, the slashings, the brush and rail fences, were sights familiar to his boyhood days, and of evenings, when the chorus of howling wolves made night almost a hideous pandemonium, the lad quite likely, clung closer to his mother's side. Graduating from the log school house, he attended for a while the pioneer academic institution of the Holland Purchase, the Middlebury Academy as it was then called. The place is now known as Wyoming. He afterward attended for a while a collegiate school at Meadville, Pa., working his way there by engaging to drive a team for a family who were moving from here into that section. After leaving the Meadville school he engaged in teaching, which however he soon relinquished and devoted himself from that time on entirely to agricultural pursuits. May 22, 1838, he with Lydia B. FITCH, daughter of the late Chester FITCH, began the married part of their lives together on the old Joshua Skiff homestead which continued until Jan. 29, 1889, when Mrs. SKIFF died. In 1848 he purchased and removed to the place where he has ever since resided. Of this union nine children were born eight of them arriving at maturity. John M., the eldest, enlisted in the union army from some western state wither he had gone and was killed at Shiloh April 6, 1862. Stephen M., also enlisted from here and was killed near Franklin, Va., June 24, 1863. And so Mr. SKIFF's recollections of the years of our country's peril were intensified with the loss of two bright and promising sons. But throughly anti-slavery in sentiment, the nation emerging from the struggle with the broken fetters of four million of enslaved human beings in its bloody, though victorious hands, his country was dearer still to him for the sacrifice. Joshua, another promising son, died of disease at home in March, 1865. Of the immediate family, Chester F., our well known townsman and active business man, Melvira who married Mr. J.B. MORROW, Lucina, now Mrs. H.H. COCHRAN, both the latter living in Morse, Custer Co., Idaho; Harvey J., and Addie, who married Mr. E.C. THOMAS and now lives on the home place, survive and have the sympathy of our entire community in this sad bereavement. Mr. SKIFF was a member of the Presbyterian church as long as one existed in Hume, but never has been connected with any other church organization. He was however a firm believer in the cardinal principles of christianity and was frequent in his attendance upon divine worship, contributing liberally to its support. He was a man of extensive and well chosen reading, and his mind was a well filled storehouse of valuable information. Positive in his opinions, loyal to his convictions, he dared to do what he considered right. Unassuming in his manners, unpretentious in deportment, he despised shams and detested hypocracy. Plain, honest, outspoken in defense of his opinions, he respected the opinions of others and conceded to them the same honesty be claimed for himself. He was a man of warm friendships, and though to outward appearance, especially to strangers seemingly, perhaps a little odd, brusque and almost eccentric sometimes, those who knew him best, prized him the hi! ghest. He had moreover a vein of humor, which was like the spring babbling from out the rough rock by the wayside, broke forth at times as if it could not be repressed and would brook no hindrance. The outside world knew but little of Joseph B. SKIFF, for he never sought notoriety, but he was esteemed by the townsmen for his many good qualities of head and heart, and the world is better for his having lived. No more will his familiar form be seen upon our streets; no more shall we hear his questioning salutation, ‘What's the best word today?' Not the worst nor indeed any other, but the best word was what he wanted. No more the cordial greeting and hearty handshake. Our good friend, our kind neighbor and worthy townsman has gone and we sorely miss him. Hail and farewell! The funeral which was held at his late residence on the 18th inst., was attended by a large concourse of neighbors, friends and townsmen, the services being conducted by the Rev. S.S. BALLOU, who spoke words of comfort and consolation, very appropriately using as the foundation of his remarks the words, ‘I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.' Interment in the family plot in Pine Grove cemetery. [Northern Allegany Observer obit by John S. Minard, January 15, 1895, from Cora Lahr's scrapbooks, Fillmore, NY]