September 1919
Many were made sad by the death of Mr. Valentine Leidinger of Fairville, who passed away last Thursday. His health began to fail the latter part of August and he continued to grow weaker until at 4:30 a.m. he gave up his life in exchange for a better one.
He came to this country in February 1853 when he was 19, first going to Lyons and shortly thereafter to Fairville where he resided for 66 years.
He became a member of the Presbyterian Church and was made an elder in 1871, serving faithfully until he was unable to attend church.
It was said of Mrs. Leidinger at her funeral that "she was the mother of the church." It might well be said of Mr. Leidinger that he was the father of the Fairville Presbyterian church. Truly a saint of God has gone among us.
He married Miss Magdalena Ruff of Dover Germany in 1858. She died in 1903.
He was survived by five daughters: Mrs. Mary Clark of Geneva; Mrs. Caroline Frey of Newark; Miss Louise Leidinger of Fairville; Mrs. George Rowe of Fairville; Mrs. Edna Pultz of Newark. Two sisters of Columbus, Ohio, 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren survive.
The funeral was held at his home. The pastor of the Presbyterian church, Rev. Clifford H. Helm, assisted by Rev. Charles Herman and Rev. Francis Wade, conducted the services.
The text was a verse from Revelations 14:13: "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, said the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them."
Pallbearers were six of the grandchildren. The remains were interred in the Fairville Cemetery in a beautiful spot beside his wife.
An inventory was filed by Caroline and Louise Leidinger, executors of the estate of Valentine Leidinger, showing amount of cash on hand $1692.14, farming implements $39.20, hay and grain $69, household goods not exempt $137.80, a total of $5984.45.
Valentine Leidinger was listed in the 1867-1868 Directory as a carriage maker in the town of Fairville.
Valentine Leidinger
1833-1919
Valentine Leidinger Stone
Fairville, NY
