Obituary of Dr. William Aitkins (1807-1874)

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William Atkins, M.D., died at Williamsburgh, Kan., September 16, 1874. He was born in Washington county, Pa., October 3, 1807, of pious parents, and was by them trained up according to the usages of the Presbyterian Church. He was educated at Jefferson College, Canonsburgh, Pa., and having studied medicine at Noblestown, Pa., also attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, he commenced practice in Rural Valley, Armstrong county, Pa. in 1839, where, having acquired a large patronage, he remained for twenty-seven years. In 1866 he removed with his family to Mt. Union, Ohio, and in 1870 to Williamsburgh, Kansas. He was first married in 1846, to Lydia J., daughter of Hamlet Totten, Esq, of Rural Valley. She died in 1852, leaving two little boys. in 1853 he married Rebecca, daughter of Richard Caruthers, by whom he had six children, two of whom died in infancy. From early life he was taught to love the house of God, and the Sabbath school, both of which he cherished through life; but not until about fifteen years ago did he make a profession of a saving knowledge of Christ, when he united with the M. E. church at Rural Village, then under the pastoral care of Rev. I. N. Pierce. From that time till the close of his life he continued to be a consistent member of the Church, and wherever his lot was cast, made it a point to attend upon all the means of grace. Through his last sickness (dysentary), he was calm, peaceful and happy, talking much of the love of Jesus, and of the power of his grace, and especially of what he had done for him. He delighted much in the Word of God, many passages of which he had trasured up in his memory, and now, in his sickness proved to be as fountains of water gushing forth to refresh his fainting soul. He often spoke of his home in heaven and frequently had his friends sing the "Home of the Soul." He said, "Tell my friends to meet me in heaven." A few hours before he died, waking from sleep, he said, "The end is drawing nigh; all is well." To his friends and family he said: "Watch! Watch! Watch!" Finally, after being fixed in the bed, he said: "All is bright ahead; let me rest now," and immediately passed away.

R. A. Caruthers