Matthias Burnett (1855-1933)

Obituary
Matthias Burnett passed away on Tuesday evening of this week at his home just north of the village. He had been ailing for a long time, and for some months had been confined to his home. Mr. Burnett had been a resident of our village for many years and his going takes from us one of our honored and most respected citizens. Born near Jefferson in 1855, the son of Spencer and Barsina Barger Burnett, he spent his early days on his father’s farm, attending neighboring district schools. In 1879, he married Adell Beard and remained on his father’s farm until 1890, when he moved to Stamford, NY and opened a market there, three years later he sold his business and moved to Cobleskill where he has since resided, trusted and beloved by all who knew him. For a few years he was on the road for the Grand Union Company, later opening a laundry here and at Schoharie as well. Eleven years ago, this business was sold to Floyd Christman, when Mr. Burnett bought the small farm in what is known as the Lamont District where he has since resided. Mr. Burnett had a long and honorable business career and was a God-fearing Christian gentleman gifted in prayer and testimony and loving all the services of his church, of which he had been a member first in Eminence in his boyhood days and subsequently at Cobleskill. He is survived by his wife, by two sons, Guy of New York City and Leon of this village, also by a brother, Thomas O. Burnett and a sister Mrs. Lettie B. Shafer, both residing in Cobleskill.