HENRY JUDSON GALPIN

First Editor of the Oxford Review-Times and Author of The "Annals of Oxford, " Passed Away at His Home Sunday Morning, December 16, 1917

   Henry Judson Galpin died at his home on Washington Avenue Sunday morning at 10:30 o'clock.  He suffered no pain and passed away as in sleep.  Mr. Galpin was compelled to relinquish his editorial work on this newspaper a year ago last October, being afflicted with a general breakdown.  A rest improved his condition some but the disease, neuritis, had so fastened upon him that he gradually failed in health and much of the time he was confined to the house.  Complications setting in he was forced, some two weeks ago, to seek his bed, from which he never arose.  His friends were very loyal to him during his long illness.  Every aid and comfort that could be thought of was freely and abundantly bestowed.  It may be a pleasure to those friends to know that many lonely hours were made pleasant through their efforts, and that it was his oft repeated wish in his last closing days that he could find words adequate to express his gratitude.

   Mr. Galpin was born in this village, May 10, 1850.  His parents were Judson B. and Catherine B. Galpin, who were natives of Connecticut.  His education was obtained at Oxford Academy and the old Falley Seminary at Fulton, N. Y.  After leaving school he learned the printer's trade in the office of the Oxford Times then conducted by his father, but later gave most of his attention to the bookstore which was in connection with the newspaper.  At the death of his father, in 1893, he took the bookstore and his brother, Theodore B. Galpin, the printing business.  He conducted the bookstore for several years finally disposing of the stock and going back to his trade on the newspaper.  It was about this time that he conceived the idea of publishing a history of Oxford and began gathering data from the old files of the Times which extended back for more than fifty years, also from personal interviews with older residents, and through much correspondences with former residents living in many states of the Union.  Being of a literary turn of mind he took pleasure in the work, devoting many hours day after day for a number of years in compiling and revising the work and in 1906 brought out the "Annals of Oxford," an illustrated volume of 567 pages, leaving a rich inheritance to future generations.  But for his devotion to the cause many historical facts in the town's early history and the lives of prominent people of the early days would have been lost forever.  As a book of reference it has often proved very valuable.  It was purely a labor of love for him and his only reward, for it gained not a dollar for him in compensation for the time he spent and the expense he was put to in its publication.

   On the founding of the Oxford Review, November 12, 1909, Mr. Galpin was chosen as its editor and local writer, a position he filled up to the taking over by the Review of the Oxford Times, and continued with the Review-Times up to October 1916, when ill health compelled him to resign.  Of his newspaper work we have left it with our readers who have followed his writings for the past seven years to judge.

   He was a charter member of Sappho Hose Company, organized in 1873, and at the time of his death an honorary member of the company.  He was a communicant of St. Paul's Episcopal church and one of its vestrymen.  It was his wish that he be buried from the church that he loved and where he worshiped regularly when able to attend, and in whose faith he had a firm belief, and in whose rector, Rev. Theodore Haydn, he found a warm personal friend in health, and a devoted one in the trying hours that came later.  Of a kind disposition, cheerful and sympathizing he, though not blessed with children of his own, was nevertheless very fond of those of other people that came his way and had many loving friends among the little folks, and while he enjoyed their company he did not let the pleasure distract in the least his love for his fellow man.

   September 12, 1894, Mr. Galpin married Mrs. Eva B. Williams of Fulton, who has been a most devoted wife.  She survives him, together with his mother, Mrs. Catherine J. Galpin of New Haven, Conn., who passed her 99th birthday the second day of this month; also by his brother, Theodore B. Galpin, and two sisters, Mrs. John N. Walker of Schenectady and Mrs. Henry Starkweather of New Haven.

   Funeral services were held from St. Paul's church Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock.  Burial in Riverview.  The bearers were from the vestrymen of the church; George P. Mead, B. M. Emerson, John Forrester and Albert S. Burchard.  Those attending from out of town were two nieces, Misses Carrie and Grace Sawyer of Syracuse, and two nephews, John G. and Robert S. Walker of Schenectady.