Simon Suydam

The Death of Simon Suydam.

Died, March 27, 1873, at Toledo, Ohio, from the effects of injuries received while moving a building a fortnight before, Deacon Simon Suydam, aged 56 years.

Bro. Suydam was a native of New Jersey, but was brought up in Butler County, Ohio, and was settled during most of his manly years in Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio. In 1839 he married Miss Sarah M. Dunlevy, daughter of A. H. Dunlevy, of Lebanon, who with five children, survive him. After a course of study in the office of Hon. Thomas Corwin, his guardian and friend, he entered on the practice of law, but soon withdrew from the profession to engage in business. Three years ago he came with his family to Toledo, and at the time of his death he was at the head of the Toledo Wheel Company.

In his religious life our brother’s record was noteworthy. Baptized into the Lebanon Baptist Church by Elder Blodgett in the latter part of March, 1838, afterward for a time a member at Dayton, then at Lebanon again, and finally at Toledo, for thirty five years he kept the faith and bore a most useful part in advancing the Redeemer’s kingdom. Always active, intelligent and genial, he ripened in complete consecration under years of trial and experience and especially in the last few years and months his Christian character shone even purer and brighter than ever. This was recognized by his brethren and sisters in many ways. In his death the First Church of Toledo loses a deacon and a trustee, the home Sabbath school and the Sargeant Mission each their leading Bible class teacher; the -?- Association’s member of its Missionary Committee, and the Ohio Baptist State Convention a member of its Board of Trustees. But more significant are the tears shed by his departure by all classes who knew him, and the common confession that since the death of the sainted Platt and Sargeant, the cause at Toledo has suffered no greater loss than in this bereavement.

During the past winter it was Bro. Suydam’s privilege to have an active part in a most precious revival work. Three of his own sons were among the fruits of the ingathering. How much his prayers, his winning yet deeply earnest addresses, his wealth of biblical knowledge and experience of divine grace had to do with this blessed work can not be measured. Was it because we leaned on him so much that God took him? We surely needed not the loss to help us appreciate his worth.

One trait of our brother’s character deserves special mention – he was the life-long friend of the poor and downtrodden. He never forgot the oppressed. As a deacon the destitute received from him far more than official remembrance. As an employer he knew his employees as men and friends, and they knew him s one who cared for their souls as well as for their strength and skill. He has much that might lead him to feel and act otherwise; but he saw in every man a brother, the image of God, the object for which his Savior died.

Simon Suydam, having served his generation, has fallen asleep in Jesus, and rests by the side of his dear children at Lebanon. When that grave has long been sodded more than one, grazing through the grass and clods on that face, too peaceful and benighn to be forgotten may sing,

“These tokens of that gracious pre en e here,
O Nature, you and I together mourn;
But you and I, O Nature, have our cheer
Concerning Him that helps our l____ borne.
You mold his dust to keepsake grass and
flower –
What warmed his dust molds me to forms of
finer powder.”

- [Cincinnati Journal and Messenger]

Source: The Western Star 1 May 1873 [copy obtained from obituary collection at the Warren County Genealogical Society]