Funeral services for Cornelius Hotchkiss who died at his home here Monday, March 31 following several weeks illness with heart trouble were held at the Methodist church Thursday afternoon, April 3, 2:30 o'clock, conducted by Rev. C. P. Broadfoot. Music was furnished by the Presbyterian choir. Interment was in the Burlingame Cemetery.
Cornelius Hotchkiss was born at Carronshore, Scotland, March 10, 1868, grew there to manhood and was there married to Christina Ferguson, December 31, 1878.
In 1880 he came to America with his wife and one child. He first went to Pennsylvania, remained there a short time, then came on west to Osage County and Burlingame where he had since resided.
He had been a coal operator here at Burlingame for thirty-one years, where a family of nine children has grown up around him, his boys remaining here with him in the coal business which has been through the years quite an important industry in this vicinity.
He was naturally a great home man, yet he took quite a part in the public life of the city. He served on the city council for a time and also as central committeeman for the Republican party of Osage County.
Always wishing to aid in any good cause, he signed with others a petition asking for an increase in pension for the few remaining Civil War veterans, which petition, in now before Congress.
In all business matters and other relations of life, his record is as clear as the sunlight. He was absolutely honest and dependable, a valuable citizen in the community.
His generosity was an outstanding characteristic. He supported an invalid cousin in Scotland for twenty years after his coming to American which was no small burden in addition to the needs of his growing family. He never shirked a duty. After rearing his own large family of nine children, he opened his heart and home to his two fatherless grandsons, the Chalmers boys. One is now in his third year in the State Agricultural College at Manhattan, the other is senior in high school here. A year ago, two other grandchildren were fatherless. They also found a home and love under his roof. To his children he often quoted the text: "Cast thy bread upon the waters for thou shalt find it after many days."
A widow of recent years here recalls that in her first deep loneliness he and his wife spent an evening in her home. In a most earnest, comforting way he said to her, "Remember that my table is your table, remember always that my home is your home. Few outside his family knew the boundless depth of his generosity.
He love the fine things of life, was fond of music and poetry and in Scottish history was deeply versed. He never lost interest in the fatherland. He often quoted choice extracts from Shakespeare and from Burns to family and friends. The following from Burns the children frequently heard:
"O wad some Power the giftie gie us,
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae mony a blunder free us,
An' foolish notion."
He made a home so spacious that on occasion the numerous relatives might be gathered there. Home Life was very dear to him. Piano music, Scottish songs and even the soft chimes of a wonderful grandfather's clock helped to give his home a restful atmosphere.
In his death on March 31, 1930, the general public loses an honorable and useful citizen, the family an unusual husband and father. There followed him to his last resting place, his wife, nine children, thirty-three grandchildren and five great grandchildren which with brothers, sisters and those intermarried were one hundred thirty-two in number. They left him there, with a wealth of flowers above him to fade as hope oft fades in the human breast, yet where he lies, peace-God's blessed benediction falleth for the worn and the weary.
He leaves to mourn his loss, his wife Christina, his sons, Edward, Cornelius, William, Thomas and Alexander, his daughters, Mrs. Elizabeth Jones and Mrs. Anna Henderson of Burlingame, Margaret Hastings of Scranton and Mrs. Christine Connors of Chicago; also three brothers, Alexander, Edward and James of Burlingame, three sisters, Rebecca Foster of Burlingame, Margaret Sharp of Pittsburg, Kansas and Mary Washington of Kansas City, Missouri, other relatives and friends
Burlingame, KS Enterprise-Chronicle April 10, 1930 p.1
Contributed by Thomas Hotchkiss #47983816