MATTHEW ST. JOHN.

Matthew St. John, an old resident of Lyle township, died Saturday morning, March 23, 1907, at the home of his son, A. M. St. John, at Lakefield, Minn., aged 87 years.

He was born September 7th, 1819, at Westerlo, Albany county, N. Y., and was married to Roxaline Pierce at Prattsville, N. Y., May 28th, 1845, by Rev. Headstrom.

He came west to Minnesota from Albany county, N. Y., in June, 1856, and purchased a home at Woodbury, near the Cedar river, in Lyle township, Mower county, Minn. He returned to New York and brought the family to Lyle township the same year-- 1856. He and his wife resided at Woodbury continuously until 1900 when they moved to Lakefield and Heron Lake, in Jackson county, Minnesota, so as to be near their sons and where the deceased resided at the time of his death.

His wife, Roxaline, died about five years earlier, on February 24th, 1902. To Matthew and Roxaline St. John were born five children-- Andre M., Ella E., Alice H., Wiley P., and Benona P.-- of whom two only are living. Deceased was the last survivor of his father's family of eleven children.

He became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at an early age and was a true-hearted, noble, Christian gentleman; loved and respected by all who knew him.

He passed away sweetly contented and happy. He was sick but one week, and did not suffer much during the illness, being possessed of all his faculties. He said: "I am not going to die until I have to, but when I have to then it will be all right," and he found it so.

Funeral services were held at Lakefield and the remains were brought to Lyle Monday evening for interment in Woodbury cemetery. Burial service was conducted by Rev. C. D. Belden of Austin Tuesday forenoon.

Deceased was one of the earliest settlers of Lyle township.