Mrs. Hattie P. (Clark) McKown Obituary

A Singer

March 28, 1933

Funeral services for Mrs. Hattie P. (Clark) McKown were held at the McKown homestead Sunday afternoon. Mrs. McKown died Thursday at Beverly Heights Convalescent Home in Wilton, where she had been for several months. Rev. Eliott Bowman and Rev. H. Stanley Holton conducted the services.

She was the daughter of Peter H. and Sarah Barns Clark. She was born Nov. 27, 1850, and was married in 1870 to George L. Gates of Ashby.

Mrs. McKown's second husband was William George McKown of Boston, Mass., to whom she was married Jan. 31, 1878. Their children, Ethel McKown and Annie McKown, died in infancy.

Mrs. McKown had unusual musical ability. She sang at St. Paul's cathedral, King's Chapel, and the Old South church in Boston and Grace Episcopal church in Providence, R. I. She also sang at the Boston jubilee in 1872.

She leaves a grandson, Donald Parker of Boston, a granddaughter, Mrs. Daphne Parker Prescott of Hueneme, Calif.; also four great-grandchildren, Nancy, Penelope, Daphne, and Rebecca Prescott, of Hueneme.

Many out of town friends attended the funeral. They included Mr. and Mrs. William Thayer, Westboro, Mass.; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Preston, Springfield, Mass.; James Allen and Mrs. Wright, 94 years of age, Ashby, and Mr. and Mrs. Howe, Fitchburg. Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Ely, Mr. and Mrs. Henry P. Gainey and Miss Myrtle Marsh were among the friends from Greenville, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Boyd from Temple.

Bearers were Walter S. Thayer, Philip Thayer, William A. Preston and W. J. Boyd. Burial was in the Clark family lot at Center cemetery.

Alice Cullen, Ethel McKown Parker, Donald Parker, Hattie McKown holding Daphne Parker, Mary A. Thayer.

James Roger diary entry

2nd June 1913

Fair and warm with good air. David at Spofford's with Walter Hardy. I went to Greenville for grain and other things. Mother had fairly good night and day. Got postcard from Hamish from Worcester. I went to selectmen's rooms with account from Dave for brown tail moths. Paid Prescotts’ and Phelps’ accounts.

James Roger Poetry (from 1881)

Modern Scottish Poets, Third Edition - D.H. Edward 1881

TO A FRIEND

Oh ! blame not if my woodnotes wild,
In strains harmonious may not roll ;
I let the flowers of fancy twine 
In wreaths uncultured round my soul.

The hedge- side flowers will serve an end,
Unnoticed in the worlds rude strife ;
And like the flowers those lines many tend 
To soothe some thorny path in Life.

Look friendly on those simple lays,
Think kindly of me as you read ;
You would not blame the homely hird 
That sweetly sings on daisied mead

Because its song was not more sweet,
Its notes did not more glorious thrill ;
And mine is but a rude wild strain 
Tu please my own untutored will.

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