Memories of the Calls 1 - Obituary of Robert Call

Memories of the Calls

Some Reflections of Charles Joslin and Elizabeth Coe Call

Book 1

Because I have so desired to know more of my immediate ancestors personal history I have thought of writing what I can of my own and Charles' earliest recollections. These, of course, are for our children and grandchildren, those to whom the personal touch will give a value to these little stories.

Charles' father wrote sketches of his life and labors and achievements at least twice, and read them at gatherings of his family. The last one, read, I think, at a family gathering celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of his coming to the United State, has been lost or destroyed. I am still in hopes we may find an earlier record. until then, we must refer to his obituary, which is the fullest of anything we have at present.

On the next pages I will copy geneological records as compiled by Rosalind Daniels.

(the next four pages carry the genealogy)

I copy from the Batavia Daily News the folowing obituary. it is accompanied with his picture. It is on page 107 of the Family Record.

Robert Call Died at Stafford Home

Prominent as a Farmer, as a Prohibitionist and in Church Endeavor. 

His Philanrthropic Work

Robert Call, one of the best known and highly respected Agriculturist in Genessee county, died at his home on the main road, a mile east of the village of Stafford, at 6:40 o'clock this morning from cancer of the stomach. 

Mr. Call was born at Chawleigh, Devonshire, England on June 5, 1831. He came to America in 1853 and settled in Medford, Mass. as a gardener. His first wife, who was Miss Charlotte Joslyn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Joslyn, left England the following year, and they were married at Fitchburg, Mass. They resided three years at Burlington, Mass. In 1858, they moved to Stafford and ten years later took their residence on the farm on which Mr. Call died. He had followed the occupation of farmer ever since coming to Stafford and made a specialty of potato raising. From small beginnings, Mr Call had by thrift and enterprise, become one of the largest land owners in the county. 

Mrs. Call died on Sept. 27, 1908, and shortly after her death, Mr Call established a permanent memorial to her honor. He dedicated to her memory the Call Memorial Hall of Morganville, which had previously purchased. The building was formerly the Morganville Hotel. The Christian church of Morganville has the use of the lower part of the building for a parsonage, and the hall on the second floor for all church purposes, while at other times the hall on the second floor is used for public purposes. 

Since 1882 Mr. Call has been an active member of the Prohibition party, devoting much money and time to its interests, and he had been a member of the First Christian Church of Stafford about fifty years, serving as clerk and trustee for over forty years. He had been a member of the advisory board of the Aged Ministers Home for all Christian churches of the United States and Canada at Castile, and trustee of the Minister's Aid and Benevolent Society. For over 25 years he had served as a delegate from the Stafford church to the annual conference sessions, and was treasurer of the conference for 14 years and twice, as a lay delegate, represented the conference at the quadrennial conventions of the Christian churches of the United States and Canada. For several years he was vice-president of the Silver Lake Temperance Assembly. 

Mr. Call's practical interest interest in church work was not confined to the church at Morganville for which he had established an endowment fund, but he had also assisted in building the Methodist Church at Stafford and endowed it. Last week he had promised to assist the Salvation Army of Batavia in the erection of a headquarters building. For many years he took an active interest in the Stafford Grange of which he was a member at his death. On March 22nd (1912) Mr. Call celebrated the 60th anniversary of his coming to America by holding a family reunion at his home in Stafford. 

Mr. Call is survived by his second wife, Mrs Lydia P. Tregea, to whom he was married on July 3, 1909; two sons, Albert H. Call of Batavia and Charles J. Call of Stafford; a daughter Mrs. Lizzie A. Daniels of Morganville, 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. 

____________________________________________

Patty's notes on this entry

Photograph of Robert Call

The transcription I have does not include the genealogical records compiled by Rosalind Daniels. nor do I have a copy of the Family Record referred to. 

Baptismal record for Robert Call - July 3, 1831  Chawleigh, Devon, England

Robert Call arrived in Philadelphia on March 22, 1853 on the City of Glasgow

In the obituary, Robert's wife's last name is spelled Joslyn. The usual spelling for the family was Joslin, although Joslyn does appear on occasion. 

Robert Call and Charlotte Joslin were married on July 16, 1854 in Fitchburg, Mass

Establishment of Call Memorial Hall in 1908 - article from the Dec 16 1908 Le Roy Gazette

Robert Call's second wife was born Lydia May Sawday on Sept 9, 1840 in Bovey Tracy, Devon, England. She married Thomas Tregea (1840-1903) in 1866 at Newton Abbey, Devon. Thomas and Lydia had two children George and Anna in England, before the family immigrated to the United States. Their remaining four children, Thomas, William, Joseph and Frank were born in New York. Robert and Lydia married on July 3, 1909. Lydia Sawday Tregea Call died on June 19, 1927 in San Diego,California. 

The date given for the 60th anniversary of Robert's immigration - March 22nd (1912) is not correct. He arrived on March 22, 1853 - so the 60th anniversary was in 1913. I don't know who added the year in parenthesis to the transcription I'm working from. 

Robert Call died on May 9, 1913 in Stafford, Genesee, New York.


Previous Post in the Series: Elizabeth Ann Coe Call - Memories of the Calls and Coe History 
Next Post in the Series: Memories of the Calls 2 - Charlotte Call