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- Newspaper Obituary - Thursday, March 28, 1861 Mexico Independent - Mexico, New York - Another Veteran Pioneer of the County gone to his Long Home - Died, at the residence of his son-in-law, P. H. Cropsey, in Pulaski, on the 25th ult., after a long and painful illness, Col. Joseph Torrey, in the 71st year of his age. Col. Torrey was one of the oldest settlers of the county, having been a resident for the last fifty years, and, from the prominent part he has taken in the political, civil and military affairs of the county, he is entitled to more than a passing notice at this time. He was born at Schaghticoke, Rensselaer County, New York, on the 14th day of April, 1790. Of his early history, during the period of his childhood and youth, but little is known. It appears, however, that [line unreadable] mostly spent in the county of Oneida where he acquired a sufficient education to qualify him for teaching a common school, which occupation, and that of surveying [line unreadable] extent, during the earlier period of his residence in this county. In the year 1811, at the age of 21, he first came to this county, and located in the town of Mexico, in which town he resided, most of the time, up to his death. He first engaged in teaching school, in that part of the town now known as Colosse, where he resided until the declaration of war, in 1812, when he enlisted in the army, as a sergeant, in the company of Capt. Richard Goodell, then of Adams, in the county of Jefferson. For most of the time, during the war, he acted as orderly sergeant, and recruiting officer, and was located in different parts of the State, and, having the entire confidence of his superior officers, to him important trusts were often confided. After the close of the war he returned to Colosse, and, _, he married Miss Roxana Barnes, daughter of Rev. Gamaliel Barnes, a Baptist clergyman, and about the same time he engaged in the mercantile business and got a post office established at that place, and received the appointment of Postmaster, which office he held for many years. About the year 1824 he raised a rifle company at Colosse, and vicinity, and was appointed captain, which office he held for some years, when he was appointed major, and subsequently Colonel of the Rifle Regiment. As a military man and officer, Col. Torrey was distinguished for his martial spirit, correct and prompt action, and soldier like deportment, and, as an efficient and precise drill officer, and thorough disciplinarian, he had no superiors in the county. In 1836, he was appointed Surrogate of this county, which office he held for the term of nine years, when he resigned. He has, also, held the office of Supervisor of the town, and various other town offices, the duties of all which were faithfully discharged. In early life he attached himself to the Methodist Church, and for many years was class leader and exhorter; and was also licensed to preach. As a Christian, he was exemplary, zealous and sincere; as a husband and father, kind and affectionate; as a friend, ardent and confiding; as a citizen, public spirited and patriotic; as a neighbor and man, obliging, lonest and upright; and, in all his business and intercourse with society, he was governed by the strictest principles of rectitude and integrity. In politics he was always a staunch and consistent Democrat of the national conservative school; and in all the ups and downs of party, and vacillations of party men, he maintained his integrity, untarnished. As a member of the Masonic Fraternity, he was a true and faithful craftsman; and when his works are brought up for inspection, they will, undoubtedly, be approved by the Gen. Architect of the Universe. In short, it may truly be said of him, that all the duties _ devolved on him, in every station and relation of life, whether public or private, whether _ or political, religious or military, were conscientiously discharged by him, with faithfulness and fidelity. But his labors on earth are o’er. His mo_ career is closed; after a long and useful life of more “than three score years and ten,” has taken his departure for “that undiscovered country, from whose bourne no traveler returns,” - “where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.” Yet the memory of his virtues will still live, and be embalmed in the hearts of his many relatives and friends. The complaint which terminated his earthly existence, was that dread disease, the cancer. In the whole catalogue of “ills which human flesh is heir to,” none is more dire, more _ and fatal. When its fangs are once fastened on its object there is no release. Its doomed victim is literally eaten up alive, inch by inch. For many dismal nights, and months, and years, did Col. Torrey suffer all the pains and horrors of this dire disease, and yet he murmured not. Through the whole period of his dreary confinement, he bore his sufferings with true Christian patience and resignation. In all his afflictions and trials, he was sustained by that “hope which is an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast,” while that living “faith, which worketh by love and purifies the heart,” eliminated his pathway “through the dark valley and shadow of Death,” and pointed with unerring certainty to the realms of unfading bliss, beyond the confines of the darksome tomb. To him, Death has no terrors. It was rather a welcome messenger, a harbinger of eternal rest and peace; and he bade adieu to all things here below, with the blissful assurance of the immortal joys in the mansions of his Heavenly Father, where, we doubt not, he received the welcome plaudit of “well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” - S. -Pulaski Democrat.
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1790 - 1861 (70 years)