 1864 - 1913 (48 years)
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| Name |
Dennis G. McKenzie |
| Birth |
14 Feb 1864 |
Grantsville, Garrett County, Maryland  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Death |
28 Jan 1913 |
Grantsville, Garrett County, Maryland |
| Notes |
- Christened on 20 May 1864. Sponsors: Johan Schoett and Mary Yost. Page 177. Records of St. Michael's Catholic Church. St. Michael's was established in 1852. MSA M 3743 (1852-1910).
Dennis J. McKenzie, of whose death brief mention was made in last week's issue, was laid to rest on Thursday afternoon in the Grantsville cemetery. This death, coming as it did, so unexpectedly, was a great shock to everyone, he having lived only a day and night after the stroke. Rev. Father Quinn of West Salisbury remained with him during that time, waiting to receive his confession and give absolution, but he never regained consciousness, and the end came about 10 o'clock on Tuesday night. Two brothers and two sisters survive him - Hubbard of Grantsville, Tom of Midland, Md., Mrs. Henrietta Smouse and Mrs. Arthur Jordan of Grantsville. The latter was unable to see her brother before he was laid away, due to illness, a baby girl having been born to her a few days previous to his death. Dennis McKenzie was born in Feb. 14, 1864, and always lived in Grantsville. For nearly twenty-five years he was practically the only barber about here, and his little shop was a meeting place where the men congregated each evening to talk over the events of the day. For over fifteen years he had for some inexplicable reason remained in the seclusion of his shop and the few rooms where he prepared his meals and slept, never going out on the street. He never saw either of the new banks or the Victoria Hotel. Although a recluse, he, with the aid of newspapers and magazines, kept up with the times and could converse intelligently upon any subject which was introduced. In faith, he was a Catholic, although during the years of his self-imposed retirement he also neglected to perform his church obligations, which act of omission debarred him from receiving the burial rites of the church of his faith. But, though a non-church goer, he was by no means a non-believer, and many of us, his neighbors who are regular church-goers, would do well to emulate the example of his almost blameless life. He loved his God, nor spoke his name in vain; he was never known to speak ill of another; he disliked gossip; his manner and language were refined; his purse strings were ever unloosed for the children of his two sisters; he gave liberally to the church and never refused to contribute to any benevolent project; he was a ready sympathizer and friend of the needy; no one asked him for help in vain. Why he lived alone no one can say. "Every heart knoweth its own bitterness." Who can tell what his thoughts were as, after the little shop was closed he sat alone at night with his beloved violin? Its melodies, sometimes weird, sometimes tender, voiced the cry which perhaps his heart dared not speak. Who knows but in the solitude of his isolated life he came into a closer communion and more perfect nearness with God than he might otherwise have done? And if this be true, God understands, for all things are revealed unto him, and because God does know and understand, the soul of this quiet God-fearing man of whom no evil can be said, is safe in his keeping. He will make all things clear to him and speak peace to his soul, and the old battered fiddle now laid away, will be replaced with a harp which is made with strings of gold. [Date of death was January 28, 1913; date of publication was February 5, 1913; parents were Francis and Mary (Layman) McKenzie]
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| Person ID |
I06820 |
McKenzie Genealogy |
| Last Modified |
29 Oct 2021 |
| Father |
Francis McKenzie, b. 20 Sep 1832, Grantsville, Maryland d. 28 Mar 1904, Grantsville, Maryland (Age 71 years) |
| Relationship |
natural |
| Mother |
Mary Lou Layman, b. Abt 1838 d. 11 Sep 1886, Grantsville, Garrett County, Maryland (Age ~ 48 years) |
| Relationship |
natural |
| Marriage |
2 Sep 1858 |
Allegany County, Maryland |
| Family ID |
F00956 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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