Obituary Notices by James White

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Apr 8, 1875

Obituary Notices.

By James White

"I will ransom them from the power of the grave: I will redeem them from death." Hosea 13:14.

Maggie A. Loughborough, wife of Elder J. N. Loughborough died of consumption at St. Helena, Cal., March 24, 1875, in her thirty-fifth year. She took a severe cold at her home in Santa Rosa, Cal., in July, 1872, after taking care of a consumptive lady for three weeks, who died in the house. From that time she had been troubled with a cough, more or less, until her decease. For the last year she had been a great sufferer; but bore all without a murmur. She was remarkably sustained by the grace of God.

Sister Loughborough professed religion and joined the Methodist church at the age of 21 years. Three years later she became a Seventh-day Adventist, and continued in this faith till her death. She was married to Elder Loughborough at Victor, N. Y., June 12, 1868, and came immediately to California to endure the hardships and privations and trials of missionary life with her husband. She ever desired to see the prosperity of the cause, and only three months before her decease wrote to her husband not to leave the work of God on account of her sickness, and that if she should die while he was away from home not to grieve for that. Elder Loughborough, however, was at his home in St. Helena, and watched the last days of his beloved wife, and administered to her wants after she was unable to walk about the house.

She often said in her last sickness that she did not know what she should do at such a time without the Christian's hope, and that it paid well to live a Christian life for the consolation it afforded in her last sickness. Her desire and prayer had been that her last moments might be without great suffering. Her petition was granted. She retained her senses to the last, and died as calmly and peacefully as a child goes to sleep. "Tell all my friends when I am gone," said Maggie a short time before she slept, "to meet in the Kingdom."

"She sleeps in Jesus, soon to rise When the last trump shall rend the skies; Then burst the fetters of the tomb, To wake in full immortal bloom."

The services at the funeral were conducted by Elder M. G. Kellogg of Woodland, Cal. James White.