Obituaries by G. A. Wessels; C. J. Rausch; M. J. Crawford; W. D. Paremusey; H. C. J. Woller; H. R. Kidder; F. M. Burg; M. B. Vankirk

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Dec 29, 1904

Obituaries

By G. A. Wessels; C. J. Rausch; M. J. Crawford; W. D. Paremusey; H. C. J. Woller; H. R. Kidder; F. M. Burg; M. B. Vankirk

GAVETT.—Died at St. Charles Hospital, Aurora, Ill., Nov. 25, 1904, Mrs. Sarah Gavett, aged 51 years and 9 days. Sister Gavett united with the Piano (Ill.) Seventh-day Adventist church in 1894, and remained faithful to the end. She leaves four sons and one daughter. Words of exhortation were spoken by the writer, from Amos 4:12. G. A. WESSELS.

HILLS.—Died at Nelson, Mont., Sept. 28, 1904, of la grippe, Elieur Hills, aged 78 years and 11 months. His mind was remarkably clear until the last, and he expressed his hope of rising at the call of Christ, in the first resurrection. His wife, Sister M. J. Hills, with whom he had traveled life's journey for forty years, survives him. Many friends were present at the funeral service. C. J. RAUSCH.

SHANK.—Died in Toronto, Ontario, Nov. 25, 1904, of a complication of diseases, my mother, Mrs. R. A. Shank, aged 71 years. Early in life she united with the Presbyterian Church. I think it was about 1878 when she accepted Bible truth as taught by Seventh-day Adventists. She was one of the first members of the church at Dunkirk, Ontario, and was a faithful and zealous worker for the cause of Christ, and a firm believer in his soon coming. It was my privilege to have mother with me the last five months of her life. The blessed hope was her support in her last sickness. M. J. CRAWFORD.

MORFORD.—Died at her home in Port Orange, Fla., Nov. 15, 1904, after a short illness, Jane Morford, wife of Joseph Morford, aged 55 years, 4 months, and 20 days. Sister Morford accepted present truth about seventeen years ago. She was quiet and unassuming, a kind, devoted wife and mother, a good neighbor, and was ever ready to lend a helping hand. A husband, two sons, and two daughters mourn their loss.

WILBUR.—Died at the home of his parents, William S. and Ceddie E. Wilbur, at Dimondale, Mich., Oct. 16, 1904, of epilepsy, resulting from an attack of spinal meningitis, Vern W. Wilbur, aged 12 years, 3 months, and 9 days. Since two years of age Vern has been an invalid and a great sufferer. While Brother and Sister Wilbur mourn the loss of their first-born, yet they sorrow not as others who have no hope. Funeral services were conducted by the writer. W. D. PAREMUSEY.

TRAVIS.—Died in Seattle, Wash., Nov. 17, 1904, Jane Elizabeth Travis, aged 74 years and 6 months. Twenty years ago she united with the Seventh-day Adventists, and since that time lived a life of unswerving fidelity to the cause of God. She was ever ministering to the necessities of others, and will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Six children survive her, and two have been laid to rest. The writer gave a short funeral discourse from those precious words of 2 Cor. 1:3, 4. H. C. J. WOLLER.

KIDDER.—Died at the home of her son, in Northfield, Va., Oct. 9, 1904, my beloved mother, Nancy E. Kidder, aged 62 years and 11 months. She suffered for several years from valvular heart-disease, and September 19 a stroke of paralysis deprived her of speech and the use of one side. She lingered for seventeen days, at times suffering greatly. Mother was a sincere Christian. She was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist church for over thirty years. A husband, two daughters, and one son are left to mourn their loss, yet we know it is well with her. Funeral services were conducted by Elder T. H. Purdon, from her home in Brookfield. H. R. KIDDER.

TRAIN.—Died at Monteville, Ore., Nov. 21, 1904, of cancer of the stomach, Sister Elvira C. Train, aged 70 years, 2 months, and 25 days. Sister Train was a native of New York. Her parents were strict members of the Methodist church, and she, with them, affiliated with that denomination until about twenty-five years ago, when she accepted the truths for this time, living a consistent and devoted life as a member of the Seventh-day Adventist church till she fell asleep to await the consummation of the hope she cherished so long. Of five children, three, a son and two daughters, together with her husband, survive her. Her sweet influence will live after her, as an incentive to a life of service for God. Words of comfort were spoken at the funeral by the writer. F. M. BURG.

NELSON.—Died at the home of his son, Dr. C. P. Nelson, of Westbrook, Minn., Oct. 11, 1904, Brother C. Nelson, aged 75 years, 6 months, and 17 days. Brother Nelson will be remembered as one of the early pioneers of the message in this State. He was for a number of years a minister in the Scandinavian work. The immediate reason of his death was complications that set in shortly after a surgical operation performed by Dr. Mayo at Rochester. Brother Nelson was a faithful Adventist to his last moments. His faith and trust in the Lord were firm to the end. Two sons and five daughters, with his faithful companion, are left to mourn his death. They sorrow not as those without comfort; for they have faith in God. The funeral services were held at the Baptist church in Westbrook, Sabbath afternoon, October 22. Words of comfort were drawn from 2 Tim. 4:7, 8. The writer was assisted in the services by the resident Baptist pastor, and also by the pastor of the Swedish Baptist church, which is near Westbrook. We laid Brother Nelson to rest with confidence in his having a part in the first resurrection. M. B. VANKIRK.

BATES.—Died at his home in Rush Township, I., Davison Co., Ill., Nov. 28, 1904, of poor health, John Holbrook Bates, aged 70 years, 9 months, and 9 days. He was ten years old at the time of the 1st movement. His father, being in the message at that time, helped to proclaim it. At thirteen years of age he, with his parents, moved to this State, where he has since lived. A little later they received the third angel's message. For thirty-eight years his home has been a home for ministers, and for aged and infirm persons and orphans. At the time of his death he was elder of the church and teacher in the Sabbath-school, which position he had held for many years. He leaves a devoted companion, two foster sons and their families, one brother, one sister, and many friends to mourn the loss of a useful and precious life. Not being able to obtain a minister of our faith, Rev. J. B. Rife officiated at the funeral, taking for his text Job 19:25, 26, and 1 Cor. 15:51, reading for a lesson the twenty-third Psalm. A. FRIEND.

QUANTEAU.—Died in Boulder, Colo., Dec. 3, 1904, Brother W. W. Quanteau, in the thirtieth year of his age. He was born in Grundy County, Ill., Nov. 7, 1875, and was united in marriage, in Calcutta, India, to Miss Martha May Taylor, formerly of New York, Aug. 26, 1894. He was converted at an early age, and joined the Baptist Church. Later he accepted the faith of the third angel's message, and spent three years and a half in Battle Creek College. From this school he went to India, where he spent six years in faithful labor. On account of failing health he returned to America, and went to Boulder, Colo., with the hope of regaining his health. He died with a bright hope. He leaves a wife and daughter, a stepmother, three brothers, and two sisters to mourn their loss. Another faithful laborer has fallen. Volunteers will close up the ranks, and the work will go forward. The friends who part from him in sadness will mourn but a little while until He who shall come will come, and the sleeping saints will awake to immortality. The remains were removed to his home in Paynes, Me., for interment. The funeral was conducted by the writer in the Baptist church in Paynes, and was well attended. R. C. PORTER.

MITCHELL.—Our beloved brother, Elder H. M. Mitchell, after suffering for several months with a complication of diseases, died at his home in Academia, Ohio, Dec. 6, 1904. Brother Mitchell was born near Corsica, Ohio, March 26, 1848. He joined the M. E. Church in his youth, and under the labors of Elders Burrill and Mann, embraced the truths of the third angel's message in the winter of 1878. For years Brother Mitchell was closely associated with the work of the message, as minister, and treasurer of the General Conference. He leaves a son and a daughter to mourn his death, but not as those who have no hope. His death occurred during the session of the Young People's convention, and the funeral was held in the academy chapel. His brothers in the ministry were his pall-bearers, and a number of other Ohio workers were present. A quartet sang appropriate hymns, and the writer, assisted by Elders Burkholder and Thompson, and others, conducted the funeral services. It was a solemn time, and a stirring call was given to the young to fill the ranks as comrades fall off their places. One brother, D. K. Mitchell, and two sisters are left of a family of ten children to mourn the brother's death. These sad occurrences only stimulate us to more energetic and persevering effort, and cause us more earnestly to pray, “Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.” Words of comfort were spoken from Rom. 8:22, 23, and Rev. 14:13. D. F. LINDSEY.