Obituaries

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Dec 1, 1904

GRIFFIN.— Died on Cliff Island, Maine, of consumption, Nov. 17, 1904, David Henry Griffin, aged 77 years, 3 months, and 2 days. Brother Griffin was formerly a member of the Methodist Church; but when his attention was called to the truths of the third angel's message, he investigated them, and before hearing a discourse, he began to observe the Lord's Sabbath. This was about twenty-eight years ago, and he was faithful in keeping the commandments until his death. He leaves a companion, three children, three brothers, and one sister, and a large number of more distant relatives and friends to mourn their loss. Words of comfort were spoken by the writer, from Matt. 16:27. S. J. HERSUM.

TALMAGE.— Died at her home near Chesterville, Ohio, Nov. 2, 1904, Mrs. Sophia (nee Alverson) Talmage, aged 67 years, 11 months, and 29 days. She was laid to her final rest on her sixty-eighth birthday. Sister Talmage had been in ill health for several years. She frequently expressed a sense of weakness; and her oft-repeated wish that if her work was done, she might be given rest, at last was granted, and like a weary child, without a struggle, she fell asleep. On Oct. 7, 1856, she was united in marriage to J. N. Talmage, thus sharing with him the joys and sorrows of this life for forty-eight years. This union was blessed with five children, two sons and three daughters, all of whom were present at the funeral. At the age of sixteen she was converted, and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, continuing in that faith until 1873, when she and her husband identified themselves with the Seventh-day Adventist church of Waterford at its organization, remaining steadfast in the faith of this people till the time of her death. She was a devoted wife, an affectionate mother, an earnest Christian, and a kind neighbor, loved and respected by all who knew her. She leaves a husband, five children, eight grandchildren, two great grandchildren, two sisters, and one brother to mourn their loss. The funeral service was largely attended by sympathizing friends and neighbors. Words of comfort were spoken by the writer from 1 Thess. 4:13-18. H. H. BURKHOLDER.

A Faithful Worker Fallen

SISTER MARIAN DAVIS, for many years an efficient laborer in the literary departments of our work, fell asleep in Jesus at St. Helena, Cal., Oct. 25, 1904. Sister Davis was born in North Berwick, Maine, Aug. 21, 1847. When she was three years of age, her father came to California in search of gold. A year later, and while he was still in California, her mother accepted the Adventist faith. Soon after his return to Maine, a year later, her father also accepted the blessed hope of the Saviour's personal second coming for the gathering of his people. Marian was an earnest, conscientious child, and at an early age she became a member of the church. In 1868 she went with her parents, two sisters, and a brother, to Battle Creek, Mich., where the father and mother and one sister died in the faith, and where a brother, Mr. W. Davis, and a sister, Mrs. W. K. Kellogg, still reside. Soon after coming to Michigan, Sister Davis undertook the teaching of a country school. The work was too hard for her, and resulted in a complete breakdown in health. A year of sickness followed, from which she was raised up in answer to prayer. After this she worked for several years as a proof-reader in the Review and Herald printing-office. In 1879 she entered the employ of Mrs. E. G. White, and she was a faithful, devoted, and very efficient helper until the time of her recent illness. With Mrs. White she has shared many experiences of travel and labor, accompanying her in pioneer experiences in Texas, Indian Territory, and Kansas in 1879, going with her to California in 1881, to Europe in 1885, again to California in 1887, to Michigan in 1889, to Australia in 1891, and again to California in 1900. During the past twenty-five years Sister Davis has been a most efficient and trusted worker, preparing for the press tracts, pamphlets, and books, and articles for our numerous periodicals. In May, 1903, while attending the General Conference in Oakland, Sister Davis, with many others, visited the Chabot Observatory to study the wonders of the starry heavens. While there, she caught a severe cold, which settled upon her lungs, and brought her very low. Slowly recovering in the autumn, she labored during the winter and spring with her old-time energy. About the middle of the summer her strength began to fail, and she wasted away until she fell asleep peacefully Tuesday afternoon, October 25. In August her sister, Mrs. W. K. Kellogg, and her niece, Miss Beth Kellogg, came from Michigan to visit her, and were with her at the time of her death. Always of a sensitive and modest disposition, Sister Davis sometimes, during her sickness, mourned because of the imperfections of her work and experience, but at the last she grasped the firm promises of God, and found peace and rest and joy in the Lord. The funeral was held in the St. Helena church. A large number of friends were present from the sanitarium and its neighborhood, and from St. Helena. Elder H. A. St. John spoke words of comfort and hope to the bereaved sister and niece, and to the many personal friends present. Sister Davis will be greatly missed by her collaborers in the work to which she gave so many years of her life. But we sorrow not as those who have no hope. She is sleeping in Jesus, and in the resurrection morning she will hear his voice, and will come forth to glorious immortality. Of her it can indeed be said, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” W. C. WHITE.