Obituary by M. C. Wilcox

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 3, 1890

Obituary.

By M. C. Wilcox

SPARHAWK.—Died at her residence in Oakland, Cal., February 18, 1890, of a complication of diseases, Sister Alice E. Sparhawk, at the age of 61 years, 10 months, and 5 days. Sister Sparhawk's maiden name was Eastwood, and she was born in Richmond, Va., April 13, 1828. She lived there until eleven years of age; the next three years of her life were spent in the State of Connecticut. From there she went to Oswego, N. Y. In 1849 she married Ambrose Sparhawk. The fruit of this union was seven sons and three daughters. The two oldest sons are now living in Scotia, Neb. Most of her children were with her at the time of her death. The sickness of Sister Sparhawk began nineteen years ago, when she was taken with rheumatism. For the last sixteen years of her life she was unable to walk. In 1884 she, with her daughter Ada, went to the Sanitarium at Battle Creek for treatment, but after a stay of two years, the stubborn disease held its own, and they, with a number of the children, tried Nebraska, hoping that the climate there might be conducive to her health, but it was of little benefit. From there she with several children came to Oakland. She enjoyed this climate much, but the disease could not be checked. For the last ten months she has been a great sufferer. Five months before her death, her husband died in New York, as he was preparing to start for Oakland to join his family. This was a sad blow to the afflicted family. While at Battle Creek Sister Sparhawk and her daughter Ada accepted the truth, and hope in Christ sustained her to the last. Among her last words she told her daughter Ada to set a good example. May all her children so live that when the Lifegiver shall come they may meet their mother where there shall be no more pain, and where the inhabitants shall not say, "I am sick." All that could be done to relieve her suffering was done by her children, who are now fatherless and motherless. She was laid to rest by the side of her husband in Mountain View Cemetery. Funeral services by the writer. M. C. W.