McLELLAND, W.H.S. 'Seward' died 1877

MCLELLAND, BROTHERS

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 7/24/2011 at 04:35:53

Died, in Columbus, Nebraska, May 26, 1877, of consumption, W.H.S. McLelland, in the 38th year of his age.

Mr. McLelland had been a resident of the vicinity of Postville for about twenty years. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade and a good one, too, and had taught school considerable. Two years ago he had a run of fever, which left him in a feeble and nervous state, though he worked at his trade the most of the time through the following summer. In the fall he went to a water care establishment in the State of New York and remained until spring without relief. He returned home last year and has gradually declined since.
Two weeks ago last Wednesday he, in charge of F.E. Brothers, started for Nebraska, in the hope that the purer and lighter atmosphere of the plains would exert a salutary influence. Those of us who saw him start were fearful that he would not return alive, but hoped for the best.

Every possible provision was made for his comfort on the trip and he stood the journey well, seeming to improve all the time, and having bright hopes of regaining his health. Even up to the last he did not seem to realize that he was near his end. Two days before his death, Mr. Brothers noticed a change for the worse had set in, and called in a physician. Nothing could be done for him, and his life went slowly out like a clock running down. He experienced no pain, and the change came like a sweet sleep, with out the movement of a muscle.

And thus one of the purest and best young men we had among us has gone out upon the great ocean of eternity - his pitcher is broken at the fountain, his voice on earth is stilled, his light has been transferred from among the feeble orbs of earth to the brighter glory of the Paradise of God.

His remains reached here on Monday and were taken charge of by the Odd Fellows, of which the deceased was a worthy and loved member. The funeral was held at the M.E. Church on Tuesday A.M., a very large concourse of relatives, neighbors and friends attending the last sad rites.

The friends desire to make acknowledgment to the officers of the Burlington road for kindness shown, and also to members of the fraternity in Nebraska, and to Mrs. Webber, the landlady of the hotel at Columbus, for kindness and tender care. They hope that each and all, who by sympathy and kindness in the home of affliction, have lent their aid, will reap their reward.

And thus we lay our brother and friend down to repose, safe in the hands of Him who doeth all things well.

~Postville Review, June 2, 1877

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Seward McClelland, an excellent man for a number of years a prominent resident of Postville, died of consumption, 26th ult, at Columbus, Neb. to which place he had started two weeks before in quest of relief from the disease which had preyed upon him for some years.

The remains were taken in charge by the Odd Fellows, of which brotherhood he was an honored member, and over two hundred of the order were in attendance at the funeral.

~Lansing Mirror, Friday, June 16, 1877

Notes:
- burial is in Postville cemetery. If there was a gravestone marking the McLelland lot, it is no longer extant. His parents R.J. & Anna McLelland are also buried in the lot

-a family tree posted on Ancestry gives his name as William H. Seward McClellan, with DOD matching the obit

-the 1882 biography of R.J. McLelland of Grand Meadow twp. (Clayton county) includes a son Seward who "died in 1879"