Helen Dennison-Means

DENNISON, MANSON, MEANS, SHELLEDY, MITCHELL

Posted By: Joan Hannum-Bartlett (email)
Date: 8/3/2002 at 17:03:13

Mrs. Helen, wife of Postmaster W.B. Means passed away at the family home on Benton Street, at 1:00 o'clock Saturday morning, after a lingering and painful illness with cancer of the breast and other complications. Helen Dennison was born at Tiffin, Ohio, February 18, 1852. She was the oldest child of N.W. Dennison and Amanda (Manson) Dennison. When she was six years old her parents came to Boonsboro, her father being one of the first lawyers here and at one time publisher of The Boone County Democrat. He died at the age of thirty-seven years and only a few years after coming here, leaving the widow and two children, Helen, and a brother, Edward, who died in 1878. In 1861 the mother married Judge Issac J. Mitchell and to them was born one child, Harry E. Mitchell. The mother died in 1873 and Judge Mitchell in 1883, leaving Helen as the only surviving member of the original family. On December 3, 1873, she was united in marriage W.B. Means and to them have been born five children. Mrs. Nellie Woodruff of Mason City, Manson M., who died in infancy, John C., William Edgar and Mary Louise all at home. She had been in failing health for some time and had consulted the best specilists in New York and Chicago and on April 24th last was operated on in Chicago for cancer of the breast. She came home from the hospital in June and her recovery was hoped for but complications followed each other fast until death came to release her as stated above. The funeral services were conducted from the one at 2:30 o'clock Monday afternoon by the Rev. O.H. Mason and the remains followed to their last resting place in East Linwood by a large concorse of sorrowing friends. The many beautiful floral tributes attested to universal esteem to which she was held in the city. District court adjourned and many of the business houses closed and all mourned the death of a worthy citizen and kind friend.