Almira Bagley 1801-1874

BAGLEY, LATHAM

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 4/20/2017 at 14:07:59

17 December 1874 - The Tipton Advertiser

At 10:39 o'clock a.m. Dec. 9th, 1874, heaven's pearly gates were swinging on their golden hinges to admit one of earth's aged pilgrims. Could we have stood at those open portals and heard but one strain from that music within and caught but one glimpse of those entrancing vistas, and seen the joyous faces and outstretched hands, welcoming our pilgrim to the rest and peace, and glories of her new life, we should not mourn for her, but for ourselves.

I can conceive of nothing so just and beautiful as the picture of an old mother, her worthy sons and daughters, and grand children, testifying the fullness of her work, her duty done, weary and broken with the trials, pains and fullness of over three score and ten years, bidden at last to come up out of the shadows of earth to exchange its unrest, its bitter sweets, its furrowed cheeks and tottering steps, for the calm and ecstacy, the youth and beauty of heaven.

The death of the young is often regarded as a dark and mysterious Providence which jars upon the soul's sense of justice. But when death comes to those whose grain is ripe, whose shock is full, whose journey has reached the portico of old age, where the dim vision gazes out upon the sun setting in the evening of life--here is holy ground, where we expect to hear the whispers of angels, and when they bear our friends away, we bow in worship before the visible love and justice of an Invisible Father. So came God's messengers to Almira Bagley, tenderly whispering "It is finished, come!"

Had she lived until the approaching 17th of March, she would have begun her 74th year. But life's work was done.

Mrs. Almira Bagley was born in Sharon, Vermont, March 17th, 1801. Her maiden name was Almira Latham. She was married to Simeon A. Bagley, Aug. 1st, 1819, who died Dec. 3d, 1873, in the 75th year of his age. The issue of this marriage was six sons and two daughters. Five sons and the two daughters survive them. Six years after their marriage they emigrated from Vermont to Athens county, Ohio, four years after went to Knox county, Ohio, in 1838 to West Liberty, Muscatine county, Iowa, and in the spring of 1844, removed to Cedar county where she has ever since resided.

She made a profession of religion at an early age, and united with the Christian Church. She lived a consistent and devoted Christian life; and although a great sufferer for many years she bore her afflictions with patience and resignation. The language of the dying patriarch, Jacob, "I have waited for thy salvation, O, Lord." was the appropriate text from which the funeral sermon was preached by Rev. J. K. Bloom, to a large assembly of sympathizing friends and neighbors, at Bethel Church, on Friday morning following her death.