Emma Hines 1860-1922

HINES, BIRCH, ALEXANDER

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 6/30/2018 at 08:48:00

7 September 1922 - West Branch Times

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A telegram from D. B. Hines at Council Bluff, Saturday night, carried the heart breaking news of the death of his wife in that city Saturday evening.

Mr. and Mrs. Hines had been visiting in Colorado and Arizona and had stopped on their return trip to visit in Omaha, their former home. Mrs. Hines was visiting at the home of friends in Council Bluffs Saturday evening. She slipped from a porch and in falling struck her head on the cement walk, death occurring almost instantly.

The grief stricken husband arrived home with the body Monday morning.

Mr. Hines is a pensioned Union Pacific engineer. Both he and his wife were prominent in fraternal circles.

Mrs. Hines was a woman of unusual character, of rare sympathies, a generous and understanding heart. Her going is a distinct loss to more than the immediate circle of her family and the example of her life is a worthy legacy to all who knew her.

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Twilight and evening star
And after that the dark,
May there be no sadness of farewell
When I embark.

The above lines seem most fitting for on the evening of Sept. 2, 1922, just as the twilight was purpling into night and the faithful stars began their nights vigil, the sword of the Grim Reaper suddenly and swiftly descended and with one stroke freed the spirit of Emma Birch Hines from its earthly home and wafted it to the home beyond the skies.

Emma, second child of Michael Connelly and Mary Francis Birch, was born Feb. 15, 1860, at Weston, Mo. The parents have both preceded her to the Better Land. One brother, Edward Birch, of Aurora, Illinois and one sister, Mrs. Minnie Birch Alexander and seven nephews survive her.

She was united in marriage with Daniel B. Hines in November, 1878, at Omaha, Nebr. and by this union a daughter, Bessie, came to bless their home, but while still an infant she passed away, thus leaving Mr. Hines the sole survivor of the family circle.

After their marriage they lived at both Omaha and Norfolk, Nebraska, where Mr. Hines was employed as a railway engineer, and so successful was he in this that the railway company pensioned him for life. They made their home near West Branch at intervals until Mr. Hines retired from the railroad. Since then they have lived continuously near West Branch, and many are the friends they have gained and who today are bowed in genuine sorrow at Mrs. Hines going.

Religiously Mrs. Hines was a Methodist, having been converted at their meetings, she united with the church in November, 1878, at Norfolk, Neb.

Socially she belonged to the Order of the Eastern Star and to the Sunshine Club in her rural neighborhood.

In the passing of Emma Birch Hines there is a place indeed void and only those who knew her best can fathom how deep their void is for to them time can never quite heal the wound.

Her sweet, lovable personality shone out so brightly and casting such a clear radiance around that a passing acquaintance was soon won for a friend and when won the friendship was a perpetual one.

More than one has said, "How can we get along without her?" To the writer of this the pain is indeed poignant for, for twenty-four years there has existed between Mrs. Hines and the writer a bond of friendship that would rival a relationship of nearer ties. While the loss is irreparable yet the writer, the family and the host of friends are not without assurance of hope, for He, to whom she dedicated her soul, her life in earlier years, has said, "If it were not so I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you; I will come again and receive you unto Myself that where I am ye may be also." So bidding farewell to this mortal clay we will leave her with Him who doeth all things well.

Funeral services were held this moring at 10:00 o'clock from the Methodist Episcopal church, conducted by Rev. W. G. Rowley. The Order of the Eastern Star conducted their impressive service at the cemetery.