Probert, Mellie 1891 - 1901

PROBERT

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:24

Elkader Register, Thur., 21 Nov. 1901. Highland column.

At 9 o'clock Tuesday evening, Nov. 12th, 1901, there passed to its higher home the beautiful life of Mellie Probert. While Mellie had never known the enjoyment of perfect health her strength began to perceptibly fail within the last year. Everything that medical skill could perform or loving care could suggest was done to restore her, but the appointed hour had come and the young spirit passed through the valley of death.

Mellie, the youngest child and only daughter of J. C. Probert, was born Jan. 31st, 1891, and died of heart trouble at the age of 7 years, 9 months and 12 days. She possessed a cheerful and loving nature, and in all circles, where she moved, she attracted many friends. Sympathy and gentleness were characteristic of her and through these channels she touched the hearts of all who knew her. As a pupil her teacher often said of her that she was not only a child ambitious to advance in her studies and possessing marked intellectual ability, but also one of the most attractive of children.

The loss of one such little one has not only thrown a pall of sorrow over her own family but over the families of the community. The funeral service was held at the Illyria church at two o'clock Thursday afternoon, when a large number gathered to pay a final tribute to the one they had loved while in life. Showers of flowers covered the casket, the gift of loving friends. Rev. W. H. McCuskey of the Presbyterian church of Volga, spoke touchingly from the text, "My daughter is even now dead, but come and lay thy hand upon her and she shall live," after which the body was consigned to its last resting place in the Illyria cemetery.

(There followed a three stanza poem, some of which did not reproduce well enough to include here. Also, the calculated age at death appears to be wrong in this obit.)