Sarah B. Gaylord

GAYLORD, BURTON

Posted By: Leslie W. Saint (email)
Date: 9/27/2012 at 08:07:11

Full text of “Life and Labors of Rev. Reuben Gaylord, Home Missionary for Iowa dn Nebraska; and superintendant for A. H. M. S. for Nebraska and western Iowa, by Mary M. Wells Gaylord, p. 107-109, http://archive.org/stream/cu31924029461369/cu31924029461369_djvu.txt

From a letter by Mr. Gaylord : The month of August, 1840, commenced with heavy storms which continued nearly every day for a fortnight, and an unparalleled quantity of water fell upon the earth . Left home for Tuscarora to assist in a protracted meeting, but was over- taken by the most violent storm of wind, rain, thunder and lightning that I ever experienced. This was followed during the night by two or three others of the same description , so that it seemed as if "the windows of heaven were opened." The streams were raised to such an unusual degree that I could not proceed. I therefore attempted to go home again, but found to my surprise that Skunk river was full to overflowing, leaving some of the houses on its banks with little more than the roofs out of the water. This was at Augusta. The water continued to rise till it reached a point eight feet higher than it had ever been known since the settlement of the country. In consequence of these rains, followed by the hot weather, sickness to an unusual degree has visited us of late, proving fatal in many instances. Nor has, my own family escaped the visitation of God. On the 13th of September my wife was taken ill with bilious fever and continued to decline till the 23d, when she sweetly fell asleep in Jesus,, and left us to mourn, not her loss but ours. Her death was eminently peaceful and happy.

Of this estimable lady the following account, to which a few facts have been added, is given in an obituary notice which appeared at this time in the Congregational Observer:

Died, in Danville, Iowa, Tuesday, September 23, 1840, Mrs. Sarah B. Gay lord, aged twenty-three years. Mrs. Gay lord was the eldest daughter of Nathan Burton , Esq., who removed from Connecticut to Illinois in the spring of 1835. She united with the church of Christ, in Bethlehem, her native place, when about fifteen years of age. Mrs. Burton, the mother, was a good and judicious Christian woman, and deeply interested in the salvation of her household. It was with a heavy heart that she left the church of which she and her daughter were members, and went away with her family, as she supposed, from all the privileges of the gospel. But God was better to her than her fears. The following summer she had the unspeakable satisfaction of seeing her husband and all her children subscribe with their own hands to be the Lord's. From this time it seemed to be their united desire to live to do good. The second son commenced studying for the ministry, and Sarah married Rev. Mr. Gaylord, October 13, 1838. She accompanied him to Iowa, where for nearly two years they labored together in the gospel, and looked forward for many years to come, in which they could be helpmeets for each other in the work of the Lord. But sickness came and cut her off in the beginning of her usefulness; yet we mourn not for her as for those who have no hope. Retiring but attractive in her manners, sincere and unwavering in her attachments, conscientious in the discharge of every duty, she won the affections of all who knew her and was most beloved by those who knew her best. But "God's ways are not as our ways." Her work was done, and she was ready to depart. The Savior fulfilled his promises and "manifested Himself to her as he does not unto the world." On the day of her death she said," Twenty-three years ago my father was presented with his first born daughter, and on this anniversary of my birth-day I am about to leave earth for heaven . I am going to join my mother and brother who have gone before to my Heavenly Father's house." It seemed, she said, as though the Savior held her in His arms; 'all darkness and doubt and fear were gone. When her friends would keep her longer, she begged them to desist the use of means, for such were her views of heaven, such her love to Christ, and her desire to go and be with Him, she feared she would murmur, if detained longer on earth. Committing her husband, child, her friends and the church to God, she fell asleep in Jesus.