Helen Ronaldson, 1798-1889

RONALDSON, NIMMO

Posted By: Leslie W. Saint (email)
Date: 12/10/2013 at 07:45:52

Burlington Hawk Eye March 19, 1889, p. 3

Best At Last.
It Comes to Mrs. Helen Ronaldson
After Ninety Busy Years.

Another aged and honored resident of our city has lain down the burdens of earth in the last long slumber. After four score years and 10 amid the buy scenes of this life Mrs. Helen Ronaldson died yesterday afternoon at her home, the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Bears, 510 Pond street. A severe cold which was contracted last Wednesday rapidly developed into a hopeless case of pneumonia. All the medical skill could do to combat the disease was done, but the effort was in vain. Mrs. Ronaldson's enfeebled condition, coupled with her weight of years and the infirmities of her great age, rendered all earthly assistance unavailed. She suffered greatly at times and was never free from pain, but she bore the affliction with true Christian fortitude and resignation until she became unconscious. At the beginning of her illness she expressed the conviction that it would be her last and when Dr. McClintock, her pastor, came to bid her farewell ath the close of a call, she said "Goodby, I shall not see you again." Patiently trusting in the unfailing strength of the Hand that had been her guide through the trials of ninety years of earthly life, she leaned upon it implicitly in entering the world beyond.

Mrs. Ronalson's maiden name was Helen Nimmo and she was born in October 1798 at Dundee, Scotland. Her earlier years were spent beneath the kind parental roof, but in 1822 she left it to become the wife of William Ronaldson, and the mistress of her own home. After thirteen years more of life beneath the skies of Bonnie Scotland she came to America with her husband and little ones, settling at Madison, Indiana. This was their home for about a year, at the end of which period they removed to Chillicothe, Ohio. There it was that Mr. Ronaldson died in 1845. The next year the resolute widow, whom the loss of a life companion had not crushed, came to Burlington, whence some of her children had preceded her, and where she had friends. this place has been her home ever since, and her life has been spent among her loved ones. For a number of years she has been confined to her home very closely by the rheumatism, from which she has been a long and patient sufferer, but she was, nevertheless, bright and cheerful and full of loveliness to those around her. The afflictions that came upon her from time to time only served to make her gentler and more sweetly submissive. Out of a family of ten children only four now remain: Thomas Ronaldson of Cincinnati, Ohio, John Ronaldson of St. Louis, Missouri, Mrs. Elizabeth Beard and Miss Helen Ronaldson of this city. Mrs. Ronaldson was from early life a consistent and faithful member of the Presbyterian church, and though her seat in the house of worship has long been vacant her death will bring a sense of loneliness and a feeling of sadness to all it members. Neighbors , friends, acquaintances will miss her and the home where hers was the honored place will not contain another chair which will be regarded with reverence and bedewed with affection's tears.

The burial will take place in Chillicothe, Ohio, but a funeral service will be held at the home in this city at ten o'clock to-morrow morning, which all friends of the family are invited to attend.