MRS. REBECCA M. ROSS HAM

HAM, ROSS, WELLS, WILSON

Posted By: Becke Dawson (email)
Date: 9/25/2003 at 14:57:34

THE IOWA STATE LEADER, Des Moines, Iowa Thursday, August 9, 1877

DEATH OF MRS. M. M. HAM - A DELICATE TRIBUTE TO THE DECEASED WIFE OF THE EDITOR OF THE DUBUQUE HERALD.

From THE HERALD, Aug. 7th

Mrs. Rebecca M. Ham, wife of M. M. Ham, died suddenly at her residence in this city at 5 o'clock Monday morning the 6th inst., after a brief illness of five hours. The deceased had been apparently in her usual health until Sunday, when she complained of feeling badly, with no symptoms, however, of a nature to alarm herself or friends. In the evening it was thought best to summon medical aid. The attending physician remained with his patient until midnight, when the change became so sudden and alrming that a consulting physician was called in. Mrs. Ham soon relapsed into an unconscious state and so remained until the pure soul passed through its earthly portals and peacefully took its flight to the God who gave it, leaving by the mother's side another tiny form whom the Maker, perhaps, in infinite love and mercy had taken to himself before the light or the darkness of earth had dawned upon the vision that was to open only in the light of eternal day.

With feelings of keen sorrow and painful surprise, the announcement of Mrs. Ham's death was received by the community at an early hour yesterday morning, and the crowds of tearful friends who soon thronged the late residence of the deceased spoke in silent eloquence of the grief that each seemed to deplore as a personal affliction. None among the many who have been called by the silent Reaper from our midst will be more sincerely missed, more profoundly lamented, than she who in the midst of health and all that tends to enhance the charm of living, has been summoned hence. The death of Mrs. Ham would have been a painful calamity in any event, endeared as she has been to the hearts of the community since the earliest years of childhood, but the sad circumstances under which a fair and useful life has been brought so an untimely close, casts a deeper shadow around the pall of the beloved dead; and in unison, as one stricken heart, the community blends its tears with the mourning ones that the hand of death has crushed and well high broken.

Mrs. Ham was reared in this city, and with it all the interests of her life have been closely riveted - her affections, her social and religious relations in the highest and purest sense which these associations can imply. She was born in Steubenville, Ohio, but removed with her parents, James Ross, and Ann Eliza Wells, to Dubuque, when Beckie, as she was familiarly known to her friends, was a child of less than half a dozen summers. She was sent to Springfield, Missouri, to one of the first seminaries of the state, and there surrounded by many near relatives, she recieved a large share of the liberal education which combined with the rare graces of a naturally gifted mind, a warm and generous heart, to fit her for the useful and enviable career that steadily developed with maturing years.

For many years Mrs. Ham had been one of the most active and exemplary members of St. John's Episcopal Church of this city. In all its branches, in all its interests, her loss will be irreparable. In its congregation, its Sabbath school and societies, whenever and wherever her ever willing hand and generous heart could promote the useful, true and good, she was promptly at her post. Her keen intellect, energy and faultless judgment made her presence and aid invaluable in christian as well as social enterprise. Unostentatiously, modestly and gracefully she maintained the position of a leader in these matters, always commanding the respect and love of all, never awakening an envious breath, such as is too often the penalty of personal popularity and admiration. Not only in her high social relations did Mrs. Ham fill a large place in the hearts of those who knew her. She lived a noble example of Christian womanhood and charity outside the pale of the world's and the church's, more favored ones. Many a troubled heart has been comforted in its sorrow, and many a burden lightened by her kind words that ever went hand in hand with kinder deeds, and could only be repaid in a simple prayer and a "God bless you". Many a loving message has come to her over time and distance, like bread cast upon the waters, returning after many days, gratefully acknowledging some kindly spoken counsel, some favor promptly rendered in days long past, when some poor heart pressed with trouble in some of its many guises had come to her, in its extremity, and her loving words and generous hand had set the seal of remembrqnace forever in the heart. Many such instances we might record if it were not that we hesitate to unveil the inner life of one whose good and noble deeds were done for good alone, and who ever shrank with innate delicacy from the very appearance of ostentation and vulgar display. Her record will live on and many loving, regreful hearts will ponder it over in grateful remembrance when her's has long lain silent in the shades of beautiful Linwood. Three years ago last December, Miss Rebecca Wells was united in marriage to Mr. M. M. Ham, and in the midst of much rejoicing and festivity the many friends of the happy bride and groom saw no dark cloud arising that in the near future would shut out the sunshine of pleasure; the light of love. The community rejoiced that the husband's love had been rewarded with the affection of the gifted and peerless bride; that his little one's bereft of a mother's love should again be taken to the keeping of one whose tender nature, and Christian traits bespoke for her the highest attributes of a fond and faithful mother. In word and deed were all the duties of her new life fulfilled, and now the bereaved hearts are bowed beneath the chastening rod of Him who doth not willingly afflict the sons of men, but who in His own good time may reveal why these mysterious dealings of the Father are to work out good to his erring and helpless children.
Mrs. Ham was the niece of Hon. David S. and Thomas S. Wilson, who, with their families and more distant relatives, are bowed with the sudden afflictions that has fellen upon them, and share with the nearer and dearer ones the sympathy of the entire community. For the lonely and stricken sister, whose every interest was inseparable from the idolized companion of her life-time, we can find no words of consolation. Human sympathy fails to reach a grief like hers, and the sublime faith only which accepts the declaration that "He doeth all things well," may supply the comfort which earthly friends are powerless to offer. The people of Dubuque mourn with her in the common loss they have sustained, and will forever embalm the memory of the lamented dead in the hearts where in life she held so large a place.
Although the cheerful voice will be heard no more among the scenes of earth, and the bright and well remembered smile will no longer welcome us among the old familiar scenes, the eye of faith may look byond the weary strife and turmoil of life, to the 'Beautiful Shore' beyond, and behold them glorified in the light of the Savior's smile.