Helen M. Ellis 1904-1915

ELLIS, MIDTHUN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/20/2010 at 21:48:09

Helen M. Ellis, little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Ellis of this city, passed away at her home in the southwest part of town last Sunday evening after an illness of about a week. The illness was caused indirectly from a rusty nail wound in the foot. Helen was the youngest child of a family of four children and was born July 28, 1904, being ten years, ten months and two days old at the time of her death. She leaves besides the parents above mentioned, two sisters, Mrs. Murle Midthun and Clara E. Ellis, and one brother, Fred A. Ellis, to mourn her departure, besides other relatives and friends. She was a member of the Christian Sunday school and the funeral services were conducted at the home by Rev. J. S. Coffin, minister of the Christian church, Tuesday afternoon at 3:30. The family have the sympathy of the community in this great bereavement. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, June 2, 1915)

Little Helen Ellis, who has been lingering in the balance between life and death for the past few days, passed away at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ellis, on last Sunday afternoon. The little lady was the unfortunate victim of blood poisoning, caused by the insertion of a rusty nail into the foot. The wound healed, but the deadly poison so permeated the system as to cause what is commonly known as lock jaw. Death seemed almost certain from the start, so set was the disease. The little body contained vitality enough, however, to withstand the poison for several days, and the chance for recovery seemed to be brighter. The strain of the never racking pain was too severe to endure longer.

Little Helen was a member of the West Side school and was a favorite among the children, and the anxious inquiries from her little playmates indicated the childish love they held for her.

The funeral services were held at the home, Tuesday, the Rev. J. S. Coffin officiating, and the remains were laid to rest in the East Side cemetery. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, June 2, 1915)