Dora Edith Barrett Birch, 1870-1889

BIRCH, BARRETT

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 8/27/2011 at 01:39:53

Died: Sunday, October 22nd, 1889, of paralysis, Mrs. Dora Birch, aged 19 years and 7 months, wife of Lewis Birch, and adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hi Barrett.

Mrs. Birch was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Barrett, when an infant, and consequently never knew any other parents, save her adopted ones. She was a very lovable and loving child, and grew into a sunny and kind dispositioned girl, and during her short life brought sunlight and gladness everywhere with her presence. Mr. Barrett remarked that she never spoke a cross or harsh word to any one. What a boon to the world is such a life – what a grand thing to live a life the chief features of which bless and render happy, the lives with which it comes in contact. She had not been married quite two years, most of which time she had suffered as a victim of paralysis, being almost helpless for several months before her death. She leaves no children to mourn her departure, but her husband and adopted parents, and all who knew her, sustain, in her death, an irreparable loss. A ray of sunlight has been plucked from their lives – a fountain of joy, has dried up. The funeral occurred Monday, at the M.E. church, Rev. McCoy preaching the sermon. (Northern Vindicator, Estherville, IA, September 27, 1889)