Matilda F. (Long) Shaw 1837-1898

SHAW, LONG

Posted By: Dorothy Gosse (email)
Date: 4/1/2011 at 12:38:12

Matilda Francis Long was born August
30th, 1837, in Carroll county, Ohio.
The 22nd of June, 1859, she became the
wife of Abram Shaw. Seven children
were the issue of their union, four
daughters and three sons. The four
eldest children were born in Ohio and
with these Mr. and Mrs. Shaw came
to Fayette county, Iowa, in the year
1868, settling on a farm near West Union.
In this new home the other three
children were born. The first to break
the family circle by death was the
youngest son George, who died in 1880
aged 16 years. Seven years ago the
mother heart was made to bleed once
more by the death of her eldest son
Lawrence. Twelve years ago Mrs.
Shaw came with her husband to the
vicinity of Oelwein. From that time
until her death her home has been on
a farm a few miles west of town. Mrs.
Shaw was favored through life with
unusually good health, her death being
the result of a sad accident. On Saturday,
September 24th, she stepped on
a nail which penetrated her foot near
the little toe. The wound was healing
nicely and gave her no concern when
about ten days after symptoms of lockjaw
were discerned. She was brought
at once to the home of her daughter,
Mrs. Henry Martin of Oelwein and everything
was done that medical skill
could devise, but the dread disease
claimed her as its prey and she died
on Friday evening, Oct. 14, 1898, leaving
a devoted husband and five children
to mourn her loss which they feel
very keenly. Mrs. Shaw has ever been
an exemplary Christian. At the age
of 16 she united with the Presbyterian
church and has since remained a faithful
member of that communion, transferring
her membership first to the
church of West Union, and then
to the Oelwein church. Her nearest
neighbors declare that it is impossible
to have a better neighbor than Mrs.
Shaw. Her great desire was ever that
she might be a blessing to others and
as a means to that end she was actively
engaged in Sunday School work most
of the time since coming to the vicinity
of Oelwein. For about ten years
she acted as superintendent of a neighborhood
Sunday School. Her heart
was so much in this work that when delirious
she imagined she was teaching
a Sunday School class. Her life was a
constant benediction and her memory
will be forever sacred. She was buried
on Monday morning in the cemetery
at West Union. The services
were held at West Union, conducted
by her pastor, Rev. S. Conybeare, who
Breached from the words, ''Blessed are
the dead who die in the Lord from
henceforth; Yea saith the spirit, they
do rest from their labors: their works
follow with them." Revelations 14:13.

Oelwein Register - 19 Oct 1898