Nancy M. Baldwin, 1852-1929

BALDWIN, COOLEY, BRABHAM, SNYDER, LAUER

Posted By: C. Diamond, IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 8/15/2014 at 09:39:24

The Elgin Echo
Elgin, Fayette Co., Iowa
Thursday, January 17, 1929
Page 2, column two

A WORTHY WOMAN GONE TO HER REST
A SKETCH OF THE LIFE of NANCY M. BALDWIN.

Miss Nancy M. Baldwin was born in Stevenson county, Illinois, on April 5, 1852, and departed this life on January 10, 1929, at the age of seventy-six years, nine months and five days.
When six years old she moved with her parents to Fayette county, Iowa, where they settled on a farm one mile south of Elgin residing there until the death of her father, after which she spent a few years with her mother in Elgin. Later she moved with her mother and brother, John, to the farm known as the James Cooley farm four miles south of Elgin, living here for six and a half years. From there she moved to the farm two miles southwest of Elgin now occupied by the Wm. Brabham family. Later she returned to Elgin with her mother and brother, George. She cared for her mother until her death on Nov. 24, 1909, after which she continued to keep house for her brother, George.

Although she lost her eye sight at the age of sixty-five, she continued to assist in the upkeep in her home until the death of her brother, George, on March 26, 1924. Left alone and blind and helpless, her niece, Florence Baldwin, entered her home and cared for her as best she could until her marriage. Since that time she had been lovingly cared for in the home of her brother, John and family 3-4 miles south of Elgin, where she will be greatly missed by many relatives and a host of friends.

She had been in her usual health until about Christmas when she was stricken with the flu which later developed into the spotted pneumonia.

She possessed a beautiful Christian character always thinking of and doing for others and had often been heard to say, “Give your flowers to the living,” which accounts for the absence of flowers at the funeral.

The funeral services were held in the Baptist church on Sunday, Jan. 13, at 2 p.m. the Rev. J.J. Snyder and Rev. Ph. Lauer officiating.
Beautiful Christian hymns were sung. Interment was made in the Elgin cemetery.

There are days of deepest sorrow,
In the seasons of our life;
There are wild, despairing moments,
There are hours of mortal strife;
There are times of stormy anguish,
When the tears refuse to fall;
But the waiting-time, my brothers,
Is the hardest time of all.

Yet at least we learn the lesson,
That God knoweth what is best,
And a silent resignation
Makes the spirit calm and blest;
For we know a day is coming
For the changes if our fate,
When our hearts will thank Him meekly
That He taught us how to wait.

CARD OF THANKS.
We wish to express our sincere thanks to those who so kindly extended their assistance and sympathy during the illness and death of our sister and aunt.
Mr. and Mrs. John Baldwin and family.