MARSH, Will 1878-1900

MARSH

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/12/2011 at 19:48:42

Will F. Marsh

Died at His Home in Grundy Center Wednesday, March 21, 1900

The sudden, though not unexpected death of Will F. Marsh occurred at the home of his parents, Rev. and Mrs. Marsh, in this city, March 21, 1900, at ten-thirty a.m. He had been ill with typhoid fever forty-two days and was a patient sufferer all through the ordeal though in the end his life was the forfeit. From the beginning he was despondent and had little hopes of recovery. He came from his school work in Wellsburg realizing better than anyone else the deplorable condition he was in, and his own hopelessness had a depressing effect upon his attendants, though all that loving hands could do and all that medical skill could devise and trained nurse could perform was lavished unsparingly to save his life, without effect. Hope and despair succeeded each other in the balance from day to day, though never at any time did his fever relax or his symptoms indicate that he was out of danger.

Dr. William Marsh of Eldora, brother of Rev. Marsh, was several times present to council with the attending physicians, Drs. McAlvin & Thielen, and all agreed that it would be a hard battle for life with the chances against the patient on account of a weak constitution to begin with. The parents, though their hearts are grieved over the loss of their only son, have the comforting thought that everything possible was done to stay the hand of death and that had it been the will of Him who holds our lives in the hollow of his hand their child would have been spared. God in his wisdom has removed from them, after twenty-one years of tender care and pleasant companionship, one upon whom they had hoped to rely in their declining years and transplanted him to a higher and a better existence, where his insatiate desire for nobler things cannot be encompassed about by a wall of difficulties or his path strewn with the thorns of disappointment and sorrow. Their cup of grief is full, and their hearts are bowed under the weight of an irreparable loss. No longer the familiar voice will be heard in the home or the well known footsteps be heard on the threshold. Time alone will accustom them to cease expecting him, time alone will heal their broken hearts when they have resigned themselves to the will of Him who doeth all things well. Words of condolence are small comfort in the hour of such a trial. The Comforter of all earthly sorrows possesses the real balm of Gilia and to Him the bereaved ones have long since learned to go. They have the sympathy of the entire community in their loss.

The funeral was conducted from the Baptist church Friday at 2:30 p.m. Rev. Morphy of Grinnell, assisted by Rev. Jordan and Dr. Fellows of this city, officiating. Dr. Fellows offered prayer at the residence where the exercises were short and simple. The choir composed of Mesdames Colvin, Crary, and Jacobs, Miss Keiter, and Messrs, Willoughby and Rea, with Mrs. Lynn at the organ, furnished appropriate music. The gentlemen sang as a duet the very impressive song, "One Sweetly Solemn Thought," which was full of comfort to the bereaved friends. The church was beautifully decorated with flowers against a white background. The old superstitious custom of tolling the bell, by special request of Rev. Marsh, was done away with. A large concourse of friends followed the remains to their last resting place in the cemetery west of town.

The flowers were abundant and beautifully expressive of the high esteem in which the deceased was held. Those accompanied by cards were as follows: Crimson roses, Miss Agnes King; floral cycle, Mrs. Tom Warner; triangle, Knights of Pythias; floral wreath, Rathbone Sisters; magnificent bouquets from the Ladies' Aid society of the church, Amor Sargent of Cedar Rapids, Clara Davis and the Wellsburg school, Misses Naomi Tompkins, Lottie and Myrtie Laybourn, Drs. McAlvin & Thielen; Baptist choir; Mrs. Smith, W. Mumper, Miss Lizzie Weiser and others were sent in.

The pallbearers were chosen from the intimate friends of the deceased as follows: Messrs. Hugh Willoughby, Willis Mumper, Ben Erb, George Rea, Frank Keiter and George Laybourn.

Will F. Marsh was born in Ostego, N.Y., December 16, 1878, and died at his home in Grundy Center, March 21, 1900. He was the only son of Rev. and Mrs. C. H. Marsh, who together with an only daughter, Myllie, mourn the death of the departed one. Will was an enthusiastic scholar and besides his high school education at Eldora, his former home, he had taken instructions in the Cresco high school, and at the Iowa State Normal at Cedar Falls and the State University at Iowa City. He had taught six terms of school in Hardin county and was just closing his term at Wellsburg which was his sixth term in this county when sickness overtook him. Many from his Wellsburg school were present at his funeral. He was well liked as an instructor and secured favorable to giving the work his life's attention. He commenced to teach at the early age of seventeen, and was planning to finish the Latin course at Cedar Falls which would enable him to complete the course at Iowa City in two years. He was a member of the church and a faithful attendant at all her services including the prayer meetings during the week, and was a member of the church choir. He will be greatly missed, by his friends young and old, with whom he was very popular. He was conscious up to within five minutes of his death and knowing that his time was near, though he could not make them understand, he tried to tell them, no doubt, that all was well and that he was ready and glad to go. He had thus expressed himself during his illness and the family is greatly comforted with the remembrance of his testimonies of abiding faith in the power of God to save beyond the vale.
--Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 29 March 1900