Shaeffer, Alice M (1871-1892)

SHAEFFER, FERLEN

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:51:58

Webster City Tribune
Feb. 26, 1892

Death of Alice Shaeffer

A telegram from Boone conveyed the sad intelligence that Miss Alice Shaeffer died at the home of her uncle last Tuesday morning, Feb. 9, 1892.

This news, though not entirely unexpected, caused a thrill of pain in many a heart, and many an eye was moistened when it was known that the dear and only daughter of T.H. Shaeffer [mother - Anna Ferlen Shaeffer] had breathed her last. The sorrow for her death amongst her friends at Stratford is intensified by the fact that she died away from them.

Miss Alice Shaeffer was born in Hamilton County, Oct. 8, 1871, and has always resided here with her parents. She was an active and enthusiastic sister in the I.O.G.T. Lodge, of this city, and a devoted member of the M.E. Church and there, no doubt, were fastened in her young heart, the seeds of virtue, implanted and nurtured by the pious training of exemplary parents, whose edifying lives and devotion to all that is right, made Alice the popular and beloved girl that she was.

She was genial, generous and courteous; this last quality was a distinguishing feature of her character, which made her friends wherever she was known.

She had been a patient sufferer for some time, and in December she went to Boone where she could have the daily attention of her physician, but medical skill proved unavailing and alas instead of reassuring messages, has come the sad dispatch that she is dead.

She leaves a father, mother and five brothers, two of which are grown to manhood and three little boys who will miss the sweet sister as flowers do the sun.

The death of a young lady stricken down in the morning of life is sad under any circumstance, but particularly so in this case. The time has been so short since the family were called upon to mourn the death of their eldest son and brother, a young man of rare attainments. And while they seemed crushed with sorrow, then as now, they bow in humble submission to the will of a Divine Father, "Who doth all things well."

Alice Shaeffer was an earnest practical worker in every path where duty called and a sincere friend. It will be long before her memory will be obliterated from the minds of those who knew and loved her.

The remains were brought to this city for burial, arrived here at twilight Tuesday evening. Rev. Kerman, formerly of Stratford, and the minister under whom she became converted, officiated at the funeral service which took place at the M.E. Church at 10 o'clock a.m. Thursday, and was attended by a vast concourse of friends whose sympathy was with the sorrowing relatives and bereaved parents.

In the beautiful little cemetery three and a half miles southeast of Stratford, by the side of her brother, all that was mortal of Alice Shaeffer was laid to rest. Thus it is after so much done, life's labor is at last laid down when it to but just began, and she, who during her short life, did so much toward bettering a world and sustaining the hopes of so many, leaves them to struggle on alone.

[South Marion Cemetery, Stratford, Iowa]