Mrs. Dr. Martha Berry Spaulding, 1836-1900

BERRY, HOFFMAN, MCKIBBEN, SPAULDING, WHITFORD

Posted By: Pat Ryan White (email)
Date: 7/1/2007 at 07:18:57

ANOTHER LIFE PASSES AWAY.

Mrs. Dr. Spaulding Passes Away This Forenoon After Months of Suffering.

This forenoon at half past eight o'clock at her home on North Adams street, after a battle in vain with a malady, relief from which there has never been hopes for recovery, passed to her reward, Mrs. M. B. Spaulding, wife of Dr. W. J. Spaulding, and a woman well known and highly respected. As stated her death was not unexpected although the nature of the disease, paralysis of the nerves, precluded any definite opinion as to when death might relieve her of her sufferings. A change, that indicated a speedy dissolution however was noted shortly after midnight, and death soon followed.

Mrs. Spaulding has been in poor health for a number of years, but about a year and a half ago a disintegration of the tissues of certain nerves was noticed by the physicians, followed by a partial paralysis. There was no hope of relief, and all that could be done was to make the patient as comfortable as possible and resignedly await the end.

Mrs. Spaulding was born Feb. 7, 1836 in Indiana, and was the daughter of the well known divine, Dr. L. W. Berry. In the fall of 1854 she was married to Dr. Spaulding and the following year the young couple moved to this city which has been their home since except for a short period. Four children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Spaulding, Mrs. Cora McKibben of Topeka, Kansas; Mrs. Ida Whitford of Denver, Colorado; Mrs. Stella Hoffman and Mr. Berry Spaulding of St. Louis, Missouri.

Aside from her husband her daughter Mrs. Whitford was with her at the time of her death.

Mrs. Spaulding was a woman of unusual intelligence, and was the possessor of one of the brightest intellects in the city. She won and was entitled to the degree of doctor of medicine, and as a platform speaker had few equals. She was cultured, refined and agreeable socially, and her failing health was a source of great grief to her admirers.

The funeral will probably take place from the Methodist church next Sunday, but the time and place has not been definitely settled. The services will be conducted by Dr. Thomas of Chicago, an intimate friend of Dr. and Mrs. Spaulding, Rev. W. H. Heppe will assist. The interment will take place at Forest Home cemetery.

"Mt. Pleasant Daily News", Wednesday, May 2, 1900, Page 4.