WARNOCK, Frances 1823-1908

WARNOCK

Posted By: Ida County IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 1/7/2016 at 08:14:31

To The Memory of Mother
Frances Warnock

On March 23, 1823, in the little village of Sandfield, near Belfast, Ireland, Frances Kennedy was born; there her childhood and youth were spent; it was there she met Richard Warnock to whom she was married November 21, 1845. Early in 1846 they came to America and located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There for eight years they made their home and there three children were born, one of whom died in infancy.

In 1854 they came west, settling on a farm near Farley, Dubuque County, Iowa. There six children were born, all of whom survive her except Samuel, who died in Battle Creek, Iowa, in 1890. In 1871, she and the family came farther west, crossing the state of Iowa by wagons and settling in Ida County near what is now Battle Creek (at that time there was no town or railroad where Battle Creek now stands). and there she lived until some 12 years ago when she left the farm to live with her children, her husband having died in 1884.

Hers was a quiet life and she, a great student of the Bible, and in the twilight of life as old age crept on and as the candle burned lower and lower, it was her support and strength. Her Bible and her thoughts of hours spent in the long ago filled her little work until April 22, 1908, when the soft warm air was laden with the sweet incense of springtime and all nature was budding into new life. After rounding out more than four score and five
years, the summons came and she was taken to those loved ones who had gone on before and whom she so longed to be with.

Mrs. Warnock succumbed to the deadly disease, cancer, in the early morning hours April 22, 1908. Mrs. Warnock was the daughter of Charles Kennedy and Margaret Warren Kennedy. Mrs. Warnock leaves her beloved children David, Frank, James, George, Lowry, William and the only girl, Margaret.

To you mother there was not death, to you there was no grave, only a shadow through which you could see peace and rest. To you the Bible which, you so faithfully read hold not promise of doubt, but redemption. To you there was not fear of the future, all was shining hope, a childish confidence of reward of work well done, and we confidently believe your faith has been verified. If not, surely life is not worth the living. You cannot come back to us again dear mother, but there is much in the thought that we can go to you. We know you would not care for a eulogy, but we feel it is but fitting that we give some small tribute to you from all those loved ones left behind.