Casey, Zilla (Thompson) 1860-1898

CASEY, THOMPSON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 4/25/2005 at 15:32:51

The Newton Record Thursday, January 12, 1898
Obituary
Casey, Zilla (Thompson)

Mrs. Zilla Thompson Casey died at her home in Killduff Jan. 5, 1898, aged 37 yrs, 3 mo, and 9 days, surrounded by her two children, Maggie aged 17 and Ralph 15, also her mother, a sister and a brother.

Zilla Thompson was born in Ohio Sept. 26, 1860, and came to Iowa with her parents when 10 years of age. The located at Olivet, a small town about ten miles east of Oskaloosa, where she lived until February 6th, 1880, when she was united in marriage to Samuel L. Casey, a telegraph operator. Their married life proved to be one of unusual happiness. To them were born two children, a girl and a boy.

Mrs. Casey’s first great sorrow was the loss of her husband in 1890. After the death of her husband Mrs. Casey entered her brother’s office to learn telegraphy and in about nine months was ready to take an office. She came to Killduff about three years ago to take the office at that place; which place she with the aid of her son has filled up to the time of her death.

Amiable ways and general kindness of disposition to every one made her a general favorite, and she is therefore mourned by the entire community. She was a faithful member of the Methodist Church. It can be well said of her, none knew her but to love her, none named her but to praise. She never had very robust health and about two years ago her physician told her she had heart disease, which continued to grow worse. A part of the time last fall and winter she had been confined to her bed but still thinking she would regain her health, being anxious to live for her children.

It is hard to lie upon a bed of sickness, even though it be a bed of down; but she was always patient, loving and kind. About a week before her death she was taken worse and a physician was summoned and her friends were sent for and all was done that could be done to alleviate her suffering. Those who attended her little dreamed that the end was so near. If she thought so herself she never mentioned it to any one.

On Wednesday evening of last week they thought her much better and her children worn out by long care retired. About 3 o’clock in the morning Mrs. Casey called for her daughter who hastily entered the room. Mrs. Casey then asked her if she ever saw any one who had the asthma. After being told that she had, the mother then asked her if the rattling on her lungs sounded like asthma, and when told that she did not think so she seemed to be satisfied and she did not believe she had it. After a short time the girl retired again and at five o’clock Thursday morning she and her brother were hastily called and just got in their mother’s room in times to see her breath her last.

The English language fails to furnish words suitable to describe the grief of the children. They find no heart so true as the one over which the green sod is pressing. They have the deepest sympathy of the entire community.

Besides her children she leaves a mother and father, two sisters and three brothers to mourn her loss.

A special train came up Friday morning and took the body to Olivet where she will be laid to rest by the side of her husband.

Mrs. Casey taught her son Clyde telegraphy and we understand that the railroad company is going to let him take his mother’s place here although he is only 15 years and 9 mo old. Ralph is every inch a man and you could not find one in a thousand like him. Everybody in this vicinity will be pleased to know that he is going to get the office.

Originally submitted on Fri Sep 13 16:16:32 2002