WORKMAN, Delila Melissa 1825 - 1889

WORKMAN

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/25/2021 at 20:23:28

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Friday, January 18, 1889
Page 3, Column 6

Death of Mrs. WORKMAN.

Mrs. John WORKMAN, wife of the well known farmer living five miles northeast of here, died at her home Wednesday morning, after a lingering illness of more than three months' duration. The maiden name of the deceased was Melissa D. M. KERR, and she was born in White county, Tenn., October 14, 1825. She was Mr. WORKMAN's second wife, his first being an elder sister who died in 1846 (note: Amanda Jane KERR). Upon her marriage, in 1847, she became a resident of this county, where the remainder of her life was spent. Mrs. WORKMAN was the mother of nine children, two of whom died in infancy. She was a most excellent woman in every relation of life, and in the neighborhood where she had dwelt so long was universally beloved and respected. The funeral occurs today from her late home.

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"The Fairfield Tribune"
Thursday, January 24, 1889
Page 3, Column 2

DEATH OF MRS. WORKMAN.

Delila Meliss, wife of John WORKMAN, Sr., died at her residence in Buchanan township, Jan. 16, of inflammation of the bowels and stomach, after a lingering illness of ten long, weary weeks of suffering, such as few have to pass through, but which was borne with that patience which characterized her whole life. Her sun rose on Wednesday morning in the glory land to set no more. No more gloom; no more pain, or trials, or temptations, or darkness for her. They are left for us.

Mrs. WORKMAN was born in Tennessee Oct. 14, 1825; moved to Jefferson county, Iowa, while very young, where she married and has always lived, being one of the oldest settlers of this neighborhood. I have known her thirty-five years, and during that time the aged found a welcome, and the orphan a home, and the poor a friend, in her. Among the sick she was always found and she seemed to find it better to go to the house of mourning than that of mirth. Four different times when the death angel came to claim one of our loved ones she was with us, and today my heart cries out, Who will take her place? And when we gathered together in her house, as she lay to pay the last tribute of respect, was of her as of Dorcas of old, we could tell of what she had done, as she was a woman of few words. Her's (sic) were acts, and in my long acquantance (sic) with her I never heard her speak evil of anyone. She would condemn sin, but not the sinner. She was a member of the Methodist church at Prairie Chapel. Althoug (sic) retiring in her disposition, she was always ready to speak of Jesus. Her last days and her death were just what we would expect from such a life. No doubt arose to darken her skies, or hide for one moment her Lord from view. Almost, if not, her last words were, "Do not grieve, for I shall soon be at rest;" and she leaves children and an aged companion to mourn her loss, and especially does the loss fall heavily upon the husband. May her savior be his strength,and (sic) may he be able to carry his grief to Him and find comfort.

M. B. V.

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"The Fairfield Ledger"
Friday, January 25, 1889
Page 3, Column 6

OBITUARY.

Editors Ledger:--Delila Melissa, wife of John WORKMAN, sr., died at her residence in Buchanan township, Jan. 16th, from inflammation of the bowels and stomach, after a lingering illness of ten long, weary weeks of suffering, such as few have to pass through, but which was born with that patience which characterized her whole life. Her sun arose on Wednesday morning in the glory land to set no more. No more pain, no more gloom or trials or temptations or darkness for her, they are left for us. Mrs. WORKMAN was born on Tennessee, October 14th, 1825; removed to Jefferson county in early life, where she was married and where she has since lived, being one of the oldest settlers of this neighborhood. I have known her 35 years, and during that time the aged found a welcome and the orphan a home, the poor a friend in her. Among the sick she was always found, and she seemed to think it better to go to the house of mourning than to that of mirth. Four times when the death angel came to claim one of our own loved ones she was with us, and today my own heart cries out, "Who will take her place?" When we gathered together in her own house to pay the last tribute of respect, it was of her as of Dorcas of old, we could tell of what she had done. She was a woman of few words, her word were acts, and in my long acquaintance with her I never heard her speak evil of any one. She would condemn sin, but not the sinner. She was a member of the Methodist church at Prairie Chapel. Although very retiring in her disposition, she was always ready to speak for Jesus. Her last days and her death were just what we would expect from such a life. Not a doubt arose to darken her skies or hide for one moment her Lord from her view. Almost her last words were, "Don't grieve for me; I shall soon be at rest." She leaves children and an aged companion to mourn her. Especially does the loss fall heavily upon the husband. May her Saviour be his strength, and may he be able to carry his grief to Him and find comfort.

M. B. V.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Interment was in Upper Richwood Cemetery.