Mary Carpenter 1836-1888

CARPENTER, FARLEY

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 9/17/2020 at 12:35:10

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Wednesday, October 3, 1888 page 4

In Memoriam.

Mrs. Mary Carpenter was born Feb. 5th, 1836 and died September 24th, 1888; aged 52 years, 7 months, and 19 days. She was the daughter of James and Ellen Farley and was a native of Ohio but came to Illinois about 1856 and from there came to Iowa ans was married to Milton Carpenter, Feb 22nd, 1862. She was the mother of four sons and three daughters of whom three sons are now living. she enjoyed a tolerable degree of health until she arrived at the age of 43 when she was attacked with a complication of diseases that baffled the skill of all physicians to whom she applied and for three long years that model of true womanhood, that embodimout of innocence and loving kindness, that Christian mother and angel of peace, like her Savior, wandered up and down the earth in search of rest. But rest did not come to her in this life. Her nervous system had become shattered and her mind was preyed upon by the fear that a cancer was forming on her face where she had had an operation performed to remove a mole and where sh yet felt a great sense of pain. She wore as it were "a crown of thorns." All human sympathy and assistance failed to assuage her sorrow and she welcomed death as a means of release. Well and truly could she say, Oh! grave where is they victory! Oh! death where is they sting! Across the gulf of eighteen centuries she heard a tender voice calling "Come unto me all ye that weary and are heavy laden and I will give the rest." She desired to heed that call and with thoughts which no human mind can ever know and no human tongue can ever tell she cluded the watchfulness of friends and sought the solitude of the Iowa river, and there in the presence of none but God alone she cast herself beneath its waters. That pure while soul burst the bands which bound it to its tenement of clay and soared away on wings of eternal light to the bosom of God who gave it. "The golden bowl was broken, the silver cord was loosened, the pitcher was broken at the fountain." For a crown of thorns was given a crown of immortal life. upon that meek and lovely brow were placed the garlands of everlasting peace. She is is not dead but gone before. That angelic form has risen redeemed and resplendent above the dross of earth and, with the loved ones gone before, she stands at the shining portals surrounded with a halo of undimmed glory. She bids the sorrowing one of Earth to follow saying, "In my fathers house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told yo. I go to prepare a place for you that where I am there ye may be also." To those behind, it will only quicken their determination to meet her in Paradise. Our lamps shall be "trimmed and burning." the dark midnight of distress shall only render the more palpable to us the morning sunlight beyond. And we shall yet enter in glorious triumph that "beautiful city whose streets are paved with gold and rejoice with our loved ones forever.