Eliza M. Alrich (1885)

ALRICH, BALLARD, FOUKE

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 10/10/2007 at 17:53:20

Winterset Madisonian - September 10, 1885
Winterset, Iowa
page 5

Death of Mrs. Alrich.

DIED--On Friday, September 4th, 1885, at the residence of her son-in-law, Calvin Ballard, Esq., Mrs. Eliza M. Alrich, who would have been 83 years of age February 12, 1896.

Mrs. Alrich was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, in 1803. She was the wife of the late Rev. William P. Alrich who died in this city on the first day of January, 1870, and was buried in our cemetery. Mr. Alrich was for 31 years professor in Washington college (now Washington and Jefferson college) located at Washington, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Alrich resided in Washington until near 1865 when they went to live with their son-in-law, Rev. Mr. Fouke who resided near Pittsburg. After remaining there a short time they moved to Winterset and made their home with Mr. Ballard. Since Mr. Alrich's death Mrs. Alrich has resided with Mr. Ballard and her son John at Pittsburg, going back and forth several times. She leaves one son and two daughters, the daughters being with her in her last illness but her son was prevented by sickness in his own family and by the death of his wife's brother from attending upon his mother.

Mrs. Alrich was able to be around the house until a few weeks ago. She died from the wearing effects of age more than disease. For years her vitality has been gradually giving out and she knew her stay could not be much prolonged, but she was always cheerful and always ready to obey the Master's summons. A few hours before she died and when she felt the moments for her could not be many she articulated the prayer, "Jesus, let men die." And those were her last words. We need not say she was greatly beloved by all who knew her. Her's was a noble soul and her's a noble life. Kind, sympathetic, loving, she had a word of cheer for all and sympathy for the sorrowing or the suffering.

Note: Burial was in the Winterset cemetery.