Emily Susanna (Sheppard) McCaughan (1896)

MCCAUGHAN, SHEPPARD

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 5/20/2008 at 13:48:30

Semi Weekly Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Friday, August 7, 1896
Page 2

Death of Mrs. McCaughan

Mrs. C. T. McCaughan, who had been critically ill for some time, passed away at an early hour last Monday morning. In her death there passes from among us a noble woman, who throughout her long and useful life had exemplified in the home circle and the community the true ideal of the Christian matron.

No biographical details have been furnished to us, but from what facts we have been able to learn, it appears that Mrs. McCaughan, whose maiden name was Emily Sheppard, was born in Trone, England, about 73 years ago. She was married to Dr. C. T. McCaughan on November 2d, 1841. In 1865 they came to Madison county to make their home and have resided here ever since. Mrs. McCaughan was the mother of twelve children, nine of whom are living.

The funeral was held at the home last Wednesday, the service being conducted by the Rev. J. Sawhill, of Pitzer.
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Winterset Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, August 6, 1896
Page 5

Mrs. McCaughan Dead.—Mrs. C. T. McCaughan died last Monday morning at 7:30 o’clock and the funeral was held at 3 p.m. yesterday. Obituary next week.
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Winterset Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, August 13, 1896
Page 2

Obituary

The death of Mrs. C. T. McCaughan, which occurred August 3d, was mentioned in last week’s REPORTER. From the Carnegie, Pa., Item, we glean the following facts with reference to deceased:
She was born at Frome, England, in 1820, and in 1828 moved with her parents to Boston, U.S.A. From there the family went to Steubenville, Ohio. After her marriage, from 1858 to 1862, she assisted her husband in teaching an academy at Urbana, Ohio, and from ’62 to ’62 they were engaged together in the same occupation at Carnegie, Penna., from which place they moved to Winterset, where they have resided ever since.

Mr. and Mrs. McCaughan raised an interesting family of children, nine of whom survive her; three died young. She was ailing for a number of years, a cancer eating her life threads gradually away. She was a devoted Christian, as is also her husband, and she died patiently expecting the reward prepared for the faithful.
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The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Friday, August 14, 1896
Page 8, Columns 1 & 2

Death of Mrs. C. T. McCaughan

Winterset mourns the loss by death of one of its best known and highly beloved citizens, Mrs. C. T. McCaughan.

Dr. and Mrs. McCaughan were old settlers in Iowa and have done much to lay broad and deep the foundations of that type of character for which the Iowa people have a reputation the country over. She endured all the trials and the hardships connected with the life of a pioneer minister of the gospel with patience, forbearance and a sunny cheerfulness which endeared her to the hearts of all who knew her.

Mrs. McCaughan’s sympathies reached out far beyond all creeds and confessions and recognized as brethren in Christ all those who share the common faith and hope of Christendom and for this reason she was peculiarly beloved by all who knew her. We have seldom known anyone that brought into family, social and church life, more of that hopefulness, cheerfulness and abounding faith in all things good that characterizes the highest type of Christian character.

At the funeral, held from the family residence Wednesday afternoon, the following brief sketch of her life was read:

Emily Susanna Sheppard was born in Ferome, Sommersetshire, England, Dec. 20, 1820, and died in Winterset, Iowa, Aug. 3, 1896. She came with her parents to the United States when she was six years of age and was their only child. They settled in Steubenville, Ohio, where Emily graduated at the excellent female seminary under the care of Dr. and Mrs. C. C. Beatty. After this she talked to years in Miss Margaret Johnson’s Female Seminary in Allegheny, Pa., During which time she united with the Associate Reformed (now United Presbyterian) Church, and, to the principles of the profession she then made she remained ever afterwards sincerely attached.

On Nov, 2, 1841 she was married to Rev. C. T. McCaughan, of Sidney, Ohio, with whom she lived fifty-four years and nine months before they were separated by death. She was the mother of twelve children, three of whom died in infancy, and three of the remainder are not able to be here today.

She had a busy life caring for her large family and enjoyed almost uninterrupted good health, until about three years ago when she began gradually, but with little severe suffering, to decline, and continued to do so until death.

A few weeks since, she gave her husband the following brief message for her children: “Give to each one my love, and tell them to do all the good they can but not to trust in it but to trust only in the merits of Christ for their acceptance with God.”

Mrs. J. W. Miller read the following, written on behalf of the class is mentioned, by Mrs. Cal Ballard.

“She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”

“There is no one of whom this could more truthfully be said that of her whose death we mourn today. Not content with filling positions of wife, mother, neighbor and friend in such a manner as to endear her to everyone with whom she came in contact, but about 12 years ago she consented to take charge of a class of ladies who met on Monday afternoons for eight years for the study of the Bible, commencing at the first and getting as far as Colossians. None of those who were privileged to attend those meetings will ever forget her instructions. From a letter lately received by her from a former member of the class, now residing in a distant state, Mrs. Hedge, I take the following extract which I am sure expresses the feelings of every member:

“I have so much wish that I might do something to relieve your pain or the tedium of the long hours, but that seems denied me. I can at least tell you again all you have been to me; how you are wise teachings have helped me over many a hard place. Last year I taught a young ladies’ Bible class, and I could have talked to no purpose had I not been your pupil. So many of the members of our old class have expressed themselves as feeling so indebted to you for your wise instruction and bright example of love and trust. It seems to me that a knowledge that we had been used as a means of helping others so much for Christ must help us to bear the long hours better.”

Mrs. McCaughan carefully prepared her lessons. Having formerly been a teacher, Sen. admirably for this work. She wished everyone to ask questions and have their minds fully satisfied on any vexed question.

The ideas were preeminently Orthodox. Against the errors and issues of the day she stood firm as a rock.

She believed the Bible to be the word of God and she made it the guide of her life. Of her it could be truly said that it was “a lamp unto her feet and a light unto her path.”

Some years ago a number of ladies, many of them members of the Bible class, formed a circle for the study of history, current events and other topics of interest. Of this class Mrs. McCaughan was one of the first members and she always retained her interest in our welfare. She was always in her place with her subject well prepared, and her delightful papers showing careful thought and study, were thoroughly enjoyed by all. Even when kept away by illness she did not forget us, and from her sickroom she sent us a loving letter on the occasion of our tenth anniversary which was sincerely appreciated. And now, we, the members of the Bible and History classes lay this chaplet of tender memories on her brow.

We are deeply bereaved and feel that words are inadequate to express our love and reverence for her beautiful and well-rounded Christian character. We extend our deepest sympathy to those who are her nearest and dearest in this hour of their deep affliction. We pray that the everlasting arms may be around them to sustain and comfort them, and may they be able to remember what a glorious heritage is theirs.

So a gentle life was ended, and amid a profusion of the beautiful flowers she so dearly loved in life her body was laid away in the grave, but her spirit is with the immortal.

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