FOREST OSCAR BLACK 1899-1900

BLACK, BOSTON, STRAIN

Posted By: Dana Roquet (email)
Date: 2/13/2011 at 07:33:21

Oskaloosa Saturday Herald
May 17, 1900

Baby Black

Departed this life at the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Strain, near Colfax, Jasper county, Iowa, May 6, 1900, at 12:15 a.m. Forest Oscar Black, son of O. T. Black, aged 7 months, 26 days. Baby Black was sick only three days with a dilated stomach. His father, who was in St. Louis, was wired for at 9:25 a.m., Saturday, but being delayed he did not reach home until eleven hours after the little sufferer had been at rest. The mother preceded her little babe just two months and a–half ago, and the father and little brother Raymond are left to mourn their loss. Prayer service was conducted by Rev. Macey, of Colfax, at the Strain home on Monday evening, then the corpse was accompanied by father, brother, grandparents and other relatives to Leighton, the home of his grandparents, J. H. Boston and wife, when on the following day the funeral services were held at the Leighton Reformed church—the church where this little one's mother was a faithful member from the time she was quite young until her death. The services were conducted by Rev. Baumgartel and the songs were appropriate, touching and beautiful. The little form was then taken to Olivet cemetery, borne by his two grandfathers, where he was laid to rest beside his mamma. Little Forest had been cared for by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Strain, and his three aunts almost since mere infancy, having been left with them when only five weeks old, while his mother was taken south in search for health, but returned after an absence of three months to live only five weeks until death claimed her. During these five weeks the little babe was not well enough to be brought to his mother, and she was so sick she could not go to him, and as a result she did not see her infant after he was five weeks old.

The lost of this dear little one is keenly felt by the family and especially by those who so carefully and tenderly watched over him. His suffering was of short duration but was intensely painful. Sickness entered this home which now is so lonely and sad June 5, 1899, at which time O. T. Black resigned his position at Peoria, Ill., to travel for the health of his wife. After her death he had been back with the company at St. Louis only one month five days when he was again called home to lay away baby Forest.

A little flower taken from this world of pain and sorrow and transplanted in the city beautiful to be with his mother. What a happy meeting when that mother met her little babe, now a little angel. No longer separated are they. Sickness and suffering have passed and they can dwell together in the land of rest, eternal happiness. Death's prison is God's treasury. He garners His jewels there, and His precious things are mostly hidden in the gloom. Our loved ones cannot return to us, but they are beckoning for us to come to them where we shall meet them in the sunshine of the everlasting morning, in the gladness of the bright eternal home.

"One sweet flower has drooped and faded,
One sweet infant voice has fled,
One fair brow the grave has shaded,
And our baby Forest is upward led.
Still there lingers a thought of sadness,
But our little one is happy now,
Dwelling with his dear mamma in gladness,
Where the blessed angels bow.
He is gone to heaven before us,
But he waved his little hands,
Pointing to the glories o'er us,
In that happy spirit land.
God, our Father, watch above us,
Keep us from all danger free,
Do Thou guard and guide and love us
Till like them we go to Thee."

CARD OF THANKS
In behalf of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Boston, of Leighton, Iowa, I desire to extend our thanks to the many friends and relatives who so kindly assisted us during the death and burial of our baby Forest, and the sickness and death of his mother who preceded him ten weeks ago. O.T. Black

***note O. T. Black and brother George Black were raised by David W. and Eliza Strain from young ages. I assume children of a first marriage for Eliza Strain.