STOUGHTON, Nancy J. 'Nettie' died 1878

STOUGHTON, HITCHCOCK

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 4/16/2024 at 20:11:57

The very remarkable and prolonged illness and the final release of Miss Nettie Stoughton, seem to demand special notice. Miss Stoughton was born at the Hitchcock house, within three miles of this city.

At an early age, her parents having moved into the city she became a pupil in it's schools, in which, proving precocious, studious and tractable to her teachers, and genial, vivacious and kind to her associates, she became and continued a general favorite.

At the age of 16 she began to experience pain in her feet, and positive lameness ensued. Still, suffering at times very severely, she continued her attendance at school and pursuit of her studies for nearly two years longer. Then, with a lady relative, who was here visiting from Vermont, on her return, hoping for improvement, repaired to that state; but, taking a severe cold, her lameness grew worse, and extended through her lower limbs, and finally to the arms and hands, reducing her to absolute helplessness.

From Vermont she was, as the guest of another relative, taken to Providence, R.I., where she was committed to the care of the most eminent physicians of that city, who gave great hope of her case, but at the end of nearly a year they confessed themselves baffled by her disease, and advised her return home.

Here, then for six months, in skillful hands, she was treated hydropathically, but with little or no benefit. Then for five weeks she received treatment from a magnetic practitioner. Then for six months the efficacy of the Hot Springs of Arkansas was tried. But all proved equally vain. And during all through those several periods there was steady loss of assimilating power and hence of flesh.

And though the physicians generally concurred in the conviction that her head, heart and lungs were sound, and that she ought to recover it appeared at last to her and all her friends practically impossible. Then she accepted the inevitable, patiently waited, cheerfully accepted all the sources of comfort that remained, and slowly but steadily drifted out, with no sign of fear or dread into that darkness through which lies the way to the better land of light.

During this long illness and period of deprivation of so many of the privileges of active social life, Miss Stoughton has been highly favored with the continued intimacy of many of her school mates, and the warm sympathy of all who knew of her condition. All tokens of which, while a comfort to her, certain to elicit expressions of gratitude from her parents and the members of their household. Indeed, they have requested the writer of this, publicly, to bear witness to their grateful appreciation of all the kindness shown to her and to them during her sickness, and at last in connection with her death and funeral.

At the final service the church was full. After appropriate music by a quartette and the reading of scripture, followed by an instructive, eulogistic and consoling address by the pastor, at the special request of the bereaved parents, Rev. Ada Bowles offered prayer, the effect of which must have been to bear all hearts heavenward, and bring a blessing down to meet them.

Blessed are those parents in having so long, one so much to be loved and cherished. Blessed have they been in their long, patient, loving ministers to her. Blessed are they in still having her in heaven.

~Mitchell Co. Press, Osage, Thursday, June 20, 1878; pg 3

Note: Burial is in the Osage City cemetery where records name her as Nancy Jennette 'Nettie' Stoughton. Parents: George M. Stoughton and Cordelia Hitchcock Stoughton