Alvira Nagle Blackman 1845-1873

BLACKMAN, NAGLE

Posted By: Bobbie (email)
Date: 12/28/2016 at 20:05:15

The Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa
June 7, 1873 Saturday-Page 4

Died.-At the residence of her husband, in Saylor township, Polk county, Iowa, on the 9th of May, 1873, Mrs. Alvira, wife of Geo. W. Blackman. The cause of death was puerperal fever.

Mrs. Blackman was the daughter of Frank Nagle. She was married to Mr. Blackman in Wesley Chapel, Des Moines, Nov. 17, 1867. Two children were born to the couple, both of whom survive, one three years old, the youngest but four days old at the death of the mother. Mrs. Blackman was a loving daughter, a true wife, and a devoted mother. Her life was faithful and true, and the memories remaining behind her will all be pleasant and precious ones. She had been a member of the Methodist Church for several years, and was a zealous and active Christian. Her death-bed was a happy triumph of Christian grace. She died in a conscious state. Her mother and several of her sisters were present with her in her last hours. A few hours before the final moment, she asked one of her sisters to sing the hymn of "Gather at the River." Herself a fine singer, she joined in the hymn, singing with a clear full voice; which, to those present, had all the strange, enchanting melody of Heaven in its tone. All her last moments were glorious ones. Constantly as she approached death, she grew more and more cheerful, endeavering with all her powers, and wonderful calmness of manner and speech to comfort the stricken friends gathered in such distress about her. To her husband, mother, and sisters, she talked of the past, present, and future-dwelling with tender and ernest imploration upon her wish to meet all her relations in Heaven. Her good husband she advised with, as calmly and collectively as ever, in regard to their family, and the disposition of the children. The little babe in her arms she named in her last moments, and gave it to her sister, Mrs. Webster Nagle. Her children she called about her, and bestowed upon them her last motherly counsel and caress. As death was coming in its final conquest, she said, addressing her mother, "Now, mother, to the last question-Am I fully prepared to go?" Then, without waiting for reply from her mother, she answered the question herself, saying, with a radiant face, "Yes, I am-I am going home. Mother, I want you to tell father to be sure and meet me in Heaven." Shortly after this, with the last words on her lips, "my dear children," she was dead. A happier, a sweeter, completer triumph over death, never was seen. Her life had been the witness of a true and noble womanhood, her death was the proof of a real unquestioning, undoubting Christianity.