Elizabeth (POE) WOOD

WOOD, POE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/4/2009 at 17:17:14

The Ringgold Record, 1883

OBITUARY.

DIED - In Mt. Ayr, Ringgold Co., Iowa, Jan. 8th, 1883, Mrs. Elizabeth WOOD, wife of Rev. W. R. WOOD.

Mrs. WOOD's maiden name was POE. She was born in Kentucky, Dec. 1st, 1822, and was therefore at the time of her death, a little past sixty years of age. In 1832 the family removed to Greencastle, Indiana, where in 1841, she was converted and became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. On the 31st, of Dec. 1843, she was married to her now bereft husband. In 1866 they came to Iowa and settled in Decatur county, remaining there till Nov. 1879, when they came to Mt. Ayr.

Of the attributies of Mrs. WOOD's character, the necessary briefness of this paper admits of the mention of but few, and of these in a summary only. Personaly she was unpretentious, modest and retiring; intellectually not brilliant, but of sound judgment and excellent common sense; socially, cordial, considerate and kind. As a friend, she was loving, tender and true, as wife affectionate, constant and confiding; as a mother, she was all that is implied in that name; as a christian, she was neither demonstrative nor spasmodic, but with an intelligent faith by which her christian life was constantly sustained. She was uniform and consistent in her habits. Her christian graces resembled not so much the meteor's glare, which dazzles the eye for a moment, then dies in perpetual darkness, as a beautiful constellation of fixed stars which shine with mild, but constant and unvarying luster. The disease of which she died, was a carbuncle of unusual size, covering the entire left cheek, extending to the temple and thus effecting the brain, causing blood poison throughout the system, rendering the whole body painfully sensitive to touch, and especially when moved by her attendants. Of course her sufferings were at times intense but they were borne with a patience and fortitude surprising to the many who visited the sick room. Not a murmur nor a complaint escaped her lips during her entire sickness. The bitter cup of suffering was willingly drained to its dregs, for she felt assured that it was prepared by her Heavenly Father's hand. Death can never take such a christian upon surprise, no matter in what form, or at what hour he may come; hence when Mrs. WOOD was informed that the end was near, she calmly replied, "all right". So lived and so died a christian woman, wife and mother. Who would not die thus? Let him who would, seek to obtain such a character, and lead such a life. Her remains were taken to Leon for interment where a funeral sermon was preached by her Pastor, from Rom. 8 chapter and 18th verse "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us."

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, 2008