Gladys May Alder (1901-1911)

ALDER

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 5/19/2005 at 20:58:56

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE Maxwell, Story County, Iowa Thursday July 13, 1911 page 1 "DEATH OF GLADYS MAY ALDER - Gladys May Alder, eldest daughter of Alma B. and P. R. Alder, was born January 23, 1901, and after ten weeks of suffering from that dread disease, tuberculosis, departed to rest July 5, 1911 (**editorial note obituary gives date first as July 5 & later as July 6, headstone gives date of birth as 22 January 1901) aged ten years, five months and fourteen days. About ten weeks ago Gladys began to complain of a pain in her knee which rapidly grew worse until she suffered intensely night and day. About the first of May it was thought advisable by the attending physician to consult another doctor and she was taken to Des Moines to the Walston Sanatorium. On the fourth of May an operation was performed on the limb, hoping that the bone might not be seriously affected, owing to the short time she had been afflicted, but such was not the case as the bone was found to be badly affected and very little hopes of her recovery was given at that time, but her suffering was never so great after the operation, in fact she was very comfortable for days at a time but at the same time the disease was sapping her vitality. About the first of July she began to fail more rapidly and on the second of July, in a last effort to save the little life, a second operation was performed and the little limb was removed. She stood the operation very well considering her weakened condition and suffered no serious shock from the amputation. Through every minute of the long, warm days and nights following, kind hands of physicians and nurses ministered to the little sufferer and everything that mortal hands could do was done, but disease had won against physicians and nurses and in the evening of the 6th of July, without a struggle, she peacefully fell asleep and the little spirit went back to God who gave it. She bore her suffering with a remarkable patience which endeared her to all. She was a favorite with the other patients at the Sanatorium who did many things to make her happy and the time seem less tedious. She would sit for hours and sing from the hymn book, her favorites being, ":Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" and "Jerusalem, the Golden." The funeral was held Friday, conducted by the Rev. a. Q. Gharret, their former pastor, at the Buena Vista church, and the little body laid to rest in the Buena Vista cemetery (***cemetery records indicated she was buried in the Farrar cemetery, Farrar, Iowa) the pall bearers being members form the Sunday School which she always loved to attend. The deepest sympathy of the entire community is extended to the bereaved ones who are called upon to mourn the loss of a precious child. Gladys was of a kind and loving disposition and she will be greatly missed in the home, the church and the school."

BURIAL: Iowa Historical Library POLK COUNTY IOWA CEMETERIES WASHINGTON TWP; GENEAL * F 627 .P7 C4 V.6 Farrar Cemetery Washington Twp., Polk County, Iowa, page 4, ALDER, Gladys M born 1 22 1901 died 7 6 1911, Sec B lot 8 row 8, Misc. Inf. D/O P R & ALMA B.