Gladys Waller Guernsey 1904-1906

GUERNSEY

Posted By: Volunteer - Karen DaPra
Date: 10/8/2002 at 12:39:37

A FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT
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LITTLE TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OF DR. AND MRS. J. E. GUERNSEY FATALLY BURNED
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The Democrat last week gave the news briefly of the clothes of the little daughter of Dr. and Mrs. J.E. Guernsey of Lebanon becoming ignited, that and the dearly beloved little one lost her life.

Gladys Waller, a daughter of Dr. and Mrs. J.E. Guernsey, was born July 25, 1904, and died early Wednesday morning, Dec. 19, 1906, age two years, four months and twenty four days.

On last Tuesday afternoon Mrs. Guernsey stepped from the house for a moment, going only the short distance to the road, when she heard the children calling and returned immediately only to find dear little Gladys enveloped in flames. She had left the two little ones cutting paper and it seems that little Gladys had gone to the stove to put in some of the scraps and in some manner her clothing was ignited. With rare presence of mind Mrs. Guernsey immediately extinguished the flames by wrapping her little one in a rug and everything that loving and skilled hands could do was done to relieve the sufferer, but she had evidently inhaled the flames, and on Wednesday morning at 4:20 her sufferings ceased. During her last hours while in delerium she sang some of the little songs she knew as naturally as ever, and then said, "O mama, I can't sing any more." Truly her sweet voice will never be raised again in song in this life, but her lips shall sing the heavenly praises in the celestial choir.

This sweet little flower that came so short a time ago to gladden the home and community has been in a day taken from us. Gladys was a sweet beautiful child, loved by all who saw her, and the treasure of her home. The little curly headed blue eyed darling will be with us no more, but she is resting in Jesus' bosom, in the presence of her Heavenly Father.

"Another little lamb has gone
To dwell with Him who gave;
Another little darling babe
Is sheltered in the grave.
God needed one more angel child
Amid His shining band
And so he bent with loving smile
And clasped our darling's hand."

Funeral services were conducted by the pastor, Rev. H.F. Gilbert, at the home Thursday, Dec. 20, 1906.

(Photocopy of this obit is located on page 121 of Obit Book A found in the Van Buren County, IA Genealogical Society's collection at the Keosauqua Public Library in Sept 2000. Name of newspaper and date of obit not given.)

I am NOT related and am posting this obit for those who may find this person in their family history.

[Original Post 08 Oct 2000]