Mary Ellen Johnson (1855-1894)

JOHNSON, MEEK, WARD, MCCANNE, CHRISTY

Posted By: Karen Bergquist Uhr, Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/23/2003 at 14:01:46

There are two obituaries posted together:

The first is part of the obituary already posted on the Bonaparte obituary board:

At the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Johnson, in Bonaparte, Iowa, Sunday morning, May 27, 1894, Mary Ellen Johnson died aged 39 years.

Deceased was born in Bonaparte Iowa, June 29, 1855, and grew to womanhood in this city. In 1886, while on a visit to Chicago, through anxiety and exhaustion, while endeavoring to catch a train, which caused an affection of the heart from which she never recovered, dated her illness, and during all these years she never enjoyed good health, notwithstanding that she visited Colorado in hopes of recuperating her lost health. (The clipping is cut off here)

The second obituary begins:

During the past winter she was a guest of the family of the writer about two months, and under the treatment of Dr. Bogle was greatly improved; but for some reason a relapse set in, and being stricken down Friday evening with something like paralysis she expired Sunday morning. She was being haunted by the fear she might die alone, but surrounding her deathbed were her father and mother, her sister, Mrs. Geo. F. Smith and husband,her sisters Mrs Geo. T. Ward, of Chicago, and Mrs. Wm. Meek, of Denver, and her brothers J. A. Johnson and wife, of Bonaparte, and Geo. B. Johnson, of Ft. Worth, Tex, her sister-in-law, Mrs. T. H. Johnson, of Ft. Madison; all her brothers and sisters but one, T. H. Johnson, of Ft. Madison,--besides Miss June Christy, Mrs. Ida Stafford and Mrs. Fidelia Kerr, of Bonaparte, and Dr. Bogle of Keosauqua, all of whom sadly waited through the silent watches of the night for the dread summons which was to call a dearly loved one away forever.

Miss Ella Johnston (sic)was born at Bonaparte, June 29, 1855, being not quite 39 years old. she had always lived at Bonaparte except about five years that she lived in Denver, Col. She showed wonderful patience during all her illness, rarely mentioning her suffering. She possessed a loveable and sunny disposition. She never thought or spoke ill of any one, and always did everything in her power to make others happy. Among her last words were "I have always tried to do right," and nothing could be truer or more indicative of her whole life.

The funeral was held at the family residence Monday afternoon. The casket was thickly covered with Easter lillies, roses and lilacs. The services were conducted by Rev. Philander Reed of the Presbyterian church of Bonaparte. The discourse was an able, kindly and comforting one, such as only a good man could prepare, and the prayers and hymns were most appropriate. The attendance of the funeral was large, people being present from Farmington, Keosauqua and Bentonsport. The pall bearers were Mr. Geo. H. Welch, Mr. Thomas Eich, Mr. Charles Stebbins, Mr. Baird, Mr. Weyer, and another gentleman whom we cannot recall.

A poem follows.

Source: Newspaper unknown
Margaret Johnson Meek Scrapbook