BOYD, Mary Ellen, 1871-1893

BOYD

Posted By: Volunteer-Betty Hootman
Date: 10/19/2012 at 14:23:47

OBITUARY

Mary Ellen Boyd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Boyd two miles north of Cantril, died at her home Oct. 2. She was born in the same house where she died on the 4, day of April, 1871, being 22 years, 5 months and 28 days old. She was a graduate of the high schools of Milton, and had taught several successful schools. She was very popular as a teacher, and was loved by all who knew her. Last winter she was taken with ulceration of the stomach and bowels, and while all was done that friends and physicians could do, after over six months of patient suffering she was relieved by death. She leaves both parents, two sisters, and five brothers to mourn her. They are not without hope. Four years ago she gave her heart to God and took membership in the M. E. church at Cantril, and was a devoted christian until the close of her life. She was conscious until; the very last moment and made her requests concerning her funeral. The funeral was from the M. E. church at Cantril at 10 o’clock a.m., the 4, inst. Eld. T. A. Renfro preaching. Rev. C. M. Boydston, her pastor, assisting in the services. The remains were followed by a long concourse of sympathizing relatives and friends to the Cantril cemetery, where they were tenderly laid away to await the voice of the Son of God which shall awake the sleeping dead.

I have been to the brink of the river,
The cold dark river of death,
And still in the valley I shiver
Where our child yielded up her breath,
Chill, chill was the touch of the billow
As it closed o’er our darling’s head,
There left her asleep on her pillow
Our beautiful, beautiful dead.

O, dark was the day when the token
Was sent from the palace on high,
The sweet silver cord must be broken
And the image all shattered must lie.
Oh, the midnight was starless and dreary
When our child had to fight her last foe,
At length of the conflict wear
Love loosed her and sobbed let her go.

Great Father receive the sweet spirit
That has burst all its letters of clay,
She will now with the angels inherit
The crown and the kingdom of day,
The smile like an infant’s escaping
From danger to mother’s own breast,
Told the moment the angels were taking
Our loved one home to her rest.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book A-2, page 216, Keosauqua Public Library; Keosauqua, IA