Cameron, Mary (Aldrich) 1836 - 1909

CAMERON, ALDRICH, JOHNSON, TABOR

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 3/9/2023 at 16:11:12

Source: Decorah Republican Dec. 16, 1909 P8 C2

Rev. Mellott didn’t have to go, or, rather, try to go, to Hesper to preach on Sunday on account of the funeral of Mrs. Mary Cameron at the Friends church. Mrs. Cameron went to California some months since, and as we understand it, in her usual health, and now brought back for burial in the family lot. We have known Mrs. Cameron for many years. She was a woman of rare mind, and her lovable disposition and winning ways attracted many friends.

Source: Decorah Republican Dec. 16, 1909 P8 C4

After four days of anxious waiting for news from the time we first heard of her illness, when it seemed that no news must be good news, the message came as a shock. “Aunt Mary” Cameron is gone.” Death came to her at Modesto, Cal., the night of Friday, December 3. She had wished that she might be brought back to “dear old Hesper, for,” she had written recently. “it will always seem the most like home to me of any place this side of that bright world which is home indeed”. Her son-in-law G. R. Tabor who returned to California only a few weeks ago, came with the remains. The funeral services were held in the Friends church Sunday afternoon, Rev. H. C. Carter conducting the services. The pastor of the Methodist church, of which she was a member was unable to be present. Both churches, the Christian Endeavoters, the W. C. T. U., the boys and girls of her old class in the Methodist Sunday school, the entire community feel her loss keenly. It is hard yet to realize that “Aunt Mary’s” place is to be vacant. A complete obituary will be given next week.

Source: Decorah Republican Dec. 23, 1909 P2 C4

OBITUARY
Mary E. Aldrich, daughter of Remington and Phoebe Aldrich was born in Worcester Co. Mass. March 19, 1836, died at Modesto, Cal. Dec. 3rd, 1909, aged 73 years, 8 months and 11 days.
She came to Hesper, Iowa with her parents, April 17, 1858. Was married to Wm. Johnson, Nov. 1, 18{?}, who enlisted at the commencement of the Civil war and died at New Orleans in the spring of 1864. Being thus bereft she took a course in the Bennett Medical college, in Chicago, graduating therefrom in 1871. Afterwards she took a nurse’s course of study in Battle Creek, Mich., and a partial course in post graduate study in the Women’s Medical college, Chicago.
On July 15, 1877 she was married to James Cameron, also of Hesper, Iowa. He died July 16, 1900. To this union was born one son, Oscar Remington Cameron, who died before he was two years old. Her remains were bright to Hesper for interment among so many of her silent friends and relatives who were once her contemporaries in the pleasures and duties of active life.
The funeral services were held at the Friends church because of its larger accommodations, conducted by the pastor Rev. H. C. Carter, from a portion of Mat., 24: 44. ‘Be ye also ready. Although a storm was prevailing, a large congregation gathered and all seemed to feel that each had lost a loving friend. “Aunt Mary’s” life was a real incarnation of Divine grace. During her long and active life with the people here she was always the same warm-hearted, earnest, self-sacrificing helper in everything tending toward the betterment of humanity. She was identified with the Baptist church in her early life, but finding none of those near she united with the M. E. church, yet her rich Christian experience raised her above denominationalism and made her indeed a member of the whole family of God. In all reforms she was always in the front ranks, and always a congenial fellow-worker with all, whether youthful or aged. The Sabbath school, the League, the Christian Endeavor, the W. C. T. C., and the church all found in her a loyal, whole-hearted, earnest helper.
Such a life is an enduring monument to the power of savings grace, and though her voice is stilled in death yet from the living influence of her life seems to come in eloquent silence the monition, “Follow me, and I have endeavored to follow Christ.”

Hesper Public Cemetery
 

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