Clara May (Hartshorn) HENDERSON

HARTSHORN, HENDERSON, CRAIG, RICHTOR, FAIRBANKS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/1/2008 at 14:08:52

Decatur County Journal, Iowa
May 3, 1917

Clara May Hartshorn was born near Clarion, Wright County, Iowa, Sept. 29, 1881, the daughter of Horatio and Anna Hartshorn. She came to Decatur County with her parents in 1895 and has resided here continuously ever since with one brief exception. She had from early childhood, been religiously inclined, being baptized in her tenth year into the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at Head Grove, Iowa, and it has been her constant desire to exemplify in daily life the principles of that great teaching of the "more abundant life," as found in the Gospel of our Lord and Savior. The testimony of this fact comes in the great tribute paid by hosts of devoted friends, to her character and memory.

On Oct. 9, 1901, she was united in marriage to Charles E. Henderson at Davis City, Iowa, by Elder H.A. Stebbins. After the first two years of married life they made their home in Leon. Here she spent the happiest days of her life, and here, according to her last request, will reside forever, on yonder hillside, in the city of the dead.

She leaves to mourn her departure an affectionate husband, her aged father, of Senlac, Sask., Canada, her mother having gone to the paradise of rest fifteen years and seven months ago, brothers Lee A., of Richmond Hill, N.Y.; Chris B., of Chicago, and four sisters, Mrs. G. F. Henderson and Mrs. B. E. Craig, of Davis City, Iowa; Mrs. R. Richtor and Mrs. J. G. Fairbanks, of Chicago, and also many relatives and hosts of friends.

Her death occurred at Mercy Hospital, Chicago, on Saturday, April 27, 1917. Every care and comfort of human skill and ingenuity were here employed to restore her to health. But, after three weeks of illness during which she was daily cheered by the presence of her devoted companion and three sisters and both brothers, besides constant messages and floral tributes from afar; she smilingly answered the summons of death's angel to go to a place prepared by God where sickness, suffering and death are no more. Clara was one, who by divine aid, had developed the grace of a mild and loving spirit. Her patience under all conditions, the ministry of kind acts impartially rendered from the depths of an unselfish heart, won true and tried friends who will forever cherish her memory. The Gospel taught by the life of Clara May Henderson was well expressed at her death bed by the nurse who had attended her, when she said: "I am better for having known her. She was so patient and always had a smile. If there ever was an angel on earth, Clara was one." Thus we grieve not as for the lost but for one who has earned a glorious and abiding rest. Funeral services were held at the Christian Church, Tuesday, April 24, at 2:30 o'clock, conducted by Elder Garver, of Lamoni, assisted by Rev. Henry Esch, Pastor of the Christian Church. The love and esteem for her was shown by the many grief stricken friends who gathered to pay their last respects to one who has left them for a short time. Interment was in Leon's beautiful Cemetery.