Margaret (Gainey) MESSICK SELBY SHORT CROSS

GAINEY, MESSICK, SELBY, SHORT, CROSS, DODD

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/3/2009 at 09:13:41

[Mother of Jewett B. Messick of Eagle Grove, Iowa]

Bloomfield News, Bloomfield, Indiana
November 12, 1914

Mrs. Margaret GAINEY CROSS, relict of Robert D. CROSS, quit her earth life at her home in Bloomfield, November 4, 1914. She was born in Springville, May 22, 1836, and when she went home she was seventy-eight years, five months and twelve days old. Her parents were Meredith and Nancy GAINEY. She had three brothers and three sisters, but she survived them all. She was married four times. Her first marriage was to Jewett L. MESSICK in 1854. Ten children—eight sons and two daughters were born unto them, but only four are living; three having died in infancy and three lived to be grown. Dr. A. W. MESSICK, a citizen of Bedford, went away in 1893, and Mrs. George DODD, also of Bedford, passed away about 1890. John MESSICK, another son, died at Bedford about 1875. The surviving children are Jewett B. MESSICK, of Eagle Grove, Iowa; B. F. MESSICK, of Dunkirk, IN; Meredith G. MESSICK, Deputy Clerk of Greene County, and Miss Lucy MESSICK, both of BLOOMFIELD. The deceased and Mr. MESSICK made their home in Bedford for twenty-four years. Mr. MESSICK having died in 1875.

Her second marriage was to Thomas W. SELBY, of Tunnelton. One son, Dr. George M. SELBY, of Sheridan, Wyo., was the result of this union. They made their home at Tunnelton for several years, and afterwards moved to a farm in Greene County. Some time after the death of Mr. SELBY, she married Owen SHORT, of Springville, where they remained until the demise of Mr. SHORT. Her last marriage was to Robert D. CROSS, and with him she went to Nebraska. Mr. CROSS departed this life in July of 1912. She remained in Nebraska until August 6, 1914 when she came back to Indiana. Besides her own children she reared two stepchildren from childhood, but they are deceased. They were Edward and James MESSICK.

When fourteen years of age the deceased joined the M. E. church, but seven years later she united with the Christian church and remained a loyal, faithful consistent member till her home going. On coming to Bloomfield to live she requested her son to select her a home near the Christian church and on October 4, she and her daughter became members of the Bloomfield Christian Church, the fellowship of whose membership she greatly enjoyed and in whose success she was much interested. She was a member of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and stood firmly for its principles. A long, useful trustful life equipped her for the life beyond, and without a struggle she peacefully fell asleep in Christ. She was a great reader, and her bright mind, aided by her conversational powers, made her most interesting in any company. Life held many good things for her. Every day was an opportunity to her, and keeping a diary up to the time she passed away, interprets what to live meant to her. Motherhood found in her a beautifully exemplification. Her friends were many. Her friendliness had made them, and her stable qualities retained them.

Her daughter, Lucy, and she have been inseparate since the birth of the former. The devotion of mother and daughter has been beautiful. The services rendered each to the other were truly exemplary, and the faithfulness of her sons to her have been a source of pride and joy to her. Truly her children were worthy and efficient examples of a worthy and efficient mother. The funeral services were conducted from the Bedford Christian Church Saturday morning at 10 a. m. by Elder J. A. SPENCER, assisted by Elder A. E. DUBBER, and the body was laid to rest in the Bedford Cemetery.