Sarah Elizabeth (Raymond) BARNES

RAYMOND, BARNES, ECCLES

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:58

Sarah Elizabeth Raymond Barnes
4 May 1851 ---- 19 March 1930

The funeral services for Mrs. A. H. Barnes, whose death was but briefly mentioned in last week's paper, was held at the Congregational church last Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Rev. Kilbourn preached a most comforting sermon, taking for the central theme, humanity's belief in the immortality of the soul - that there must be a life following this one, else we would not have had implanted in our being the desire to live again. It is the belief of the pagan, the Christian, the savage, and the civilized man that there is a life in the hereafter, much more desirable than our earthly existence. Rev. Kilbourn paid a fine tribute to Mrs. Barnes, which was in keeping with the unusually profuse and beautiful floral offerings of sympathy to the sorrowing relatives and evidenced the esteem in which Mrs. Barnes was held by those who knew her best. Rev. Muhleman assisted in the service, reading the scripture lesson and the history of her life. The Congregational church choir furnished the music, all selections by the choir being ones Mrs. Barnes particularly enjoyed hearing. Interment was made in Rose Hill cemetery.

Mrs. Barnes would have been 79 years of age had she lived until the 4th of next May. She lived her life entirely for the future. Her vision was in the future. She never wanted to grow old - she never did grow old. She continued her household duties up until the Monday afternoon preceding her death last week Wednesday. She enjoyed the new conveniences which made her home more comfortable. She learned the modern ways of housekeeping - the old methods, were not good enough if in her judgment new ways were better. While apparently not a strong woman, she had the reserve strength to do whatever duty was hers. After raising her own family, she provided a home and mother's care for her grandson, Clarence Barnes. She carried on with the church social and lodge work long past the time when such obligations are [non legible]. Consistent with her past habits and customs, she was planning on a several months trip to California this coming summer. But her sudden passing denied her this pleasure. She was deeply appreciative of the attentions and regard of her friends. She would have been profoundly grateful, beyond human expression, could she have seen and heard the many manifestations of love and esteem which have come to the bereaved family she has left behind. In the words of a friend of the family who has been through a similar experience:

"Time may heal the wound, but it can never efface the scar."

Obituary

Sarah Elizabeth Raymond was born May 4, 1851, at Bristol, Kendall county, Ill. She received her education in the public schools of Kendall county, and in the Liscom Seminary at Bristol, Ill. She was united in marriage with Arthur H. Barnes, Sept. 4, 1873.

To this union were born five children, Horace Raymond, who died May 20, 1907 at Fedora, S. D., Solon Arthur, and Harlan Ward of Eagle Grove, survive. Twin daughters, Lydia Burrell and Lois Cornelia died in 1891, at the ages of three weeks and five weeks, respectively. Three grandchildren live to mourn their loss. They are Clarence W. Barnes of Butterfield, Minn., and Arthur and Mary Barnes of Eagle Grove. One grandson, Glenn Rodney Barnes died at Custer, S. D., April 7, 1917. There are three surviving great grandchildren, Glenn and Gloria Barnes, twins, and Harry Arthur Barnes of Butterfield, Minn., children of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Barnes. One sister and three brothers are still living, Mrs. Clara Eccles and George Raymond, Bristol, Ill., John M. Raymond, Aurora, Ill., and Martin Raymond, Topeka, Kan.

Mrs. Barnes was a member of the First Congregational church of Eagle Grove. She took great pleasure in the church and its work and was a faithful member of the Fidelity Bible class of the Congregational Sunday school. She was an active member of Eagle Chapter No. 114, Order of the Eastern Star and served as matron during the years, 1902-03, and 1909-10. She was a member of both the Equality Club and Woman's Club, serving at one time in the capacity of president of the latter organization, and was a member of its charity committee at the time of her death. Mrs. Barnes lived in and near Bristol, Ill. from the time of her birth until 1882 when the family moved to South Dakota where they took up a homestead and tree claim when that territory was opened for settlement. There has been but one transfer of this land from the government to Mr. and Mrs. Barnes. In every sense, Mr. and Mrs. Barnes were pioneers in this section of South Dakota. All material for their first buildings had to be hauled 15 miles across the raw prairie. At that time, the Buffalo had left that vicinity, but a few years and Indian relics were found in abundance. Here the family lived and helped in the building up of an entirely new community. They assisted in building churches, schoolhouses, and homes. Mrs. Barnes for years taught a neighborhood singing school and one of her most prize possessions was a rocking chair presented her by her grateful pupils.

Mrs. Barnes and Solon and Ward came to Eagle Grove, Ia. in 1897 leaving the oldest son, Ray, on the South Dakota farm, which he continued to operate until his death in 1907. Mr. Barnes preceded the family to Eagle Grove, coming here in 1896. For thirty-three years she has been a continuous resident of this community. She had but one serious sickness in all that time. Twenty years ago, she successfully coped with a very severe attack of erysipelas. Only last Monday morning she was up and about her work as usual. Monday afternoon, much against her own personal desire, but acting under her physician’s orders she took to her bed because of hernia trouble, which had bothered her perhaps two or three times in some forty years. Her trouble seemed to be responding to treatment until Tuesday noon when it took a sudden turn for the worse. A council of physicians was held, and an immediate operation was determined upon as the only possible means of saving her life. An operation was performed at Mercy hospital Fort Dodge that same evening and she came out of the operating room perfectly rational, recognizing and conversing with the members of her family. She had a fairly restful night and the next morning her physician held out very encouraging hopes for her recovery. Wednesday morning, she again recognized and talked with the members of her family, her nurses, and doctors. She was already making plans for returning home in a few days. In the middle of the afternoon, she began to fail rapidly and after a valiant but losing struggle against the poison, which was rapidly permeating her system, her indomitable will was forced to recognize a superior power and her spirit passed on to the realms beyond the shadows shortly after seven o'clock on the evening of Wednesday, March 19, 1930.

EAGLE GROVE EAGLE --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, March 27, 1930

Source ---- Paul Wilde