MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA REGISTER OF OLD SETTLERS BOOK ONE

Source: REGISTER OF OLD SETTLERS , BOOK One, page 484 & 484-a
submitted by Ronna Thuman, December 12, 2007

LIGHT OF LIFE GONE
Sad Tidings Received From Saginaw, Michigan.

DEATH OF MISS HATTIE VAN HORNE

From Early Childhood She Lived to Serve Those She Loved-Her Friends, Her Day and Generation—A Persistent Student and Authority on Art and Literary Topics—Tribute of a Friend.

Death of Miss Hattie D. Van Horne.

A telegram was received at 5:55 p. m. yesterday by the News-Tribune editor from E. S. Van Horne, at Saginaw, Mich., announcing the death of his sister, Miss Hattie D. Van Horne, who departed this life yesterday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock. The telegram conveyed the added information that the remains would be consigned to repose in the Saginaw cemetery.

The tidings of the passing of this gentle, helpful soul to the portals of that realm whither all mortals are drifting, brings regret unfeigned and sorrow inexpressible to a host of Muscatine people who were her firm and fervent friends and who greatly esteemed and loved her. Though this transition was not unanticipated, the parting is no less sad. Miss Van Horne had been in delicate health for months and to obtain richly needed rest and recuperation, upon the advice of her physician she gave up her duties as teacher in the First Ward school, and the Board of Education, in accepting her resignation, unanimously adopted resolutions commending in terms of high eulogy her extended, faithful and efficient service as a teacher. Learning that the climate of Michigan was the best possible for those afflicted with bronchitis, accompanied by her mother, Mrs. Mary I. Van Horne, and sister, Mrs. E. G. Magoon, she went thither about six weeks ago to reside with her brother, Ellsworth S. Van Horne, who had located there some time ago, being an attaché of the Saginaw Evening News. The change of scene, the salutary climate and the happy reunion of the family contributed to render her brighter and better for weeks, but the ailment was too deep-seated and its ravages too great to be overcome, save temporarily, and gradually her vitality grew less until the light of life vanished.

Hattie Delia Van Horne was born at Muscatine, Iowa, on July 2d, 1859. When two years of age she went with her parents to Marseilles, France, Her father, the late Hon. Geo. W. Van Horne (who subsequently was editor of the News-Tribune and postmaster at Muscatine), having been appointed by President Lincoln as U. S. Consul at Marseilles, where he oft-times entertained Admiral Dewey, then executive officer of the famous Kearsage. It was near the American consulate in sunny southern France that Hattie received her early education, coming back to her native Iowa in 1866 unable to talk English. In 1880 she was graduated from the Muscatine High school and in the autumn of the same year took a position as teacher in the second grade of the First Ward school. In later years she took the fifth grade, teaching regularly since until last year.

Miss Van Horne was a student all her life, her penchant for musical, artistic and literary attainments being very pronounced. She was one of the organizers of the West End Fortnightly club, which comprises some of the most cultured ladies of the city. Always an active member of this club, her unflagging interest was rewarded by her associates, who honored her with the offices of president and secretary respectively. Her talent as an artist was of a high degree and her creations won the warm admiration of competent critics. She took a deep and abiding interest in religious matters and was one of the valued teachers of the First Congregational Sunday school, and hundreds of youths and maidens will recall with grateful hearts her devoted service, gentle admonitions and kindly and inspiring example as long as they do live.

To the graciousness, worth and beauty of character of the decedent, a friend intimately associated with her for years pays the following glowing and tender tribute:

A Lovely Life. Whenever a pure, sweet life is eliminated from a home, a social circle, a community, by death or removal, then is there great loss to the intellectual, the spiritual motor forces which vitalize the environment of that life. When a family that has stood for intellectual and aesthetic growth, severs its connection with a long-time home, then throughout the radius of all its connection there is a vacuum. All may not realize it, but with those who meditate upon the deeper currents in the stream of life about us, there is, and will be, a sense of loss. Such losses are ours in the recent removal of the Van Horne family to Saginaw, Mich. From our earliest acquaintance with this family it has been an inspiration. In our early youth we listened to the glowing exhortations of the father in the little weekly meetings of the Congretional church. There seemed ever a halo of lofty purpose, clear conscience, instructed mind permeating his life which took strong hold upon the plastic thought of younger people about him. The high respect grew eith his life in the community. When, later, he went with this girlish wife to a faw away land to represent his country, we felt that better than anyone else could he, with dignity, reflect honor upon the community whence he was called.


On the return of this family a fresh impetus was added to the intellectual, the aesthetic growth of all who enjoyed their acquaintance—and more—the hospitality of their ever-attarctive fireside. Out of this home children have passed into the activities of our community; the eldest, one whom father, mother, sister, brother, and all who knew her, have ever deemed most rare in gifts, in attainments—and most of all—in character. From her early childhood she lived to serve those whom she loved—her friends, her day and generation. Early in life her artistic instincts materialized and lo, her home—already rich in curios and articles of vertu from other lands—was enriched with a wealth of mural beauty from her brush. Some of her paintings went abroad; others adorn the homes of far away friends; others the drawing rooms of many of the lovely homes of her native town. Adverse fortune made it necessary that she should strive in educational lines—where she was ever faithful—but by inheritance she was a child of art and should have lived forever in a realm of sweetness, light, gentleness and beauty, of which she should have been a noble part, and where her gifts might have expanded. While the spiritual dominated the intellectual in her, nature grew. She found time to read, study, write in diverse lines of culture, and thus became an authority among students and a light in the literary club of which she was an honored member and oft-time officer. As a communicant and worker in the Congregational church her history will stand as an example of purity and faithfulness. The many dear children trained by her in the Sabbath school, the never-empty seat in prayer meeting and Sabbath service, the devout manner, the reverent words, the broad charity, the heart full of good will—ah, who shall rehearse it all? The fountain which fed her life seemed pure as crystal. Unselfish, patient, always hopeful, reverent, prayerful, she filled out the measure of life among us without a grain of dross—only pure gold. In her utter self-abnegation at all times—times of weakness, in sickness, in disappointment, in sorrows, and final loss of health—we have classed her among the sainted ones—of whom we read, to whom some pray—and we have softly said:


“And if any painter drew her
He would draw her unaware
With a halo round her hair.”


Dear Hattie! Wherever thou art on earth or in heaven—we shall cherish the recollection of thy sweet life among us while memory endures.---C. W. --- March 12, 1902 --

*** another article on page 484-b ***

OBITUARY.
Miss Hattie Van Horne.

Word was received in the city last evening about 6 o’clock of the death of Miss Hattie Van Horne at her recent home in Saginaw, Mich., where her mother, sister and brother now reside. About six weeks ago Miss Van Horne, with her mother and sister, Mrs. E. G. Magoon, went to Saginaw in the hopes of benefiting her declining health, but all to no avail for the dread disease of consumption had so fastened itself to her system that all human agencies were fruitless.

Hattie Delia Van Horne was born July 2, 1859, in this city. Two years after her birth she was taken by her parents to Marseilles, France, returning to this country in 1866. She received her early education in the southern part of France. In 1880 she graduated from the high school from this place and a year later took a position in the schools as teacher. She had taught ever since in one grade or another and even attempted to teach this year, but her health became so delicate that she was unable to continue, being forced to resign. Miss Van Horne was a student all her life and was also an artist and many homes in this city have specimens of her work. She was one of the organizers of the West End Fortnightly club, and was always an active worker. She was a member of the Congregational church, teaching a Sunday school class in that connection. Miss Van Horne lived a life of faithfulness and devotion that was an inspiration to many, and although a great sufferer bore up under her afflictions with great fortitude.

The telegram announcing her death also stated that interment would take place at Saginaw, where the reminder of her people still reside.

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