Bourbon-Wyandotte County KS Archives Obituaries.....Merriam, Maria A. Barrett 1899
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jeanne Fontaine fi_lay@yahoo.com September 13, 2006, 11:21 pm

Unnamed Kansas Newspaper
LIFE'S SUDDEN ENDING

Mrs. J. Q. Merriam Passes Away at 10 o'clock Last Night of Paralysis of the
Heart at the Age of 69

Mrs. Maria A. Merriam, wife of J. Q. Merriam, one of the oldest and most
prominent citizens in Fort Scott, died very suddenly last evening at 10 o’clock
at the family residence, 424 South Holbrook street, of paralysis of the heart,
and the announcement of her demise will be a sad blow to her many acquaintances
in this city and abroad.
	Although Mrs. Merriam has not been confined to her bed she has been declining
in health for many years. She being subject to heart spells, she and Mr. Merriam
for the past seven or eight years have taken trips abroad, to the mountains in
the summer and south in the winter in the hopes that a change of climate and
scenery would be of benefit, which was prescribed by Dr. Cory, the family
physician. They have taken two trips to Florida. This summer was spent with her
daughter and son in Kansas City, and she only returned a month ago to spend the
winter at home.  Last evening she was well as usual and retired about 9:30 as is
her custom.  A few minutes before 10 o’clock she was seized with a dizziness and
a choking sensation and called to Mr. Merriam, who was with her, for a glass of
water. Realizing that it was a repetition of previous attacks of this
description and that her life would sometime expire in this manner, her husband
hastened down stairs to get the water. Returning from the kitchen he found Mrs.
Merriam in the dining room, she having followed him down. Gasping for breath she
drank the water and was immediately seized with convulsions. Sense of speech had
nearly departed. There was a quivering of the half parted lips, and murmuring
softly to her husband “I am gone,” she sank unconscious into a chair and three
minutes later life was extinct—she had passed into that everlasting sleep which
none ever return.
	While at this hour death was unexpected Mr. Merriam says he knew that some day
she would pass away in this manner, although this spell was no more severe than
previous attacks. Mr. Merriam was alone when death came but E. J. Chapin and
Alex Campbell, who live in adjoining houses, were notified. Telegrams were sent
to her son, Harry, and daughter, Mrs. Durall Havens of Kansas City, and they are
expected to arrive this morning.
	Maria A. Barrett was of a proud and wealthy Yankee stock and was born in
Pompford [probably Pomfret], Connecticut, March 27, 1829, being nearly 70 years
old at the time of her death. Removing to Grafton, Mass., with her parents she
was married to John Quincy Merriam, January 2, 1849, and after a few years
residence there Mr. and Mrs. Merriam removed to Cass county, Illinois, residing
there nineteen years. In 1871 they came to Fort Scott where Mr. Merriam
accumulated a comfortable fortune in the nursery business, but he retired from
active business life some years ago and since then has given his time to his
private interests.
	Having accepted the faith of Christ at the age of 16, the deceased has been a
devout Christian all her life, taking an active part in church work and up to a
few years ago devoted much time to Sunday school duties in the Congregational
church here, having a great Christian influence over her scholars. One notable
fact in this work is that all the members of the class which she taught have
associated themselves with the church, and now she awaits Christ’s richest
reward in heaven.
	The deceased is survived by a grief-stricken husband, on son, Harry, civil
engineer of the Memphis railroad; and daughter, Mrs. Duvall Haves [Havens], both
of Kansas City, two brothers, one of whom lives in Massachusetts, and several
grand children, all of whom have the deepest sympathy of their many friends in
this, their saddest hour of affliction.
	No funeral arrangements will be made pending the arrival of the son and
daughter, but the remains will find their last resting place in the family lot
in Evergreen Cemetary.


Additional Comments:
   I found this obituary clipping from a newspaper in antique chest purchased at
auction in Louisiana. Being a genealogy buff, I thought it would be useful for
Merriam / Barrett /Havens families. 
   The name of the newspaper is not shown nor is the date. It is presumed to be
a Fort Scott newspaper from wording of obit. Death date is calculated from date
of birth and age at time of death listed in the obit.

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