Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Bailey, Sovinah 1879
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net November 11, 2009, 1:03 pm

Portland Weekly Observer, 14 Jan 1879

Died – At her home in this village on the 11th inst., of congestion of the 
lungs, Mrs. Sovinah Bailey, wife of James Bailey, aged 69 years, 1 month and 8 
days.

In our eleven years experience as publisher of the Observer we have been often 
been called upon to pen notices similar to the one above, but none have ever 
had the sad import to us – though, doubtless, they have to some one – that the 
above contains, the deceased being our own dear mother, the one who from our 
earliest infancy has had that watchful care and anxious anxiety for our welfare 
which only a true mother can have, that care and solicitude prompted by a 
mother’s pure love.  And what we say for ourself is equally true of the large 
family circle that now mourns her loss.  Each shared alike in her love, each 
now feels as deeply as grateful children can feel the loss that no earthly 
treasure can supply.

The deceased was born at Haighouse Hill, near Elland, Yorkshire, England, Dec. 
5th, 1809.  At the age of 21 she was married to her now bereaved husband, and 
twelve years later they, with six small children, set sail for America.  After 
a rough voyage lasting nearly two months they landed in New York, and from 
there went to New Hartford near Utica, N.Y., where they spent their first 
winter in America.  While there they buried their youngest child, a bright 
little girl of two summers, and a few days afterward with heavy hearts they 
started for Michigan to take possession of a parcel of land lying a few miles 
west of Charlotte, which they had secured before leaving England.  Here they 
remained but four months, when they exchanged their farm for property in Battle 
Creek, where they resided five years.  Here they were again called upon to part 
with one of their children, their oldest son, an unusually promising lad of 13 
years, falling a victim to scarlet fever.  In 1848 they exchanged their 
property in Battle Creek for a farm in Eagle, Clinton county, upon which they 
resided nine years, when it was sold and a farm one and one half miles west of 
this village purchased, where the family resided nine years more.  After a 
short residence on another farm near town the family removed to this village, 
where they have since resided.

Possessed of a strong constitution and ambition that was fully its equal, the 
deceased has ever pursued an active life.  No task ever seemed too hard and no 
sacrifice too great for her to undertake when the welfare of those she loved 
was at stake.  Her disposition was that suggested by innocent childhood and 
blossoming flowers, for these were her delight.  Her greatest pleasure was in 
seeing others prosperous and happy and in doing what she could to make them so, 
while her sympathies were at once aroused upon witnessing distress, wherever it 
might occur.  She was a true and affectionate wife, a kind and loving mother, a 
steadfast friend.  We may be pardoned for saying what we believe to be true of 
our mother, that she lived and died without an enemy.

The deceased usually enjoyed good health, but in her last sickness she suffered 
enough for a life time.  Take nearly twelve weeks ago with congestion of the 
lungs, up to the time of her death she was doubtless not a moment free from 
pain, and was a considerable portion of the time in actual paroxysms of pain, 
which only the most vigilant efforts of her attendants kept from proving 
fatal.  She bore all, however, with the greatest fortitude, and wonderful 
patience.  At last the disease conquered, and a few minutes before twelve 
o’clock on Saturday night last she dropped quietly to sleep.

Her funeral services were held at the Universalist church at 10:30 o’clock this 
morning and were attended by a large concourse of people.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/b/bailey1287nob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/

File size: 4.3 Kb