Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Lapham, Sarah A. (Hall) August 21, 1904
************************************************
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:
Patricia Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net November 25, 2021, 2:15 pm

Lake Odessa Wave-Friday August 26, 1904

ANOTHER PIONEER GONE
Mrs. Sarah A. Lapham died at her home northeast of the village, on Sunday 
morning, August 21st , 1904, after a long illness. The funeral was held on 
Tuesday, August 23d, from the Congregational church of this village, the 
services being conducted by Rev. Wm. Skentelbury. Her remains were interred in 
Lakeside cemetery, beside those of her husband, who departed this life a couple 
of months ago. There was a big attendance at the last sad rites over the kind 
old lady, and Rev. Skentelbury delivered a touching and earnest sermon, being 
much affected in the passing of this old lady that had impressed him so well at 
his previous visits at her home.

Mrs. Lapham who was born inn Tompkins county, New York, June 16th, 1828, and 
consequently was aged 76 years, 2 months and 24 days at the time of her death. 
She was married to Peleg S. Lapham in 1849, in Seneca county, Ohio, where they 
remained for eight years, then moved to Michigan, settling on the farm in Odessa 
that has ever since been their home, in 1854.

To this union were born six children, three sons and three daughters, of which 
four remain, a son and three daughters, namely; Mrs Roll Derby of Sebewa 
corners; Mrs Wm. Purdue of Woodland; Mrs Martin Tupper, of Six Lakes, and Wm. 
Lapham of Odessa. Besides this little family she leaves a brother to mourn the 
loss of the loved one. Two brothers have passed to the spirit world before. The 
remaining brother being a resident of Ohio.

Mr and Mrs Lapham knew which of the hard, stern pioneer life, having lived here, 
as before mentioned, since 1854. A half a century of the last greatest in 
history. They have witnessed the forests melt into verdant fields, and the fens 
drained into the beautiful and fruitful gardens and in all tis transformation 
the have had their part to perform and have done it will, doing their share of 
the hardest toil necessary to bring about these wonderful transformations.

In a further resume of the life of this beautiful character we can best quote 
from the remarks of Rev. Skentelbury, made at the church before the casket was 
closed and the remains were borne away to their last resting place:
"What a wonderful change has taken place in the last half century in the world, 
in this nation and especially in this state. It is something indeed to have 
shared in the clearing up and developing of this work, and to have taken any 
part int he social and mental, moral and spiritually clearing up and helpfulness 
of the town and county."
"Some of the friends who knew our brother and sister understood this far better 
than we. We live to enjoy the fruits of what they have done; They now cease from 
their labors and their works do follow them."

"Last winter I visited the husband who was taken very sick. I talked and prayed 
with him, to which he heartily responded and took a strong grip by faith of God. 
I enjoyed those visits, as he seemed to enjoy them, and felt comforted and 
strengthened with conversations And when he died and was buried from this place 
I preached his funeral sermon, On the Immortal Life, from the text, I Timothy, 
4;8  "The Life That Is To Come." I felt wonderfully blest and satisfied with 
him, and during that time had a most profitable conversation with Mrs. Lapham, 
who understood the Bible and christian doctrine as well as any person I have 
conversed with since I have been here. I was astonished at her clear knowledge 
of Bible truth and should suppose she had a deep experience of the same for she 
quoted passage after passage on the vital life of the believer. She was baptized 
in her early pioneer days by Rev. Myron Tupper and no doubt has fed on the bread 
of life.

"When these events come right home to us they bring out your earlier experiences 
and make them vital. The christian life is the brightest and best in these 
crises of our history and they come back and shine in the darker hours of our 
lives.

"I am glad for the conversations I had with her, and to see how earnestly she 
talked of the best things, under the very shadow of bereavement, and in the 
valley of the shadow of death itself. The last sentence is that she left a 
bright evidence behind that she died safely in the arms of Jesus, which is 
richer to reflect on than any thing else we can think of.
"Safe in the arms of Jesus; Safe on His gentle breast; 
There by His love o'er shadowed, Sweetly the soul shall rest.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/l/lapham41241nob.txt

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

File size: 5.0 Kb