OBIT: Martha A. (WIKE) WEAVER, 1887, Blair County, PA

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OBITUARY.
Another One of Newry's Christian Ladies Gone to Her Reward.

A correspondent at Newry writes as follows:

The subject of this sketch, Mrs. Martha A. Weaver, wife of S. B.
Weaver, esq., and daughter of H. M. Wike, was born December 4, 1855,
and died January 23, 1887, aged 31 years, 1 month and 19 days.  This
lady was one whom everybody in the community in which she lived knew
as a true Christian lady.  She was seldom seen away from her home, her
whole desire apparently being how she might best please her husband,
her children and her neighbors.  Although comparatively young in
years, she had served her Lord and Master as a member of the
Evangelical Lutheran church of Newry for seventeen years, having been
a member of the church choir for seven years, and her place in the
church was never vacant unless prevented by sickness or some other
unavoidable occurrence from going.

On Monday morning our town was not a little shocked when the word was
passed almost in inaudible whispers that Mrs. Weaver was dead, as no
one of her many acquaintances was prepared for the sad news.  She had
only been sick about forty-eight hours when the messenger came, and
her only regret was that she had to leave behind her so many who were
so near and dear to her.

It is sad at any time to bear of the death of a friend or an
acquaintance, but what must the feelings be of a husband left to care
for four dear little motherless children whose motherly desire it
seemed to be was only to please them.  Her father, her mother, three
sisters and an only brother, besides those previously mentioned,
remain behind to mourn their loss, which certainly is her gain.  From
a little child she was never known to have given, even in her infancy,
a cross word to her parents, sisters or brother, and since her
marriage she has been an ever faithful wife and her last words to her
husband were, "How can I go without you?"

On Tuesday, 25th inst., at 10.30 o'clock the mournful procession
entered the church, of which she had been such a faithful member for
years, followed by a large concourse of friends and acquaintances,
where the last sad rites of the church were performed by Rev. J. W.
Henderson, who had been her pastor for five years or more, reading as
the Scriptural lesson the fifty fifth chapter of Isaiah, and as his
text the ninth verse of the same chapter; and certainly he did great
credit to himself in the manner in which he delivered his sermon,
illustrating the beauties of dying a Christian's death.  True, but a
few days since the joy of a happy home is now laid to rest in the
silent tomb, but oh! what consolation when we know that she fills a
Christian grave.  During her last moments she saw, or appeared to have
seen, her little daughter, Gracie, who had died two years ago,
beckoning her to the evergreen shore. "Peace to her ashes."

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, January 27, 1887, page 3