Grant Co., Wisconsin OBIT:  Catherine James & Rachel James, Orphans 

SUBJECT: Catherine James & Rachel James, Orphans
SUBMITTER: Karolyn Roberts
EMAIL: gkrob@fullnet.com
DATE: Apr 24, 1999

SURNAMES: 

CATHERINE JAMES died in Platteville, Wis., December 16, 1889; also, just
three weeks later, on January 6, 1890, her only sister, RACHEL JAMES, died
in Lancaster, Wis., and changed mortality for life.
These two sisters, usually denominated Aunt Katie and Aunt Rachel, were
of that class of persons that Cyprian, one of the early martyrs of the
church in the third century, denominated “The jewels of the church,” because
poor, as well as pious. Of their early history but little can be gathered.
It appears they were born in Ohio, Katie in 1804, being at the time of
her death in her eighty-fifth year. Rachel was born in 1810, being at the
time of her death in her eightieth year. Katie’s religious training was
among the Society of Friends, consequently she was averse to shouting and
noise in meeting. But in the providence of God her lot was cast in our
little class in Platteville, where she soon learned there was that in salvation
that made the inhabitants of the Rock sing and shout from the tops of the
mountains; and but seldom did she pass through a class meeting but in her
practice she gave us to understand that her Quaker proprieties were overcome
by the joy of the Lord.
These two sisters were left orphans early in life. How manifest the truth
and promise of God, “When father and mother forsake me then the Lord will
take me up.” About thirty years since providence directed their steps to
Wisconsin, where God raised them up many friends in and out of the church,
and directed them in their church relation about ten years since to the
care and instruction of the little Free Methodist class in Platteville;
and to this class has God granted the privilege of administering to their
wants, both temporal and spiritual; consequently we are directed to the
Savior’s declaration and promise, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one
of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me”; and a cup of
cold water given because they belong to Christ shall not lose its reward.
Let us not, brethren, lose sight of the “jewels of the church.” The Saviour
says, “The poor ye have always with you, and when ye will ye can do them
good.” Let us remember severance from the poor is a sure mark of an apostate
church.
Sister Rachel, for many years deprived of the sense of hearing, could derive
no benefit directly from the preaching of the word, yet with her sister
Katie her seat in the sanctuary at all the meetings was filled. How often
has the writer in years past marked their faithfulness in their attendance
upon the sanctuary, even when necessitated by the steps of age and feebleness
to support the feeble frame by the fences connected with the sidewalk,
in traveling to and from the house of God—an example of faithfulness seldom
equaled by the followers of Jesus. Sister Katie was in her place in the
house of God, and left her testimony for the Lord the Sunday previous to
her departure; on the Monday morning following, before breakfast, the Master
said, “Enough! Come up higher.” Sister Rachel does not leave as encouraging
words in the hour of dissolution, having lost her mental faculties some
weeks before death. But, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord;….yea,
saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works
do follow them."” Joseph S. Bolton, Pastor. Platteville, Wis.
The Free Methodist, Chicago, September 10, 1890




-----------------------------------------------------
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: 
In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the 
Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial 
entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These 
electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by 
other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this 
material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written 
consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact 
the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent.