Obituary: Rock County, Wisconsin: Lucy Maria COLEMAN ************************************************************************ Submitted by Ruth Ann Montgomery, April 2008 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ Mrs. Sellew Coleman The community was surprised on Thursday evening of last week to learn of the sudden and unlooked for death of Mrs. Lucy Maria Sellew Coleman, wife of Professor J. E. Coleman of Evansville Seminary. The immediate cause of her death was nervous prostration resulting from child birth. Her child was born on the Sunday previous, January 6th, and it was supposed she was getting along all right, and on rising up in her bed to help herself to something within her reach, fell back exclaiming "my back is broken" and from that she commenced to sink away, and in spite of every effort that could be made, passed away. Her friends in New York were telegraphed to and arrived here on the Saturday night train. They were a sister from either Rochester and Buffalo, and a brother and sister of her mother. The funeral took place at the Methodist church here Sunday at 2 o'clock, P. M. and was attended by as closely packed house as was ever before known. The sermon was by Rev. Mr. Hammer, assisted by Rev. Mr. Perry, all of the F. M. church. The students were out in a body and many students of a former connection with the school, were conspicuous in the audience, some coming from a distance, to take a last fond look of a woman whom they had dearly loved and whose death they most deeply deplored. The coffin was one of Undertaker Potter & Hartly's best, covered with mummy cloth and richly set with silver ornaments, on the lid of which was a silvered plate bearing the simple inscription "Entered into Rest;" otherwise the casket was plain and simple as it well could be emblem of the life of the enclosed "Richness of character and nobleness of action." Our pen is too impotent to speak of Mrs. Coleman in her true character. For the past years that she has lived here, has been one of the prime factors of the Seminary, and has acquired a fame that can only be accorded to true womanhood, and a character ennobled by heaven's choice blessings. None knew her but to love her, and those who knew her best loved her most. Elsewhere will be found excellent resolutions passed by the school which are cheerfully given herewith. Tuesday, January 15, 1889, Evansville Review, Evansville, Rock County, Wisconsin Mrs. Lucy Maria Sellew Coleman the beloved wife of our professor of the Seminary died Thursday, Jan. 10, 1889 at 5 o'clock p.m. aged 35 years 8 months and 18 days. This sudden and sad death has cast a bloom over this entire community, as it is not only a great loss to her near and dear relatives and friends, but to the whole people of this community, the deceased being one of the most highly respected and main supports of one of our best institutions of learning, as a teacher she had no superior, as a friend she was steadfast and true, as a citizen her influence was good with all, as a christian she was a Free Mothodist ture to her God and Savior and a hard worker in his vinyard. She gave birth to a nice boy on Sunday, Dec. 30, '88 and all felt very happy over the event, the mother seemed to be getting along as well as could be expected until a day or two previous to her death when her mind became effected resulting in death in defiance of all human aid. It is expected that the funeral will be held at the M. E. Church on Sunday. January 12, 1889, The Tribune, Evansville, WI Born--Sunday, December 30, 1888 at 10 o'clock a.m. to Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Coleman, a nice baby boy. All getting along well and happy. January 5, 1889, The Tribune, Evansville, WI