Obituary: Rock County, Wisconsin: Margaret A. BARNES

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Submitted by Ruth Ann Montgomery, <rmontgomery@cishome.com> June 2005

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Suddenly Passed to Her Reward

Mrs. Margaret A. Barnes

Mrs. Margaret Alice Barnes died Sunday morning, April 6, 1902, of the dread
disease, pneumonia, aged 60 years, 11 months and 4 days.

She was born May 2, 1841, in the town of Frankfort, Herkimer Co., N. Y. The
days of her early youth and young womanhood were spent in her native state.
On May 1, 1873, she was united in marraige to Mr. Abram A. Barnes at West
Frankfort, N. Y. Their married life was of short duration and in 1884 she
was left a widow. In 1887, she came west and took up her residence at the
home of her brother, Geo. H. Austin in Magnolia and when the family moved
to this city came with them and remained in the home ot the day of her
death. She kept house for her brother during his wife's sickness and after
her death, Mrs. Barnes faithfully presided over the home to the day she was
taken sick. 

She belonged to a family of twelve children, six of which are still living,
one sister and five brothers, Mrs. Jane Hulser of Utica, N. Y., J. E., of
Rupert, Vt., and G. H. and Wm. S. of this city. About a year ago they all
met and had a family reunion at the old homestead where a brother resides.
It was a scene that was joyous and will be remembered by those who survive
her.

The disease which took her off soon did its work. She was confined to her
bed only from Thursday to Sunday morning. None could believe that she was
so near her end until the very few last hours. She had caught a cold and
this threw her into a chill which laid the foundation for pneumonia. Her
sufferings were intense through the hours she was sick, but no word of
murmur fell from her lips. 

The community was greatly shocked when on gathering Sunday morning for
religious services they learned that her spirit had just passed into the
other world. Hearts were tender and many eyes were filled with tears. It is
a morning not to be soon forgotten. She will be long remembered for her
many kindly deeds, for she was ever seeking to relieve those in need. Only
a few days before her death she was out on an errand of mercy trying to
alleviate the sufferings of others. Many homes can testify of her presence
and some thing to assist when there was trouble. She occupied a very large
place in the Church of her choice and will be greatly missed.

During the few years she has been connected with the M. E. church of this
city she had been associated with almost every department of the church and
always toiled with great intensity of effort. She was a member of the
Relief Corps and here as elsewhere was a great factor in its work.

At fourteen years of age, she was converted and immediately united with the
M. E. church of which she remained a faithful member until her death. Her
belief in the Bible was very strong and faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior
of the world was deeply rooted. When nearly the end she told her brother,
"It is all right," and while the church bells were calling people on
Sabbath morning to the earthly temple she was called away to the temple
"not made with hands eternal in the heavens."

The funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the home
and at the M. E. Church at 2:30 Rev. Webster Millar officiated, assisted by
Rev. H. Sewell and Rev. Granger Smith. The Womans Relief Corps attended in
a body and assisted in the services with their usual ritualistic service. A
large number from the city and surrounding country attended the remains to
their last resting place in our beautiful cemetery.

April 13, 1902, Evansville Review, p. 1, Evansville, Wisconsin