grave import

Obituary

The death of Mrs. W.E. Blake occurred at 8:30 o'clock this morning, at her home on West Hill. She had been very sick for six months past. This morning she appeared in cheerful spirits and, under the conditions, as well as she had been at any time during the last three weeks, but at 8 o'clock she felt a strange weakness coming over her and realized that her life was rapidly ebbing away. She called to her husband and the immediate members of the family came to her bedside. Perfectly rational to the end, she bade them farewell. Her last words, a dying token of the beautiful Christ-like character, which was about to wing its flight to heaven, were, "Good by, I am going home. Mrs. Blake, who formerly was Miss Sarah Lucretia Hurd, was born near Cumberland in Muskingdon county, Ohio, on the 30th of August in 1844. On July 4, 1867, she became the wife of Mr. William E. Blake at Morning Sun, Iowa. With her husband she came to Burlington in the year 1869 and has been a resident of the Orchard City since that date. She was the mother of two children, Mrs. Eva B. Swan, of Ottumwa, Iowa, and Miss Lucretia Barnes Blake, who lives at the home in this city. Mrs. M. Edwards is a sister of Mrs. Blake, and there also are two sisters living in Lennox, Iowa, Mrs. Ely and Mrs. Graham. Charles E. Hurd, a brother, lives at Dawson, South Dakota. She has been a sufferer for several years. The illness which culminated in death this morning dates from about the first of March of this year. Though she had been growing weaker during the last several weeks, her death came very suddenly today. She had not been particularly low during the past fortnight, but when the weakness which was slowly overcoming her finally reached her heart she gave up at once and drifted quietly from life's harbor into the sea of the great beyond. In the death of Mrs. Blake the city loses one of the most beautiful characters which ever has stood, an oasis of goodness and love, of tenderness and mercy in the midst of the dessert of turmoil and struggle which makes up life's everyday search for sordid gain and worldly advancement. She was a Christian of the type who weep with those who weep, but who more gladly rejoice with them that do rejoice. She was a life-long member of the Presbyterian church, most devoted to all Christian activities, tenderly loyal to her pastor and keenly interested in all good things. Mrs. Blake was blessed with a cheerful and hopeful nature, and the sweetest disposition. During her illness and periods of suffering her persistent view of the bright side of things was remarkable, She was very tenderly devoted to her husband and was a mother in every meaning which the loving word conveys. She had an abundant fund of humor, which stood her in need when she tried to deceive loving ones around her as to the amount of suffering she endured, lest they suffer with her. She was continually expectant of the happiness which awaited her in a have of rest. The grief at the breaking of the strongest tie which binds on earth, must to a certain extent be ameliorated by the consciousness that the soul has arrived at the home which she saw when saying good-bye. If any glimpses of the beauty of the hereafter ever are given in this mundane sphere, one most potent for good is in the life and earth of a character such as just has departed.

The funeral of the late Sarah Lucretia Blake, wife of W.E. Blake, of University Place, was held yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock from the family home. Many friends of the departed woman attended the services as a mark of the esteem and love they bore for the good woman who had lived among them so Christian-like and noble a life. The services were very impressive and were conducted by Rev. J.R. Sutherland, assisted by Rev. Dr. William Salter and Rv. Dr. R.J.L. Mathews, of Wapello, who made a prayer at the grave. The choir of the Presbyterian church sang, "Lead, Kindly Light" and "Abide with Me". The following were pall bearers: J.T. Illick, T.G. Foster, Thomas Hedge, M.R. Derby, J.R. Coulter and E.S. Houston.