SELLENBERG, Mica Marie Finefrock - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Veedersburg News - Mrs. Mica Marie Sellenberg, wife of James F. Sellenberg died suddenly of heart failure at her home on State Street about 4 o’clock last Friday afternoon. The news of the death of Mrs. Sellenberg came as a great shock to her neighbors and friends here in the city. While it was known by the immediate family that Mrs. Sellenberg had previous attacks of heart trouble and might be called at any time, yet the neighbors and friends generally did not know of this illness and were taken entirely by surprise by news of the fatal attack.  On two occasions previous to this Mrs. Sellenberg had undergone attacks of such  severe nature that physicians were called and her death at those times was not altogether unexpected. The last attack however had been over two years go and it was thought that she was probably recovering and that her general health being unusually good it was thought perfectly safe to leave her alone, hence at the time of this fatal attack her husband and son Floyd were at the factory at work and the girls were attending the Epworth League Convention at Covington.

Mrs. Sellenberg had gone out to attend to the chickens when suddenly being stricken she called Mrs. Grace Lowe across the street. Mrs. Lowe gave the alarm and with the assistance of other neighbors was enabled to lead Mrs. Sellenberg to the door where she expired.  Drs. Ross and Kirk were called but did not reach the body until life was extinct. Dr. Holly of Attica the County Coroner was called and pronounced death due to heart failure. The husband and children were sent for but did (not) reach the side of their loved one until some time after she breathed her last. Funeral services were held from the Methodist Church Monday morning at 10:30 o’clock, the pastor Rev. Wayne G. Miller officiating, he being assisted by Rev. Lee Tinsley, pastor of the Christian Church.  The body was taken overland across country followed by a large auto procession of relatives and admiring friends where it was laid to rest in Wheeler Grove Cemetery near Shawnee Mound in Tippecanoe County.  

Mrs. Sellenberg was a faithful Christian mother, true to her family and her God.  She and her husband have gladly sacrificed much for the sake of educating their children of whom all are justly proud. The following obituary was read at the funeral by Rev. Miller.

Mica Marie Finefrock, daughter of George M. and Elizabeth Finefrock, was born at Basil, Ohio, Dec 25, 1864, and departed this life on June 18, 1915 at her home in Veedersburg, Indiana. Her early childhood was spent near Basil, where she resided with her mother, her father having passed away before her birth. Her mother died in 1879.

On February 15, 1893 she was united in marriage with J.F. Sellenberg at Pleasantville, Ohio. To this union were born six children: Carl W of Deridder, Louisiana, Floyd, Hazel, Ralph and Marie and a son who died in infancy.  Besides the three sons and two daughters, she is survived by her husband, one brother, Benton Finefrock of Basil, Ohio and two sisters, Ella Finefrock of Hebron, Ohio and Dessie Trout of Garfield, Washington.

In girlhood she became a member of the German Reformed Church and in 1908 united with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Veedersburg, Indiana. Those who have known her during her residence in Veedersburg here felt that Mrs. Sellenberg was a Christian mother, earnestly seeking after the truth for herself and her children. She has been an earnest and sincere worker for God, though very quietly and without display. Having been faithful in that which was committed to her here, she has passed into the Glory of her Lord… there is no death -t his thing that we call death ... is but a sadder name for life, which in itself an insufficient name .. faint recognition of that unknownlife..that power whose shade in the Universe.

“Shawnee Mound news” – The burial of Mrs. Frank Sellenberg of Veedersburg was held at Wheeler’s Cemetery Monday morning. She died of heart trouble Friday afternoon. – kbz