Kelsey - Blanche
Source: Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana 23 Feb 1900
Again the death angel has entered our midst silently and taken from us our beloved friend, Miss Blanche Kelsey. She leaves a devoted uncle and aunt, with whom she has made her home the greater part of her life, and a host of friends and other relatives to mourn the loss of one so sweet, so tender, so precious to us all. She united with the Baptist church early in life, of which she continued a most devoted and consistent member. She was always loving, kind, and patient and will be greatly missed by all, for to know her was to love her. She was taken with that dread disease consumption some time ago but the fatal termination to her sickness came much sooner than was expected. We feel that God in His infinite wisdom has called her for the best and although we ne'er shall hear her voice again here, it will be one of those that calls us to the golden shore. The funeral services were conducted at the Whitesville Christian church by Rev Hanley, of Ladoga, after which the body, followed by a largo concourse of friends, was laid to rest in the Harshbarger cemetery. Many bountiful designs of flowers were given her by her many friends and relatives. - transcribed by kbz
Poem The soul is safe in heaven.
We loved her, yes, we loved her
But angels loved her more
And they have sweetly called her
To yonder shining shore.
She's gone from earth to heaven
She's crossed the shining shore
But soon we hope to meet bar
And live for evermore.
STELLA “Blanche” KELSEY
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Friday, 16 February 1900
Miss Blanche Kelsey died Wednesday night at 12:30 o’clock at the home of her uncle, Samuel Peterson, near Whitesville. She was taken with consumption some time ago, but the fatal termination to her sickness came much earlier than was anticipated. The funeral will take place at Whitesville Christian Church today at noon, services by Rev. Mr. Hanley, of Ladoga. Miss Kelsey was thirty years old and was one of the best known and most popular teachers in the county and at one time was engaged at the Willson building in this city. Her death comes to many persons as a personal sorrow. – thanks to S for this one
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 2 March 1900
Near Whitesville, Ind., May 31, 1869, there came to brighten the home of Albert and Ella Kelsey, a daughter, Stella Blanche. This happy home was soon broken, for in less than one year, after going west for a better climate for the mother, she died at Harrisonville, Mo. After her mother’s death Blanche was given a daughter’s place in the home of her mother’s sister, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Peterson, who have since been to her loving parents, and their only child, Ella, now Mrs. L. Clark, a devoted sister. Blanche’s own father has been dead three years, and her half brother, Edward, died fifteen years ago. At the age of eleven she became a member of the M. E. Church and has been all that the name Christian implies. After living an earnest Christian life for nineteen years she has been called to the home she loved and for which she had so well lived, aged 30 years, 8 months and 14 days. Blanche, though always delicate, was ambitious, the work she was doing telling on her strength for years. Not only was she ambitious but she was talented. With the brush she has produced that which has been admired and praised by critical artists. Her pen also has contributed articles in which was shown a rare ability. Taking up school work at the age of sixteen she has made her life one of busy usefulness. She was a graduate of Montgomery County schools, also of the Ladoga Normal, and later a student at a Chicago training school, and last a year at the state normal, Terre Haute, which she entered the autumn of 1898. In September, 1899, she took up her last active work at Montezuma. She came to her home Christmas and was never able to return. She taught in the Crawfordsville schools four years and endeared herself to her pupils and associate teachers.
She was an honored member of the Daughters of Rebekah. The literary and art clubs, to which she belonged, also found in her a valuable assistant. Blanche was ever earnest, tender, conscientious, unassuming in all things that were duty and right. She has been a loving daughter, sister, pupil, teacher, friend and Christian. Of her we can truthfully say, “She hath done what she could.”
The school board at Montezuma sent the following with personal representatives:
“To the relatives of Miss Kelsey: It is with sorrow that we learn of the death of Miss Kelsey, who for a time filled a place as teacher in our schools. During the short time that she was with us she made many friends and proved herself a true woman. As an evidence of the respect that we entertained for Miss Kelsey, the Montezuma schools will be closed on Friday, the 16th, inst. Very Truly
Geo. Grosjean, Supt.
S. P. Hancock, Principal
F. S. Bipus, Treasurer