Matthews - Mabel Rose - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Miss Mabel Rose Matthews, aged twenty years, died quite suddenly last Sunday at noon at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Matthews, of East College Street.

Miss Matthews had been ill only a few days and her case was not regarded as dangerous or even serious until Saturday night. She was then taken much worse, but rallied and seemed to rest easily until a few minutes before her death, when she was lifted up and died almost immediately.

The circumstances of her death and the symptoms manifested shortly prior thereto were, in the opinion of the board of health, so indicative of diphtheria that the residence was promptly quarantined and the interment ordered for Monday afternoon at three o’clock. Owing to this fact there were no funeral exercises except at the grave, where Dr. Nave conducted a prayer service and scriptural reading.

The death of Miss Matthews was one of the most untimely and deplorable that has occurred in Crawfordsville for a long time. She was a beautiful and accomplished girl, just entering upon a career that gave promise to nothing but happiness and usefulness. She was raised in this city and was graduated from the high school in the class of 1897 with honors. The following year she acted as one of the cadet teachers and was last year given a regular position at the Central building. She was eminently successful in her work, and this last fall was transferred to the new Willson building and given the advanced first year work. Her school was a splendid one, and both teachers and pupils were devotedly attached to her. Last Tuesday she was taken ill and forced to quit her work, as was supposed for a day or so. Her death Sunday came as a shock to the community.

Miss Matthews was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and an untiring worker therein, giving especial attention to the young people’s society and to the interests of the Morningside Mission. – thanks so much to “S” for all her great obit work on this site