Pratt - Eliza Franklin Shaw
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Dispatch Oct 13, 1887 p 3
Mrs. Eliza PRATT, wife of Hiram A. Pratt of Waveland died this morning at Terre Haute, where she had been for about a week receiving medical treatment. The trouble was ovarian tumors, of which 5 were removed by the surgeon in charge. It is not understood whether the operation killed her or whether the shock attendant upon it was the cause of death. The deceased was 38 years of age and leaves no children. The time for the funeral is not yet known. kbz
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Dispatch Oct 20, 1887 p 3
Eliza Franklin Shaw was born in Jefferson County, Kentucky Oct 23, 1841. She was the second child of Temple and Elizabeth R. Shaw to whom was born 11 children, 4 boys and 7 girls. At the age of 12 years her parents immigrated to this state and settled on a farm one and one-half miles west of Farmersburg, Vigo County. During a revival that winter at Fletcher Chapel, she united with the Methodist Church living a devoted Christian life and a consistent member of the church for about 34 years. She was united in marriage to Hiram A. Pratt, September 6, 1866. They immediately took up their residence in the town of Waveland, Montgomery County, Ind. Eliza Franklin Pratt died in the city of Terre Haute, Ind Oct 12, 1887, at 20 minutes of 3 o'clock in the morning. She had been a great sufferer for perhaps 14 months and on Monday morning, Oct 5, went down to Terre Haute and was put in the care of Dr. Leo J. Weinstein, for the purpose of having internal tumors removed. The operation was performed the following Wednesday morning, requiring the assistance of four other doctors. Five tumors were removed, the largest would perhaps have weighed six pounds and the smallest two ounces. The sixth tumor was destroyed by burning with a red hot iron. Three hours and 15 minutes were consumed in the operation. When the announcement was made that they were ready for the work, she calmly walked into the operating room and disrobed, then went to the table and unassisted stepped upon a chair and took the proper position upon it. She did not desire to die, but was not afraid to if die she must. She desired to live, so that she might give the proper attention to her husband and their adopted son, Willie, of whom she had had the care for 13 and half years - ever since he was two and a half years of age. While at her home she made every preparation for her funeral, provided she should not be able to survive the operation - even to the engagement of her pastor, the Rev. LS Buckles, to conduct her funeral service. To her beloved sister, Clara, whose company she was permitted to enjoy for nearly four months, she gave the minutest details of how she desired to be put away. It so happened that her sister was not permitted to be present at the last moments of life, but when she arrived approved of what had been done. If the time should come when the doctors would have to give her up to die, she desired that she be made acquainted with the decision. The doctor being made acquainted with her desire said he would undertake to impart the desired information in such a way as not to cause her any undue alarm, but after being seated by her bedside for a few minutes got up and turned away, saying that he did not have the heart to tel her and requested her husband to apprise her of her true condition. When the circumstances leading to the making of this request had been presented to her and was apprised of the time having come she said, "Well, very well, you have done all that you could do -- it is all right. I understand everything perfectly, I am not afraid to die." The right use of her mind she retained to the last, for as long as she could hear would answer such questions to as could be, with yes or no. The deceased was a pure, chaste and womanly woman, possessed of a heart so tender and lovable that she had a place for all who sought a place there. The body was taken to the home of her parents - on the farm where they first settled and on Thursday morning at 10:30 o'clock the funeral services were conducted as she desired it should be in Fletcher Chapel -the place where she began her religious life. The services were well attended. The text was from the book of Job, 19 chapter 25 to 27 verses inclusive. After the services the body was consigned to a tenement of clay in the beautiful city of the dead which lies close to the chapel on the east side, where it will rest in great peace for the ressurection of the just. kbz