Spencer - Mattie
Source: Weekly Argus News Jan 3, 1891 p 2
Miss Mattie, aged 20 years, daughter of Sanford and Mary Spencer, died at her home in Scott Township Wednesday evening with typhoid fever. Burial Friday at Mt. Moriah in Parke County.
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Thursday 1 Jan 1891
Last evening at 5 o’clock, Miss Mattie Spencer, daughter of Sanford and Mary Spencer, died at her home near New Market. The deceased was 20 years old, and had been sick for three weeks with typhoid fever. The funeral occurs Friday at 1 o’clock at Mount Maria. Miss Spencer was a beautiful young lady and loved by all who knew her. She was to have been married shortly to one of New Market’s prominent young business men
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Thursday, 8 Jan. 1891
“Blessed are they that die in the Lord for they shall rest from their labors and their works do follow them.” Mattie, eldest daughter of Sanford and Mary Spencer, born in Parke County, Nov. 26, 1870, and died Dec. 31, 1890, at her father’s home in Scott Township of typhoid fever, aged 20 years, one month and 5 days. Just as the sun was setting behind the golden slope of the western horizon. The oil in the lamp of life of one that had been a comfort, a joy and an inspiration to a father, a mother, and three sisters, burned low at the twilight of the evening of the old year and 20 minutes before 5 o’clock all that was lovely, noble, elevating, and pure, took its flight to that mansion that is prepared for the children of God. In her sickness of five long and weary weeks scorched with the most violent fever, she did not murmur or complain of her condition. But she was conscious that the end of life’s journey was near and some two weeks before she died, she said to her friends, “That I am so happy I have come home to die. I never did think I could be so happy,” and through the remaining part of her sickness she would at intervals express herself as being “so happy” what a consolation, what a joy to have such expressions from our loved ones as they leave us in this world of sorrow. And as we lay her lovely form in her casket, that lovely face presents to our vision a calm and restful smile as though she was holding sweet communion with her God. “As we live so shall we die.” Her deportment in society was that of a high and noble character and her companionship was an inspiration to those who gained it. As a daughter, she was the ideal of a fond father and mother, as a sister her nature seemed to be full of sunshine and would make any sacrifice for their happiness. Her smiles, kind words and cheerful disposition will be missed in the old home and especially by her sister, Winnie, who was her constant companion, and the one who she had gave her heart and hand. And as the writer pens these lines, his mind runs back to the time when he stood beside the grave of a precious mother. But we mourn not as those that have no hope.