Thomas - Mattie Binford
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Review 4 Feb 1871
Love for our departed friends leads us to bring a simple tribute of affection to lay upon the grave of Mattie Binford Thomas, who left this life the night of January 20th 1871 having for 31 yeas “loved this green earth,” and none the less that she believed and trusted in God. Her presence brightened the home of one of the best of fathers, and in the endearing relations of wife and mother she was ever loving, gentle, tender, true. Those who knew her best loved her most. They saw and felt the daily beauty of her blameless life. To society and the world she was always general and kind. Many years ago she united with the Presbyterian Church of this place and has always been faithful to the vows and obligations assumed at that time. With a sensitive organization, she suffered patiently and uncomplainingly and only on the last day of her sickness when scorched with fever and tortured with acute pain, she turned on her pillow and said to me, “I am so tired, so tired.” But her trust was in the Savior and she knew He would be with her in her hour of extreme agony when friends could no longer follow to sustain her. He was present to “lead her through the dark valley and shadow of Death.” A few hours later she found her long needed rest. “God’s finger touched her and she slept,” the long sweet, dreamless sleep which He giveth his beloved. Over her thin, white face, above the traces of disease and suffering, there rested an expression of intense repose and peace which no living face can ever know, consoling us with the assurance that for her all care, grief and pain were past, and she had entered into everlasting rest. JML