Vancleave - Minerva
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 16 March 1900 p 3
Again God in his infinite power has seen fit to call away from our home another beloved daughter and sister. Miss Minnie J. Vancleave was the daughter of Ralph and Catharine Vancleave. She was born in Montgomery County, Ind., Dec. 29, 1858, departed this life March 10, 1900, aged 41 years, 2 months and 11 days. She was the fifth one of the family to be called away. One brother just preceded her last July. Two and one half years ago she was taken with pneumonia from which she never recovered. Although she has suffered death many times since then she had never complained, but bore her troubles bravely. She had never joined church but told her friends that one could be a Christian she thought without belonging to church. She seemed perfectly willing and reconciled to go to meet her Savior. She did not fear death, but said good bye to father, mother, brothers and sisters, then closed her eyes in death. Father and mother have lost a kind and loving daughter and brothers and sisters have lost a true and devoted sister. When she realized she soon must go she told them how she wanted to be laid away and closed her eyes in death. When friends and relatives gathered around the casket to take a last view of the remains they could not realize that she had lived and suffered death, but looked as one just fresh from the hands of God waiting for the breath of life. It is hard to think that one just in the bloom of life should be forced to lie down to rest before half of their journey is completed. She said she was ready to go if she couldn’t get well.
Saturday evening at Wingate occurred the death of Miss Minerva Vancleave. She had been a sufferer from consumption for some time. She was the granddaughter of the late Elder Jonathan Vancleave. - kz
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 16 March 1900
Again God in his infinite power has seen fit to call away from our home another beloved daughter and sister. Miss Minnie J. Vancleave was the daughter of Ralph and Catharine Vancleave. She was born in Montgomery County, Ind., Dec. 29, 1858, departed this life March 10, 1900, aged 41 years, 2 months and 11 days. She was the fifth one of the family to be called away. One brother just preceded her last July. Two and one half years ago she was taken with pneumonia from which she never recovered. Although she has suffered death many times since then she had never complained, but bore her troubles bravely. She had never joined church but told her friends that one could be a Christian she thought without belonging to church. She seemed perfectly willing and reconciled to go to meet her Savior. She did not fear death, but said good bye to father, mother, brothers and sisters, then closed her eyes in death. Father and mother have lost a kind and loving daughter and brothers and sisters have lost a true and devoted sister. When she realized she soon must go she told them how she wanted to be laid away and closed her eyes in death. When friends and relatives gathered around the casket to take a last view of the remains they could not realize that she had lived and suffered death, but looked as one just fresh from the hands of God waiting for the breath of life. It is hard to think that one just in the bloom of life should be forced to lie down to rest before half of their journey is completed. She said she was ready to go if she couldn’t get well.
The funeral services were conducted at Wingate at the South Church by Elder Miller, of Waynetown, after which the remains were laid to rest in the cemetery by the church.
She leaves a father, mother, four brothers and three sisters, besides many friends and relatives to mourn the loss, three brothers and one sister having preceded her to the better land.
Mourn not, for we know that thou art gone to dwell with our dear Lord, and what is your loss is her gain. May she rest in peace and may her pure white soul forever dwell with the good angel who took her by the hand and wandered away in the bowers of eternal summer.
By the request of the father, the sisters and sisters-in-law acted as pall bearers and the four brothers lowered the casket into the grave. - thanks S