CRUTCHFIELD, Martha Spencer - Putnam

Mrs. James Crutchfield died on Sunday evening after a short illness. Funeral services at the Methodist Church on Tuesday afternoon were in charge of Rev. JB Johnson, burial at Maple Ridge. Into our midst again has come that silent visitor and when he has gone there is one of our number missing. He has robbed us of her presence but not of her, for, in spite of her absence we have her still. Martha Elizabeth Crutchfield was one of three children born to Robert and Mary A. Spencer. She was born July 29, 1853, at Portland Mills, Ind where her father was a merchant. Time has robbed us of much that we would know of the girlhood of this one who made in later life such a beautiful character. We know that as a child, she came to know Jesus as her Savior and became a member of the United Presbyterian Church north of Portland Mills, into which community her parents had moved. Here, under the influence of the fellowship of the Church she grew to womanhood. She was married to James Crutchfield Feb 12, 1878. To them was given one child, Harry A. Crutchfield. They remained in the old home until 1896, when they moved to the present home where they have since lived. Mrs. Crutchfield placed her membership in the Methodist Church in Waveland during the ministry of Rev. WB Collier. Here she labored for her Master and exerted a godly influence on those with whom she labored. In her home and others she lived for Him and when her day of this life was drawing to a close with a beautiful faith in her Savior she slept away to awaken over "yonder." One should not say "dead" for death has not touched this woman. I would rather say that with a body weary and worn with the storms of life she lay down and as the body weakened the promise of Jesus was redeemed, and He came, "that where He is there she might be also." Do not think in this hour of a dark journey over an unknown sea, but rather think of her stepping on shore and finding it Heaven, of taking hold of a hand and finding it God's hand, of breathing new air invigorated and finding it immortality. Think of Think of passing from storm of tempest and finding an unbroken calm; of sleeping and waking and finding it home. Those present from a distance were: Dale B. Spencer, Greenfield; Mr. and Mrs. Albert McCampbell, Mrs. Bert Whitesell, Mrs. Clay Carver, Mr. and Mrs. Marion Martin and John McCampbell of Rockville; Mrs. mary Ramsey and son, Will, Mrs. Henry Meister, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Remley, Shelby McCormick and Mrs. Earl Spencer of Crawfordsville. - kbz