The Carthage Republican
Carthage, Illinois
Wednesday
April 22, 1936
Page 1
Column 6

CHILD DIES FROM
TAKING OVERDOSE
STRONG MEDICINE

Mary Ellen Belknap Is
Victim of Tragic
Happening

Mary Ellen Belknap, 2½ year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Belknap, living southeast of Carthage, died Friday night from the effects of eating a number of asthma tablets.  A younger sister whom she fed some of the tablets, was very ill for a time.

Mary Ellen had been suffering from asthma and some medicine in the shape of tablets was secured from a physician to relieve her.  The child knew that was her medicine and on Friday climbed up to where the bottle was kept and ate a number of the tablets.  It was too late to save her when the family realized what she had done.  She was one of eleven children, and it is a great sorrow to the parents to give her up.

Mary Ellen Belknap, daughter of Fred and Lula (Gillenwater) Belknap, was born at the family home southeast of Carthage, August 27, 1933.  For two years, seven months and twenty-one days she remained to brighten the home of her parents, and on Friday morning, April 17, 1936, she returned to her heavenly home to make it brighter and more fair.

Never very strong, Mary was the object of the tenderest care and devotion in the home; she was a sweet and lovable child, and will be greatly missed.

Surviving are the parents, the sisters, Vera, Aletia, Eleanor, Mildred, Ermalee, Ruth, Rosalee, Dorothy and Evelyn, the brothers, Frank and Willis, Jr., the grandmother, Mrs. Willis Belknap, the grandfather, Mr. Jesse Gillenwater, and many other relatives.

Around the throne of God on high,
     Thousands of children stand;
Children whose sins are all forgiven,
     A holy, happy band.
In flowing robes of spotless white,
     Shall each one be arrayed;
Shall dwell in everlasting light,
     And joys that never fade.

Funeral services were held at the family home Sunday at 2 p. m., Rev. Morgan Webb officiating.  Interment at Oak Grove.  Mrs. Frank Edison and Mrs. P. A. Soerensen of Carthage sang "Safe in the Arms of Jesus" and "Sometime We'll Understand."  Pallbearers were Mary Mort, Fern Smith, Betty Shoup and Sarah Jane Whitson.

Those from a distance attending the services were: Miss Dena Belknap and Mrs. Alvin Hying, of Ft. Madison; Mrs. Dewey Kipling, of Colchester, and Mrs. J. E. Wear and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hardy, of Loraine.

Card of Thanks

We wish to express our sincere appreciation of the many kindnesses shown us at the time of our bereavement.
 

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Belknap.

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