The Carthage Republican
Carthage, Illinois
Wednesday
January 21, 1903
Page 5
Column 6Birdie L. Riggins was born near Oak Grove, Jan. 16, 1881, died Jan. 15, 1903. She was married about one year ago to John King. The news of this death filled the community with sadness and regret, for she had been a general favorite with old and young alike since childhood. She united with the Christian church at Oak Grove when quite young. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Hill, of Carthage, and held at Oak Grove Saturday Jan. 17. The attendance was large and the funeral was one of the saddest ever held at that place. Men, women and children who had loved her in life, mingled their tears with those of the strickened young husband, parents and three brothers, for sweet in face and sweeter in disposition, with a smile and kind word for all she chanced to meet, she scattered sunshine where ever she went. It would be a waste of words to attempt to comfort the sorrowing relatives. It would be hard for them to understand why their loved one was snatched away from them in all the vigor and glory of womanhood. There is nothing but sorrow and sadness where sunshine and gladness once reigned supreme and to them all the world is gloom, but some day perhaps when the merciful hand of time shall have swept some of the darkness away, they will turn from the grave and look up to the sky and be comforted with the thought that up there somewhere is a world of sunshine and love, and in that world is one who is waiting and watching to welcome them when they too are called to come up higher.
Father: William Monroe Riggens
Mother: Martha Jane Gibson
