Hancock County Historical Society
Carthage, IllinoisSiegfried XVIII
Page 263Mattie Walker
"Some day," we say, and turn our eyes
Toward the fair hills of paradise;
Some day, some time, our eyes shall
see
The faces kept in memory.
So wait, dear ones, though years move
slow'
That happy time will come, I know."Such is the message ?????? to those who knew and loved t????? dear one whose silent form lies ?????? peaceful slumber before us. For many months she has felt the agony of disease and many times she bore it in silence, never complaining until human endurance could bear no more.
Mattie, youngest child of William and Isabelle (McConnell) Walker, was born in McDonough county, June 11, 1858, and died at her home in Webster, March 6th, 1925, aged 66 years, 8 months and 26 days.
Her father died in July, 1880. The mother passed to her reward April 25, 1898. The oldest sister, Mrs. Celina Beers, died about twenty years ago, so there remains of her father's family, the only brother, Frank, and one sister, Mrs. Ella Fuller, both of Webster. Besides these there are three nephews and one niece, Wallace Beers, of Hurdland, Mo.; C. W. Fuller, of Canton, Ill.; LeRoy Fuller and Mrs. Hulda Fuller Conn, of Webster. These with many other relatives and friends are left to mourn the death of a loving sister and aunt, and a kind neighbor and friend.
Her younger days were spent largely within the christian home of her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Walker, who loved her as one of their own.
After the death of her father she came to Webster to live with her mother and brother, Frank. She was a devoted daughter to the frail little mother and gave her every tender care, until God called her to a better home on high. After the death of her mother she kept the home for her brother, Frank, for more than twenty-five years. And it is needless to say, the bond of affection was never broken until the day of her death. Hearts ache in sympathy for this dear brother, and the only sister, who have given to her such undying devotion during her long illness. The niece, Mrs. Conn and the nurse, Mrs. Sadie Tippet deserve much praise for the untiring service they gave her, being constantly at her bedside night and day, ready to grant her slightest wish for many weeks. After vainly trying to regain her health, by treatments from various physicians, she was taken to Macomb hospital, where on October 4, 1924, a surgical operation for the removal of a tumorous growth in her right side was performed. She seemed to improve and in a few weeks was brought home, where for a time hopes were entertained for her ultimate recovery, but it was not to be so.
Gradually she began to fail and although she suffered untold agony at times, she bore it with christian fortitude.
She was almost a life-long member of the Presbyterian church of Fountain Green. Her life was a quiet one, and she found her greatest pleasure in life within her home and in caring for her loved ones.
She will be greatly missed, not only within her home, but by the many old friends and neighbors by whom she was held dear. All that earthly hands could do, was done, by relatives, three different nurses and many physicians. All have no regrets for they gave to her of their best services, but God had need for her in that beautiful home on high, where there is no sorrow, nor suffering and we calmly bow to His wishes and say "Thy will be done."
"Gone, but not forgotten."
The funeral service was held at the church in Webster, Sunday at 2 p. m., conducted by Rev. W. H. Love, who spoke words of comfort from the words found in the 14th chapter of St. John: "Let not your hearts be troubled." A select choir, composed of Mrs. J. A. Beebe, Miss Adda Spangler, Messrs. L. S. Hobart and Clem Duffie, Miss Ellen Lenix, organist, sang very sweetly favorite hymns of the deceased, "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere," "A Home On High" and "Sometime We'll Understand." The lovely casket was covered with the most beautiful and choicest of flowers and was borne to the open grave by old neighbors, friends who have known and respected her from their youth, as follows: J. A. Beebe, D. I. Miller, J. A. Robinson, L. L. Allen, A. B. Goessling and E. A. Shipman. Burial in the family burying ground north of town by the side of loved ones gone on before.
