Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 January 1912 — Obituary of Mrs. Ralph W. Marshall. [ARTICLE]

Obituary of Mrs. Ralph W. Marshall.

Santa Cruz, Ca., News x Mary Elizabeth Francis was born in LaPorte county, Indiana, January 7, 1850, entered the life beyond December 26, 1911. Her parents were Joseph Haskell Frances, born in Connecticut, and Catherine Alice Martin, born in New Jersey, both parents having preceded her to their reward some years ago. She had no sisters; only one*brother, two years younger, who died August 11, just a little more than four months ago. She attended Carlisle college, at New Carlisle, Indiana; then taught school for two terms. October 19, 1871, she was married to Rai ph W. Marshall, then sheriff of Will county, 111. and they went to Joliet, 111., to live. Some eight years later they removed to the northern part of Jasper county, Ind., later going to Rensselaer, Ind., where the family resided until five years ago last October, when in order to benefit her failing health, the home was changed to Seabright

" There were seven children born to this union: Mary Edith, Joseph H„ Franejs 8., Albert L., Carolyn M., Catherine M., and Florence M., all of whom, together with the stricken husband, survive her, except Joseph, who was laid to rest December 2, 1911. ♦ This had been a year of intense sorrow for her and it may truly be said that she died of a broken heart. Last spring an idolized grandchild was taken away; in the sumer her only brother; and just a" few short weeks ago her eldest son. She never rallied from the shock of his sudden death. ' —— - “But now are gone the sorrow and pain, For she stands by her boy again.” The most sacrificing of mothers, she was idolized by her children. Her life was one of service to* others, her one thought to do for those about her. Putting self entirely in the background, she was wholly unselfish and spent her failing strength where she should have saved it.

“It it because our so’rrow magnifies the image of those who leave us? Or is it that death is like the drawing aside of the veil, and then we preceive what manner of soul we have loved and lost?” Her all-too-unselfish life as wife and mother was also exemplified in her loving ministrations to friends and neighbors. And amid all her other duties she found jtime for other service of a more public nature. While in Rensselaer she was one of the most loyal and energetic members of the “Ladies qf the G. A. R.,” in which organization ’ she h§RT the offices of secretary and president She also served as president of the Woman’s Relief Corps. She was one of the leading members of the Ladles’ Literary society of the same place; one of the oldest women’s literary clubs in the state of Indiana. She gave her noble womanhood in every way when demands were made upon it Although not associated with any church she had been baptized early in life according to the rites of the Baptist church and reared her family in the precepts of the Lord. She lived nearer to them than is given most of us to be able to do. With perfect trust in a better, diviner world,„ her only regret at entering into its life was that those she loved and left behind would mourn for her and suffer because of her loss. Three daughters were with her at the end. Her son, Albert L. Marshall, arrived too late to see his mother alive.'; ~. The services were held at the home in East Twin Lakes, with burial at Cypress Lawn.