Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 February 1914 — Obituary. [ARTICLE]

Obituary.

Mrs. Lucia M. Keener was born in Frazeysburg, Muskingum county, Ohio. March the 21, J 834), and died at the home of her duaghter in Fair Oaks,lnd., Feb. 10, 1914, aged 83 years, 10 months and 20 days. She was the daughter of Brunson and Catherin Harrington, who were early pioneer settlers in northern Jasper county and who died many years ago. , She was married to Jacob\keener in Union county, Ohio, Apf-il 7, 1850. To this union three children were born, two of which preceded her into the life beyond, leaving as the sole survivor of her family Mrs. Francina Allen of Fair Oaks, Ind. She emigrated with her husband from Ohio to Indiana in June, 1855, settling in northern Jasper county on a piece of wild land adjoining the village of Virgie, and now known as the old Keener place. Their marriage proved to be a happy one and together they lived in perfect harmony until the death of Mr. Keener, which occurred at Fair Oaks, Dec. 4, 1905. ’At the time of their settlement in Jasper

county it was a wild, uninhabited region, and for this reason they were compelled to endure all the disadvantages, privations and hardships that are incidental to pioneer life. Mr. and Mrs. Keener in early life embraced the Christian religion and united with the Christian or Disciple church, and during all the years that followed, though deprive' much ol the time ol church privileges they never faltered in their devotion to their church or to each other; they were always ready to give their money, time or service to any cause that had for its object the uplift of humanity. Aunt Lucia Keener, as she was familiarily known, had her sorrows but she always took an optimistic view of life and cheerfully submitted to the inevitable. Since the death of her husband earth seemed to hold no charms for her. and she has often expressed a desire for the messenger to some and call her to join that “innumerable company of saints and angels and spirits of just men made perfect.” No doubts ever seemed to assail her but with child-like trust and simplicity she accepted as literally true the declaration of Him who said: "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth on Me though he die, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth on Me shall never die.” Her charity was as unbounded as space and continually welling up like a mighty fountain. It seemed that; no difference how far away ono might go, she was always ready to believe there were extenuating circumstances surrounding them, and if any one ever had that charity “that thinks no evil ’ she certainly possessed it to a pre-eminent degree. To her friends still battling with the storms of life on the shores of time, her pure, sweet life must ever piove an inspiration beckoning them onward and upward. In addition to her only child, she has one brother, C. A. Harrington, six grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren and fouV great-great grand childern, besides a host of other relatives and friends to mourn her Idss. The funeral was held at the Chrisiian church Thursday morning at 10:30, Rev. Chas. W. Postilh pastor Of the M. E. church conducted the services. Interment at the Prater cemetery. W. J. Wright of Rensselaer, was funeral director, xx