Mrs. Mary Norton Campbell’s Obituary
Taken from the Ironton Register published on May 17, 1883
Last Thursday morning, just past midnight, Mrs. Mary Norton Campbell died of typhoid fever after a month’s sickness. Below are words befitting so sad an event, taken from the closing portion of Rev. H. Calhoun’s funeral sermon. We can add no more.
The memory of the noblewoman will live in the loving hearts of those who knew her through all the days to come. She was rich in womanly graces, sincere, outspoken, kind, and considerate. Her home was one of the fairest spots, where love, religion, and intelligence mingled in noble harmony, but now, alas, darkened with the sorrow of an inestimable loss.
The funeral services took place at the Presbyterian Church, though the remains were not removed from the residence until the funeral cortege was ready to start at Woodland cemetery. The church’s pulpit was richly decked with flowers, some of which were in beautiful designs. A front seat was occupied by Col. and Mrs. E. M. Norton, parents of the deceased.
The sorrowing husband, with his little girls, sat in his own pew. Mr. Fred Norton, brother of Mrs. Campbell, was there, having arrived just in time to be present at the last sad duties. The singing by the choir was very impressive, embracing a chant and that beautiful hymn, a favorite of the deceased, “Come, Let us Anew.”
Mr. Calhoun took his test from Romans X: xv – “Glad tidings of good things,” and Mathew, ix: ii – “Son, be of good cheer.” The discourse was of some length, and its purpose of showing the bright side of scripture truth and its sufficiency to allay the sorrows and afflictions of life. It was a strong, interesting discourse in which no mention was made of the impending grief until he closed as follows:
Mary Norton Campbell, daughter of Col. E. M. and Mrs. D. C. Norton, was born in Wheeling on December 23, 1852, and removed from her parents to Ironton when about 15 years of age.
1869 and 1870 were spent at school in Mt. Auburn, where she united with the Presbyterian Church during her second year. Upon her return home, she received a letter from this church in 1871. She was married on April 18, 1872, and her death occurred on the 10th inst., in the 30th year of her natural, and the 11th year of her married life.
But death seems so untimely in this month of flowers when the world is otherwise so bright and fair, especially when it breaks up so happy a home. But it was in the season of flowers in Palestine that Jesus died. Here in this event is the unsearchable ness of God – the
confounding our reason.
Nothing is more inexplicable than this oft separation of mother and child, husband and wife. The shock is not so great when the little babe or the old and infirm are taken. We seem to be able to reason a little way. We cannot and are not expected to, but trust and say that God is merciful, Great, and Good, and rest in his wisdom, power, and love.
It is something to say this cannot be helped, and so stoically submit ourselves to the inevitable; that is better than to quarrel with our Maker, but there is a higher grade if we can reach it, which is approved as well as summits and would not in the least change that which love and goodness appoint. (rest of article unreadable)
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