Thursday, October 17, 2019

Seavers in the News - Nellie Agnes Seaver Dies in Kansas in 1893 at Age 17

It's time for another edition of "Seavers in the News" - a weekly feature from the historical newspapers about persons with the surname Seaver that are interesting, useful, mysterious, fun, macabre, or add information to my family tree database.

This week's entry is from the The Miami Republican [Paola, Kan.] newspaper dated 24 November 1893:

The transcription of the article is:

MRS. NELLIE SEAVER, wife of Arthur Seaver, died Tuesday, November 21, at 12 o'clock noon, t their home a mile and a quarter east of Hillsdale.  Her age was seventeen years.  She was the second daughter of W.P. Officer of Hillsdale, and was married to Mr. Seaver a few days less than a year.  About five months ago she was taken with hemorrhage of the lungs and two weeks ago was confined.  She was a member of the Presbyterian church and was a kind, affectionate wife and daughter, and her death brings extreme sorrow to her husband and parents.  The funeral services were held Wednesday at 11 o'clock, Rev. Boaz conducting.  The remains were buried in the cemetery at Hillsdale.

A second article was published in The Western Spirit [Paola, Kan] newspaper dated 24 November 1893:

The transcription of the article is:

"DIED
Mrs. Nellie Agnes Seaver, wife of Arthur Seaver, died November 21st, 1893, aged 17 years, 1 month and 29 days.  Just one short year ago she put on her bridal robes and plighted her vows to him whom she loved.  Though she suffered much, her peace in God was unbroken.  Retaining consciousness to the last, she gave detailed directions concerning her burial.

"Funeral services were conducted at Hillsdale C.P. church by the pastor, Rev. E.C. Boaz, assisted by Rev. R.H. Sherar.

"In the great future day, when we brush off the dust
From the glass, and we see face to face,
When backward we look o'er the path of the just,
And our own weary foot-prints we trace,
Then we'll know how it was the Great Father above
Upon each the best lot did bestow,
How he gave with each sorrow a touch of his love --
And we'll know it was best it was so.
                                -- Wagstaff C.P. Church News."

The source citation for the first article is (indexed as "Akllie Seaver" for some reason):

"Mrs. Nellie Seaver,The Miami [Paola, Kan.] Republican newspaper, obituary, Friday, 24 November 1893, page 3, column 2, Mrs. Nellie Seaver obituary;  Newspapers.com   (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 17 October 2019).

The source citation for the second article is:

"Died,The Western Spirit [Paola, Kan.]  newspaper, obituary, Friday, 24 November 1893, page 3, column 3, Nellie Agnes Seaver obituary;  Newspapers.com   (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 17 October 2019).

Arthur Wilson Seaver (1871-1939), the son of George Washington and Sarah Belle (Welch) Seaver, married Nellie Agnes Officer (1876-1893) on 23 November 1892 in Hillsdale, Kansas.  After the death of Nellie, he married, secondly, Floy M. Mount (1873-1952) on 22 January 1895 in Marysville, Kansas.  They had one son, Richard Leonard Seaver (1898-1956).

Arthur Seaver is not a Seaver cousin to me.  This Seaver line descends from a German immigrant to Virginia before 1770.

What a family tragedy.  A young woman marries her beau, soon contracts hemorrhaging of the lungs, and five months later dies leaving grieving parents and husband.  The hopes and dreams of the couple are shattered, and only memories are left.  I am glad that Arthur married again, had a child, and moved to Washington state to escape this difficult event.

There are over 8,000 Seaver "stories" in my family tree - this was one of them.   Life happens, accidentally and intentionally, and sometimes folks live a short life and die suddenly.  I am glad I can honor Nellie Agnes (Officer) Seaver today.

                                  =============================================

Disclosure:  I have a paid subscription to Newspapers.com and have used it extensively to find articles about my ancestral and one-name families.




Copyright (c) 2019, Randall J. Seaver

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1 comment:

Diane Gould Hall said...

I’m glad she is being remembered too Randy. Even though we find sad stories along the trail left by our ancestors, they too must be told.