"The North Loup Loyalist", North Loup, Nebraska, Friday, May 26, 1939, p 1.
Death came to Mrs. Robert Van Horn Monday morning following a stroke, which occurred Thursday. She had been in very frail health for some time and although all had hoped that with warmer weather she would get stronger, her passing came.
Funeral services were held in her church, Wednesday afternoon, conducted by her pastor Rev. C. L. Hill. The flowers that covered her casket were profuse, many coming from her own garden. It was fitting, to Mrs. Van Horn, that, there should be many flowers, as she loved them, and her life was life a flower. Bearers were nephews of Mr. and Mrs. Van Horn, being Riley Brannon, Carl Walkup, Lloyd Sheldon and Elwood Van Horn, and Aubrey Davis.
Music was furnished by a quartet, Mrs. A. H. Babcock, Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Babcock and Albert Babcock. The hymns selected were "I Wish to See Jesus," "No Night There," "Not Very Far Away." Mrs. W. G. Johnson was at the piano. Flowers were arranged by Mrs. Geo. S. Mayo and Mrs. W. J. Hemphill.
A prayer was said at the house before the relatives left for the church.
Interment was made in the North Loup cemetery. Fraziers were in charge.
Those from a distance who attended the funeral were Ed Scouten, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Scouten, Byron; August Babcock, Pawnee City; Richard Jarrett, Humboldt; Mr. and Mrs. Elwood Van Horn, Elba; Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Ord; Mr. and Mrs. Jay Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Swanson, all of Rosevale, and others.
Leah Adeline Babcock Van Horn was born Nov. 8, 1870, in Saline county, near Waterloo, Nebr., and departed this life at her home in North Loup, Hebr., May 22, 1939, at the age of 68 years, 6 months and 14 days. She was the oldest daughter of Joel and Madelia Lippincott Babcock.
In 1876 the family moved to Humboldt, Nebr., and here her childhood years were spent..
Under the leadership of Rev. U. M. Babcock, she accepted Christ as her Saviour, and united with the Long Branch Seventh Day Baptist church.
Oct. 20, 1888, she was united in marriage with Robert Van Horn, the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage celebrated last Oct., at the home here in North Loup where they kept open house for the day very graciously receiving the felicitations of their many relatives, friends and neighbors.
Four children were born to this union: Mrs. Elsie B. Sweetland, of Alliance, Nebr.; Miss Alta Van Horn, of Salem, West Va.; Delmer Van Horn of North Loup; and R. Lynn, who died when a lad of 8 years.
1891 the family moved to Farnam, Nebr., and Mrs. Van Horn became a charter member of the church of her faith there.
For the past 20 years the home has been hare at North Loup, Nebr., where until failing health made it impossible, she has been identified with the Seventh Day Baptist church, and in a quiet way with the worth while interests of the community.
Sister Van Horn has been in delicate health for many years, and at the time of her death, had only partly recovered from an attack that had kept her bedfast most of the winter and spring. She was not one to complain of her lot. She thought of others more than of herself. She was thankful always for any kindness shown her and in every way attempted to show her appreciation.
One of the pleasant memories of the writer was her ready wit keen sense of humor.
In the midst of suffering and the uncertainties of life , she enjoyed a joke and her smile attesting her enjoyment was always an inspiration.
She believed in God. She knew her Bible, she trusted her Heavenly Father with a faith as serene as the faith of a little child. She had known for some time that "there was but a step between her and death," and Christmas day, 1935, she wrote most of the data that has made up this sketch.
She was a lover of children and no child ever came into her presence without experiencing this motherly instinct and being blessed with a beneficent interest that amounted, almost, to a benediction.
She loved flowers. She cultivated them and shared them with others. The last time the writer ever saw her alive she was sitting upon a stool in the yard of her home, too weak from the recent illness to stand, holding a hose in her hand, and watering the flowers that grow so profusely about the yard.
She was of a hospitable nature and this little verse that hangs with a knocker just below the knob of the front door is characteristic: Knock on thyss portal here, Come in and share our cheer.
She was a faithful wife, a loving and indulgent mother, a kind and sympathetic friend and neighbor. She possessed a keen understanding of life and conditions under which life had to be lived because much of her existence was spent pioneering in places where deprivation and hardship was the common lot of all. It might truthfully be said of her, as the writer of old expressed it when he said Shunanite "Where dwelt a woman."
Aside from her husband and children, she is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Gertrude Scouten, and Mrs. Ettie Pierce of Fouke, Ark., Mrs. December Bailey of Greeley, Colo., one brother, Mr. August Babcock of Pawnee City, Nebraska. A sister, Mrs. Grace Scouten, and a brother, Mr. Edwin Babcock preceded her in death.
Aside from those mentioned, there are many other relatives, old acquaintances, friends and neighbors who express their sympathy in this hour of sorrow and trial. C. L. H.

Census: 1880 Franklin, Richardson Co., Nebraska: age 9

"The Ord Quiz", Ord, Nebraska, Thursday, Feb. 8, 1945, p 2.
Robert Van Horn, son of Deacon Lewis R. and Sarah Furrow Van Horn, was born February 15, 1863, in Stokes Township, Logan County, Ohio, near what is now known as Lake View, Ohio. Here his boyhood days were spent up to the age of fifteen years.
Then he moved with his parents to Richardson county, Neb., where he grew to manhood. At the age of about eighteen he was converted and united with the Long Branch, Neb. Seventh Day Baptist church under the preaching of Rev. H. B. Lewis.
On October 20, 1888 he was united in marriage to Leah A. Babcock. To this union four children were born: Elsie, Mrs. Clarence Sweetland, who passed away at Alliance, Neb., in 1943, Alta, of Broken Bow, Neb., Lynnie who died at the age of about eight years, and Delmer of Clay, W. Va.
In 1891 he moved with his family to Farnam, Neb., where he resided twenty-eight years except for twenty months spent at Palisade, Colo. He and his wife were charter members of the little church at Farnam which was organized in 1894 and he was chosen as one of the deacons.
In March, 1919 he again moved with his family to North Loup, uniting with the Seventh Day Baptist church there where he retained membership till death and also became one of its deacons.
In less than a year after he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding Mrs. Van Horn passed away. He lived nearly three years in Alliance with his daughter and her husband, till after her death. Then his own health failed and he was brought back to North Loup to the faithful care of Mr. and Mrs. John Williams where his daily prayer to go was granted early Thursday morning, Feb. 1, 1945 only two weeks from his eighty-second birthday.
Beside his daughter and son he leaves two grandchildren, two sisters, Mrs. Jay Davis and Mrs. Fidelia Davis, both of North Loup, and a foster brother Vernon Hurley of Madison, Wis., and many nieces and nephews.
To those who knew him he was an example of faithfulness to his church and the Sabbath and though strict was not overbearing. Mr. Van Horn had a sense of humor which never failed him and kept to the last an interest in state and national affairs and the activities of his friends. Many friends and neighbors will grieve to hear of the passing of Robert Van Horn.
Farewell services were held Friday afternoon in the Seventh Day Baptist church, with Rev. A. C. Ehret in charge. Mrs. Glen Johnson and Mrs. Chas Fuller were at the piano and organ and Mrs. Harlan Brennick, Lois Barber, Erlo Babcock and Roy Lewis sang. Songs used were "I Want to See Jesus," "No Night There," and "Not Very Far Away." Pall bearers were George Maxson, Roy Cox, R. O. Babcock, George Clement, Vernon Williams and Arthur Stillman. Mrs. R. O. Babcock and Mrs. George Maxson looked after the flowers. Burial was in the family lot in Hillside cemetery with LeRoy Frazier the undertaker in charge.

Census: 1880 Franklin, Richardson Co., Nebraska: age 17