Kidney Sources
p. 1
Laura Kidney was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, January 14, 1808, and died at her home one-half mile south of Fox lake, May 8, 1903, aged 95 years, 3 months and 25 days.
At the age of 22 years she was united in marriage with James Case, and to the union were born four children, the only surviving one being Mrs. George Cline. She and her husband united with the Freewill Baptist church in 1851, both being baptised in Fox lake the same day. Here husband died May 11, 1863, and since that day until her death, about forty years, she lived a widow. As all the early pioneers experienced hardships, hers was no exception to the rule, she and her husband having come to Steuben county in 1844.
One day in 1865, some two years after the death of her husband, her son W. H. H. Case brought to her home as his wife, Sophrona Case, a lady whom she had never seen until that day, but one who proved to be a veritable Ruth, who in the long round of years manifested the highest rule of grace in her devotion and self-sacrifice for her mother-in-law. Above we give a picture of the two in front of their humble home. For the past ten years Aunt Laura has been practically blind, and most of the time entirely so, yet her mind was clear and bright, and while her life marked almost a century's duration, she was not childish, but was cheerful, and like fruit on a tree, became more beautiful and sweet in spirit as the harvest approached. But in spite of pleasant surroundings she realixed that she had lived too long, as she remarked to a representative of the Republican a short time ago, "I have lived so many years I feel that I am ready to go at any time. My husband, two boys, and oldest daughter are sleeping in the church yard and I want to be with them, not because I do not have good care, for I have the best and most loving anyone could wish." She was a good neighbor and will be missed by her many friends who always had a warm corner in their hearts for "Aunt Laura," but no one will miss her more than the daughter-in-law, who in all her trials night and day, alone with the aged lady, had truly earned the title of guardian angel.
Funeral services, beautiful beyond words to express, were held on Sunday afternoon, May 10, at the home, conducted by Elder C. S. Medbury, neighbors and friends from far and near coming to pay their last respects to one whom they had learned to love and reverence.