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Death of Mrs. Oscar W. Boyd It is seldom indeed that death visits the same household at such short, intervals, as was the case in the decease of Mrs. Oscar W. Boyd who died on Friday, April 3, 1896. Scarcely had the grave closed over a dear father, ere friends and relatives were called to pay the last tribute to another dear one, and to lay her lifeless body in the silent grave. During the previous week she had cared for her father, Mr. Warren Boyd, (died 29 March 1896) in a most attentive manner and undoubtedly contracted a severe cold. A complication of troubles issued and she soon succumbed to the grim destroyer and passed away to her eternal rest. Mrs. Boyd was the daughter of the late Franklin and Lucy (Ellis) Barnard; she was born March 27, 1845 and was thus a few days beyond her fifty-first birthday. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Barnard, four of whom died in childhood; only one now survives—Frank E., a merchant in this village. She received her education at the district schools, and was an excellent scholar. How well the writer of these lines remembers her as a pupil in the winter of 1860-61; attentive, obedient ever striving to make others happy, carrying sunshine wherever she went beloved by all who knew her; how fondly and sacredly we cherish the memory of such; would that there were more such persons in this world. She was a beautiful lady, not only in person but in a higher and better sense, in graces and attributes of mind and disposition; her death came with such suddenness that even yet we can hardly realize that she has gone—nevermore to return. Truly the ways of Providence are mysterious and incomprehensible. She was married to Mr. Oscar Warren Boyd on Oct. 23, 1867. Of this union five children were born, two of whom died in childhood. Three; Blanche, John and Arthur Barnard survive to mourn the loss of a mother who loved them most devotedly and anticipated every wish and neccessity. Little as yet do they realize the irreparable loss which they have met. Mrs. Boyd was a helpmeet in every sense of the word; she was thoroughly devoted to her family and spared no effort to make them happy. Mr. Boyd is nearly heart broken and the sympathy of the entire community goes out to the stricken household in their sorrow and sadness. The funeral was largely attended on Monday from the late home of the deceased, Rev. Mr. Estabrook officiating, speaking words of consolation |and comfort. Mr. and Mrs. Kidder rendered appropriate music. The burial was in Eiverview Cemetery. She has gone from US, vanished from our earthly vision, but we hope to meet again, for we believe "There is no death. But angel forms Walk o'er the earth with silent tread; They bear our best loved things away, And then we call them dead. But ever near, though unseen, The dear immortal spirits tread; For all the boundless Universe, is life—there are no dead." How sublime, how glorious these anticipations. Based as they are on the eternal truth of God, and embodied in the elements of Holy Christian faith, they seem almost to rend in twain the curtain that hides the invisible world from us. Wilmington Times Press, 1896 Back Home Clan Boyd Society, International |