RELEASE DATE: MARCH 1, 2015
KINSEARCHING
by
Marleta Childs
P. O. Box 6825
LUBBOCK, TX 79493-6825
[email protected]
Here is another newspaper clipping found in the Opal and Lester Saffell family papers, currently held in a private collection in Lubbock, Texas. Although the item is not documented, details inside and on the back of the article suggest that it was probably published after 9 July 1923 in “The Register” (or “The Register-Mail”) in Galesburg, Illinois. The “memoir” of Mrs. Mary Louise HOLMES may provide clues to ties to the WATSON line connected to the GODFREY and HAMLIN families mentioned in the Kinsearching columns for 15 and 22 February 2015. (Some punctuation, capital letters in proper names, and other letters have been added for clarity and readability of the clippings. All-caps for surnames are used for emphasis.)
“Memoir”
Mary Louise WATSON, eldest daughter of Rev. William and Lucy CURTIS WATSON, was born on May 8, 1860, at Morris, Ill., and died July 5, 1923, at Knoxville, after a long, lingering illness of creeping paralysis. Much of the time she suffered extremely.
October 31, 1888, she was united in marriage to Emerson J. HOLMES, who preceded her in death, passing away October 9, 1917. One son, Dean, was born to this union, who resides in LaJunta, Colo.
In childhood she united with the Methodist Episcopal Church under her father’s pastorate. She has been a life long (sic) loyal, consistent Christian, interested in all the advance movements of the kingdom. She read much, was well informed on movements of the world and especially so of the church. Having grown up in the parsonage home, she knew well the many duties, cares, perplexities, and responsibilities of the pastor and his family and well did she perform all her part as a dutiful daughter in the parsonage home. For many years, Knoxville has been her home where she has lived such a life that many neighbors and associates will sadly miss her kindly, cheery, helpful spirit.
Her parents have both preceeded (sic) her in the home above, but she is the first of the children to move to the home beyond to join the glorified throng which John saw surrounding the throne. Already she is looking into the face of her Redeemer. Face to face what shall it be, is no longer a question to her, she knows, she knows now.
Of her immediate relatives, she leaves the son,
also sisters,
Mrs. Sadie LONG of San Pedro, Calif.;
Mrs. Lida VITTUM, of Canton, Ill.;
Miss Edith WATSON and Mrs. Reba SWANSTON of Knoxville;
all of whom were in attendance at this service except Mrs. Long. She also leaves numerous other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services, in charge of Rev. D. S. McCOWN, a special friend of the family, were conducted in the Knoxville Methodist Church at 2:30 p. m., Monday, July 9, 9123. Miss Florence YOUNG, accompanied by Mrs. E. McOMBER (sic), sang very sympathetically special favorites of the family. The pall bearers were
Ira GEHRING,
Fred WALICK,
Joe HOLLOWAY,
Chas. GILSON,
Russell CRONOBLE, and
Frank SARGENT.
(End)