Monday, December 6, 2010

Baptism, Marriage and Death on the Same Day

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Amanuensis Monday, hosted by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.

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Over the weekend I was trying to fill in some gaps about the Glover's of Niagara County, New York. I stumbled on this very sad article about my 1st cousin, 3x removed, Alice E Glover Chase.

The Courier
Buffalo [NY], Monday, November 14 1887

A Bride's Funeral
Special Correspondente of The Courier.

SUSPENSION BRIDGE, N. Y. , Nov. 13, -- The funeral of Mrs. Chase, the young lady who was married only a few hours before death came, was observed at half-past two o'clock this afternoon at the Congregational church which was appropriately trimmed in white. From a text taken from Proverbs, 27th chapter, 1st verse. "Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what the day may bring forth," the Rev. C. M. Bartholomew preached a very affecting sermon.

In all the relations of life Mrs. Chase was a most estimable young woman, of a bright, cheerful disposition, endeared to many by the strongest ties of friendship, and an ornament to the social circle in which she moved.The many beautiful floral tributes told in their silent way of the friendship and love that were hers while in life, and how much she would be missed in the circle from which she has departed. The remains rested in a brocade white plush covered casket, the plate on which bore the inscription, "Alice Glover Chase, aged 27 years, died November 10." The honorary pall-bearers were Garry McFeggan, George Stevens, Robert Waite and Bennett Pierce; the bearers John Snyder, John Kramer, W. D. McEwen, Leavitt Ackley, Louis Silberberg and Mr. Collins.

Prior to finding this, the only thing I knew about Alice was that she was a school teacher. The story of her dying on her wedding day did not get passed down through our branch of the family. I wanted to know more about what had happened so I searched for her local obituary. The story became even more heart wrenching.

Niagara Falls Gazette
NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y. WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 16, 1887

Page 8

OBITUARY.
---------------
CHASE.

Mrs. Alice E. Chase died at the residence of her parents Suspension Bridge, Thursday, Nov. 10th, of Typhoid fever.

Mrs. Glover Chase was the only surviving daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Glover and was born at Suspension Bridge, Jan. 29th, 1860. For the past ten years she held a position as teacher in the Union school, and beloved by her fellow teachers and scholars, her sudden death falls with almost crushing weight.

The circumstances surrounding her death were of a peculiary sad nature, she having recieved the rite of baptism, marriage and death all on the same day and almost within the same hour. An engagement had existed between Miss Glover and Mr. Chase for some time, and in response to the question being asked as to whether she would like to bear his name when the final call came, she replied in the affirmative, and with death in sight the solemn ceremony was performed by the Rev. Mr. Bartholomew of the Congregational church. The funeral was observed from the family residence and the Congregational church Sunday afternoon and largely attended. The Board of Education and the principal and teachers of the public school walked from the house to the Congregational church in a body. The profuse contribution of flowers from her many friends and scholars of the school of which the deceased was an honored and beloved teacher, bore testimony of the high esteem in which she was held by her pupils, associate teachers and friends. The ceremonies at the church, and the services and singing at the house, were of a very impressive character. The deceased was robed in her bridal dress of satin, and the remains were encased in a beautiful brocaded white velvet covered casket, with eleborate silver trimmings. The remains were interred at Oakwood Cemetery, the following gentlemen officiating as bearers: George Stevens, Garry McFeggan, Robert Waite and Bennett Pierce. Carriers, Louis Silberberg, W. D. McEwen, Leavitt Ackley, John Kramer, John Snyder and Mr. Collins.

The obituary confirms that she was the daughter of Reuben E Glover but never names her husband. A search of the census includes too many possibilities to even make a guess. "Only surviving daughter" makes me wonder if she had a sister. She had a brother, L. Edward Glover, and I haven't tracked him down after the 1870 census. Does only surviving mean he had died? (I suspect his name was Lewis Edward Glover.) Family notes say that Reuben also died in 1887 but I have been unable to find an obituary for him.

I have just started working on this branch of the family. I'll be looking for more newspaper articles and digging through the letter collection to see if I can discover more.

8 comments:

Brenda Leyndyke said...

Oh, how sad, but it sounds like she was well liked by all. Thanks for sharing this.

Carol said...

Very sad, but, what a love story.

Barbara Poole said...

Certainly a sad story. I feel sorry for the family, and especially the groom. If I saw, “only surviving daughter” I would think, that another daughter/s had died. Is the family listed in the 1880 census? Good luck in finding more information.

Elizabeth O'Neal said...

What a sad story. The story "A Bride's Funeral" names her as Mrs. Chase. Perhaps the cemetery or funeral home has some record of her husband?

Lidian said...

That is an amazing and sad story, just fascinating to read. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

Greta Koehl said...

A sad story but an irresistible mystery; I can't wait to read what you find out about this.

Shelley Bishop said...

What a sad but intriguing story. I wonder if there is any notation of the marriage in the church records? Looking forward to hearing more about what you discover.

Nancy said...

How sad! It sounds like she had typhoid fever before she was baptized and married. I hope you'll share the rest of the story when you find it and tell us about her siblings and husband.