Effie Able, Obituary/Death NoticePorter County obituaries and death notices . . . .
Effie Able
Beyond the Vale.
The report given out upon the streets Friday that Miss Effie Able was dying brought sadness to many hearts. It was generally known how long and with what fortitude she had suffered in her deep affliction of the last year, and common sympathy went out to her in the trial. Her sickness was caused by a fall which occurred about a year ago, from which an abcess resulted, and from this fistula pipes were produced. Last April on the advice of physicians it was decided to remove the fistula pipes by surgical operation. The difficult task was performed by Dr. Andrews, of Chicago, whose manipulations of the cruel knife were bravely borne by Miss Able. After the surgical treatment, which was most skillful, it was thought that Effie might recover, and for a time there was a perceptible improvement.But disease had become deep seated and had taken firm holds upon the vitals and it soon became evident to her friends that Effie was entering upon a slow decline. But to her, in the bright morning time of youth, life was sweet and hope was uppermost. Tenasciously she clung to the pleasant associations of this life and tried to trust that health would be restored. Thus she lay suffering all the summer, patient, ever hopeful and cheerful.
But at last it became evident to her physician that the end was very near, and she was so informed. Receiving the intelligence with sadness and with dread, yet calmly she began preparations for her departure.
On Friday morning she expressed herself resigned to die, and that she felt no fear for herself, or dread of the hour of death. Toward night she felt that the fountains of life were beginning to cease their flow, and described to her friends the physical sensations she experienced as a feeling of utter weariness and exhaustion. She expressed a desire to see her affianced, Mr. Walter Campbell, who had only a day or two previous left her to return to his home. A dispatch had been sent to him and she expected him, and seemed to make an effort to hold on to life till he would arrive. Wearied, she at length said: "Tell Walter I cannot wait longer; I'm too tired." Calmly and peacefully at the midnight hour she passed down into the river of death.
By those who knew her Miss Able was universally respected and beloved. The rich qualities of mind and heart exhibited in her daily walk made her many warm friends. She was a young lady of scholarly accomplishments, having for 10 years been one of the most diligent and successful pupils in the Valparaiso schools from which she graduated with high honor in the spring of 1881. Little more than a year since she stepped out of the high school, her education finished, with the proud satisfaction of having done her work well, and receiving the glad commendations of her admiring friends. What possibilities now grandly opened up before her vision; what exalted heights might she not reach; how great were the expectations of her friends awakened by the good record she had made all along the line of her educational progress. But how sadly soon were these expectations to be rudely dashed aside. As she was just ready to enter upon the active duties of useful womanhood death claimed her for his own, and what she might have developed in the future may not be known, but may be safely conjectured from our knowledge of her high attainments and her energetic, progressive and aspiring nature. In this is the saying peculiarily true that death loves a shining mark.
The funeral service was conducted by Rev. G. M. Boyd, Sunday afternoon at four o'clock in the M. E. church. The church was filled to overflowing. The order of march for the funeral cortege was: The officiating minister, Rev. Boyd, Prof. Banta, the class of '81, arranged to show the place made vacant; pall bearers -- Will Newland, Min Bell, Burt Bell, Howard Dickover, Frank Turner and George Maxfield; these were followed by the near relatives and friends. Beautiful floral emblems presented by the classmates of the deceased rested on her coffin.
The following are the surviving class members of '81 of which Miss Able was a graduate: L. R. Oaks, Stella Jeffrey, Lizzie Kellogg, Susie Hogan, Dora Merrifield, Winnie Winslow and Eva M. Stevens.
The funeral sermon was preached from the text, "Redeeming the time because the days are evil," Ephesians 5, 16. the theme; "The Redemption of Time" was suggested by the quotation "Time is a sublimely awful thing," contained in Miss Able's graduating essay in which she treated of the value of time and the importance of improving it.
"The Gates Ajar," a solo, was sung by Mrs. Sarah Dunham at the close of the sermon, according to the request of the deceased on her death bed. The singing touched a tender cord in many hearts.
Effie Able is no more of earth. She treads a brighter sphere. Her life should be used by her friends as exemplary of the possibilities that lie before each one, and her peaceful death as encouragement to strive for a higher sphere in the great beyond.
Newspaper: Porter County Vidette
Date of Publication: July 27, 1882
Volume Number: 26
Issue Number: 30
Page: 5
Column(s): 4
Key to Newspaper Publication Locations:
Newspapers Published in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana
Chesterton Tribune
The Tribune
Westchester Tribune
Newspapers Published in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana
Porter County Vidette
Practical Observer
Valparaiso Practical Observer
Vidette and Republic
Western Ranger
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Obituary/death notice transcribed by Steven R. Shook