Mrs. D. B. Denney of the Upper Bluff creek neighborhood died Sunday after a long illness. Mrs. Denney had been bedfast for many months and had been under the constant care of a nurse and physician for the last several weeks.Mrs. Denney was one of the pioneer women of this section and her departure will be mourned by hosts of friends. The funeral conducted by her pastor, Rev. Martin, of the Christian church was held at the family home Tuesday afternoon and burial took place in the Protection cemetery. The sympathy of the entire country side is extended the bereaved family and relatives in their loss.
OBITUARY Mary Christina Davenport was born June 11, 1816 in Louisa county, Iowa. She departed this life at her home in Clark county, near Protection, Kansas, Oct. 17, 1915, age 69 years, 4 months and 6 days.
In 1855 at the age of 9 years she removed with her parents to Clark county, Iowa, where on September 11, 1875 she united in marriage with David B. Denney, who survives her.
Six years after her marriage she moved with her husband to Kansas residing for 3 1/2 years in Sumner county then removing in the spring of 1885 to Comanche county moving to the present home in Clark county in 1894. Mrs. Denney in spite of the handicap of physical misfortune was a pioneer woman of sterling quality, unflinching and unwavering in presence of the hardships and dangers of early life on these western plains. A loving wife and a loving devoted mother. She held the love of husband and children and the highest regard and affection of her neighbors and friends.
When but two years of age she was stricken with paralysis from the effects of which she never fully recovered yet not withstand her affliction she did a mothers part in the making of a home for her husband and family. As a mother she born uncomplainingly the reverses of the early life in Kansas. She labored toilsomely through the long hard years of early privations and bore unflinchingly the adverse storm of life but lived to see the reward of her patience and perseverance and to see her early toil bear fruit in the growth of the family posterity and the result of her teachings in her delightful family of sons and daughters.
She united with the Christian church at the early age of fifteen and lived a devoted and loyal christian life, dying in the faith and grace of her Savior. After an illness of seven weeks accompanied by much and constant suffering she passed away, but death was like the setting of summer.
Mrs. Denney was the mother of ten children, five of whom died in infancy, but she leaves to mourn her loss besides her devoted husband and life companion, three sons, John, Fred and Will Denney, two daughters, Miss. Sadie Denney and Mrs. C. C. Towner, all the children reside at the family home or in and near Protection and a brother and sister residing in Iowa as well as hundreds of friends. her quiet and peaceful sinking to sleep in the loving arm of the Christ was a fitting climax to her unceasing labor and unbounded love for family, home, friends and community and her presence will be sadly missed in the home and by her friends and acquaintances.
There was no fade less wreath our hands could fashion
For your dear, patient brow,
But in the land above we know you're wearing
Fair flowers unwithering now,There was no power of oars
That aye could keep you
From pain and grief;
But now, from all earths burdens
bore so bravely
There's blest relief.And tho, to gain all this,
One day you vanished
From mortal view
We will not weep, because we are
so glad, dear mother
For you, for you.
CARD OF THANKS
We sincerely thank those who were so kind to us during the sickness and after the death of our beloved wife and mother.
D. B. Denney and family.
The Protection Post, October 28, 1915 A Friend's Loving Tribute to Mrs. Denney
Today we witnessed the last sad rites of Mrs. D. B. Denney. Knowing the family for so long we feel that words cannot express the goodness and nobleness of such a woman. Being a cripple from infancy we would not expect a great life work performed by her, but she has filled her place as wife and mother more perfectly than many of us who are strong and healthy. The devotion of her husband and children in all these years bears testimony to the unselfishness and love that has ruled her life with them. Many times have we heard of the devotion of her family. That alone was a great compensation for her crippled condition. What sweet memories of the past of such a home life with her companionship. And while this earthly home will be sad and lonely and years will pass before they will be reconciled they will have that assurance of that other home eternal in the Heavens. We feel that it is marvelous, that this good woman has made the fullest use of her life. She was wife and mother in its fullest sense. She passed the qualities of pure womanhood and was even ready for all God gave her to do. What must her rewards in Heaven be?
We can only sympathize with the bereaved ones, but God can heal the broken heart and wipe away all tears.
This mother could say like Paul, "I have fought a good night, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness."
O Mother, in the after years
When thy dear form I cannot see,
May all the memories of thy life,
Keep me nearer heaven and thee.A Friend.
Also see: Obituary for Mary Christina Denney, The Western Star, October 22, 1915.
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