Last week as the Post was going to press it stopped its pressing to announce the death, Thursday night, of Mrs. G. W. Snell, a pioneer woman of these parts of Comanche and Clark counties.Her death occurred about midnight, Thursday, and came after several hours of a steadily sinking physical condition, not a collapse but a steady journey across the river. She was free from pain and the manner of death was more that of one sinking into a deep sleep - it was the sleep of eternal rest.
Mrs. Snell has been an invalid for the past two years and in fact of late years has not been strong. She has suffered from dropsy and during the last few months she and her devoted husband had traveled hundreds of miles in search of health - a cure if possible - as against the ravages of the dread disease that had its talons upon her frail body. Many months they spent at Excelsior Springs, Mo., in Southern California and elsewhere but all in vain. Everything that could be done for the deceased either by money or by kind and loving hands, was done by Mr. Snell and her devoted children. But nothing availed and death was the victor.
Mrs. Snell had lived long in this region and was held in highest regard and respect by the entire community. During the active years of earlier life she was a leader in the social and philanthropy activities of Protection and community.
The funeral was held from the Opera House, Sunday afternoon, March 8th, at 2:00 o'clock p.m. After a beautiful, appropriate and powerful discourse and eulogy by Rev. Shields of the M. E. Church of Protection, the body was accompanied to the local cemetery and laid to rest by a large concourse of immediate relatives and life long friends.
OBITUARY Harriet Amanda Osborn was born near Jerseyville, Ill., Oct. 4, 1851 and died at the family home north of Protection, Kansas, March 5, 1914, aged 62 years, 5 months and 1 day.
She was married to Granville Weiler Snell, December 21. 1872 with Rev. Holliway officiating. To this union three children were born; Harvey V., Ona C. and Edna Snell. At the early age of 11 years she was converted and united with the M. E. Church of which she remained an exemplary member to the time of her death. As she had lived under the uplift and love of a Christian life, she died in the faith of her Christ. She died as she had lived, consistently in Christian faith.
The immediate relatives left to mourn her loss are her husband and three children; two brothers, Cyrus H. Osborn of Protection, Kansas, and Fred Osborn of Ashland, Kansas; four sisters, Miss Priscilla A. Osborn of Protection, Kansas, Mrs. Carrie Coverdale of Sitka, Kansas, Mrs. Ina O. Kapp of Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Mrs. Julia E. Ludwig of Ontario, Canada.
For 13 years after her marriage to Mr. Snell her home was in the neighborhood of Moweaqua, Ill., when they came to Kansas among the pioneers of this western country, settling near Lexington. The exact date of this settlement was March 17, 1885, in the early spring. After about 4 years the change was made to their present home farm northwest of Protection.
Christ taught, "Be ye kind one to another." Her life was one that exemplified this command as those who knew her best can testify most. And during a long and unusually painful illness her first thought was always of others. As the end approached, her faith in her Savior and her desire to be with him grew stronger and while she would have been willing, had it been God's will, to have remained, she was glad to go to her Savior and "be at rest."
Her favorite chapter in the Bible was the 23rd Psalms. On Thursday morning, the day of her death, she asked for her Bible. Her sister asked if she should not read for her but she once more wished to read the words of sweet assurance her self. "Though I pass through the valley of the shadow of death; I will fear no evil; For thou art with me; Thy rod and staff they comfort me." Handing her Bible to her weeping husband, she said, "I want you to have this." She then called her children, giving to each one the trinket she wanted them to have and gave them each her last farewell as quietly and peacefully as though she was only planning for a journey. Then calling for her grandchildren, she gave them her blessing and good-bye. Then she summoned her Pastor to read and pray, after which she asked them to sing, "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder, I'll Be There," and although her speech was apparently gone, with a voice triumphant with the coming victory, she joined in song and soon afterward quietly, peacefully she died.
"Asleep in Jesus, blessed sleep,
>From which none ever awake to weep.
A sweet acclaim and best repose
Triumphant o'er the last of foes.While her relatives and friends will sorely miss her presence here and there will always be a vacant chair in the home, they would not call her back as they know their loss to be her gain.
The funeral was held at the Opera House in Protection, Kansas preached by Rev. D. C. Shields of the local M. E. Church and the body was laid to rest in the local cemetery.
CARD OF THANKS We wish to express to our friends and to all who so kindly assisted us during the illness and subsequent death of our beloved wife and mother, our deep appreciation and lasting gratitude. May God keep you and comfort you is our earnest prayer and may you, in the times of trouble, that ready hands with kindly assistance and comforting words in sorrowing moments as did we.
G. W. Snell
Harvey V. Snell
Edna Edmonston
O. C. Hughes
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
This website is being created by HTML Guy Jerry Ferrin with the able assistance of many Contributors. Your comments, suggestions and contributions of historical information and photographs to this site are welcome. Please sign the Guest Book. This page was last updated 13 Nov 2004.