Shortly after 8 o'clock on Monday morning of this week the sad news was spread throughout the town and the community northwest of town that Mrs. U. G. Wheeler was dead, the result of being struck by lightning about 8 o'clock a.m. on that day at her home northwest of Coldwater. On that morning a rain and electric storm prevailed in the neighborhood. Mrs. Wheeler and the two youngest children, also Mrs. Wheeler's invalid mother, were alone at the house, Mr. Wheeler and the other members of the family being in the field at work. Mrs. Wheeler went to the chicken house evidently to feed and look after her chickens, when lightning struck the small building near which she was standing and tore away some of the shingles and boards and evidently passed through Mrs. Wheeler's body, causing almost instant death. The body was found by one of the younger boys a few minutes later lying on the ground near the chicken house. The sun says that as he approached he heard his mother utter a sort of groan, and that as he came near her she seemed to recognize him and looked up at him and smiled. It is thought, however, that life remained in the body for only a few minutes, as Mrs. Wheeler had ceased to breathe when Mrs. Wheeler and neighbors arrived soon afterwards.Sarah Huffman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Huffman, was born in Linn-co., Kansas, on April 1, 1864. Her age therefore, at the time of her death was 56 years, 3 months and 18 days.
In the year 1896 in Linn-co. she was united in marriage with U. G. Wheeler. To this union six children, all boys, were born, and all but one of whom, with the father, survive. One son died at the age of three years. The five surviving sons are: Donald, aged 21; Leslie, aged 19; Eli, aged 17; Everett, aged 16 and Charles aged 12. Mrs. Wheeler is also survived by her mother, three sisters and two brothers. The sisters are Mrs. Emma Hughes of Coolidge, Kans.; Mrs. Ada Huff and Mrs. Rhonda Van Devender of Colorado. The brothers are Wm. Huffman of Yale, Okla., and Dan Huffman of Hutchinson, Kans. Mrs. Wheeler's mother, Mrs. Polina Huffman, now aged 83, has made her home with the Wheelers for about five years, during the past two years of which time she has been an invalid.
In the passing away of Mrs. Wheeler the family is deprived of one of the most devoted of wives and mothers and the entire community of a real neighbor and friend. During her entire life Mrs. Wheeler manifested a spirit of genuine christian hospitality and kindly consideration for the welfare of all about her. She helped to make her home one of real happiness and of loving service for others, and in the community where she lived her influence was always such as to bring helpfulness and good cheer to all with whom she came in contact. In a quiet, unassuming way she performed faithfully the duties of a wife, mother and community builder. How much she will be missed, only those who have been so bereaved can fully understand. Her influence in the home will long abide to bless those who knew her and who were the recipients of her countless ministrations of filial devotion and of kindly interest in her neighbors and friends. During nearly all of her life Mrs. Wheeler had been a devoted member of some church, and her every deed attested to the genuineness of the profession she made. After coming to this county about 11 years ago Mrs. Wheeler became a member of the Friends church.
Funeral services were conducted on Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock p.m. from the home and were in charge of Rev. Guy W. Harvey, the pastor of the Prairie Vale Friends church. A great many of the neighbors and friends attested their esteem for the deceased and their sorrow at her departure and were present at the funeral and burial services. They felt keenly the loss of one whom they had known and loved, yet they knew she was in every way prepared for the call to enter into her final reward. Hence, while the bereaved relatives and friends are sorrow stricken, they have reason to rejoice that while Mrs. Wheeler lived among them her life was a constant blessing and inspiration and that she was ready to step out of this life into the realities of the great beyond. Another good wife and mother is gone, but she will not be forgotten.
Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, who live near Coolidge, Kans., were called to this county this week to attend the funeral of Mrs. Hughes' sister, Mrs. U. G. Wheeler. Other relatives of Mrs. Wheeler from outside this county who were present, Dan Huffman, of Hutchinson; a niece, Miss Cora Roseberry, who has been in Iowa for a few months and Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler's son, Donald, of Oklahoma.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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