Ida Bell Newman


Ida Bell Newman was born at Carthage, Campbell Co., Ky., April 3rd, 1871; moved to Illinois with her parents in the spring of 1872, living near Roberts until the death of her mother, May 14th, 1880, when her father moved with his motherless children to Roberts. Soon the reaper, Death, took father home, leaving the children alone in the world. Ida attended school in Roberts until about four years ago. Since that time she has been teaching in and around Roberts. She was teaching the intermediate department when the fatal disease, consumption, compelled her to resign school.  Hoping that a trip to Texas might do her good, she started Dec. 1st. The change of climate not seeming to relieve her, she returned March 8th. She failed very rapidly until the Father saw fit to call her home, Aug. 1st, 1892, being 21 years, 3 months and 29 days of age. She leaves five brothers and one sister to mourn her departure.
She united with the M. E. church of Roberts, April 1890, and took an active part in all church work. She was for a long time a teacher in the Sunday School and secretary of the Epworth League, also a member of the woman's Missionary Society. She was also an earnest worker in the Temperance cause, for nearly a year acting as secretary of I. O. G. T. Lodge, the Vice Templar until her health failed. She was beloved by all, being so earnest in all work for the uplifting of mankind and the advancement of God's Kingdom. The funeral services were held at the M. E. church, conducted by Rev. C. L. Davenport. An appropriate and sympathetic sermon was preached from the words found in the 3rd chapter of Job, the last clause of the 17th verse, "And there the weary be at rest." She made all the arrangements for her burial, selecting songs, singers and pall bearers. The songs selected were: Nearer My God to Thee, ? Well with my Soul, Go Bury Thy Sorrow. The church would not hold the friends who came to pay their last homage to the departed sister and friend. As we marched to the grave we could only think of our great loss, and our hearts go out in deep sympathy for the bereaved brothers and sister. May Jesus be very near and dear to their aching hearts. We cannot wish her back, through there shall be a vacant place, knowing too that our loss is Ida's gain. She is at rest with Jesus.
"Welcome, oh, welcome they sing,
Home to that beautiful land.

--Paxton Weekly Record.  4 August 1892.

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