BROWN COUNTY, OHIO
OHGenWeb Project
Rachel E. CAHALL
submitted by Jeanette Swigert
Death of Mrs. Rachel E. Cahall
Mrs. Rachel E. Cahall, widow of the late Thos. Cahall, of Pleasant township, Brown County, Ohio, departed this life at her residence on St. Creek, April 26, 1886, at 51/2o'clock A.M., after the patient sufferings of eight days under the fatal power of pneumonia.
The deceased was a daughter of the late Mr. Kilpatrick, esq., of said county. She was born Jan. 16, 1822, and was joined in marriage with Thos. Cahall Septembr 5, 1839, hence, she died at the age of 64 yrs 8 mo and 10 da., and in the 47th year of her married life.
Soon after her marriage she united with the Christian Church at Pisgah, where she remained a worthy member until her death. She was the mother of twelve children, six boys and six girls, four of whom had outstripped her to the better land. She leaves four sons and four daughters together with many other relatives to mourn their loss.
The following is an outline of a discourse delivered on the occasion by Rev. J. P. Daugherty, after which her remains were committed to their last resting place, along side those of her husband in the Pisgah cemetery in presence of a large concourse of people, who had come to pay a tribute of respect to the memory of a departed sister and friend.
DISCOURSE
['BEHOLD THY MOTHER!' JOHN 19-27]
There is nothing which brings such devotions to an earthly home, as the loss of a good mother. A good mother is the central attraction of the children's home. It may have other attractions--its flowers...It is proper, in one sense, to speak of this lifeless body as your mother. Let the sweet words of Jesus be addressed to each of you--son, daughter--"behold they mother!"
I have chosen the words for the purpose of awakening in our minds--but, especially, in your minds, as bereaved children--the precious relation of mother and child
1st. In taking this last tender and affectionate look, dear children, remember that your relation to this dear mother has a divine side which death cannot destroy. It is in regard, only to this life, that death has separated you. Jesus would say, "your mother sleepeth"--she is your mother still--a mother in heaven!
If You may now look upon this lifeless form but at the remains of that dear mother, whom Jesus calls you to "Behold!"
1st. To 'behold they mother' has a deeper meaning for you than merely to look upon this lifeless form, through which your dear mother so recently held communication with you. It means to behold with the mind's eye the life power that once dwelt within this body, and used it an instrumentality through which to work out a character, worthy of your remembrance and imitation.
If I can but help you to behold your dear mother in this more important sense, I shall have accomplished the leading purpose of this service.
2nd. Let us now look at some of the leading characteristics of her earthly life in the following order
1st. She was evidently a woman of more than ordinary good sense.
2nd. She was a woman of remarkable individuality--never absorbed by, or lost under the influence of other minds.
3rd. She was honest, truthful, industrious and economical, and hence, had an almost ungovernable contempt for those of an opposite character.
4th. She despised the habit (too often indulged in), of speaking evil of her neighbors in their absence; on the other hand, she acted on the principle that. "Our best friends are those who tell us our faults, and teach us how to correct them."
5th. She was a woman of keen perception and more than ordinary powers of judgment--and these traits, no doubt, often laid a heavy tax on her charity in view of the conduct of those of weaker powers.
6th. She was a woman of wonderful business powers, hence, her success in accumulating wealth.
7th. She had a keen aesthetic taste--she loved the beautiful in nature and was, especially a great lover of flowers.
8th. She had more than ordinary executive ability--hence she was a good governess, especially of her own household.
Dear children: this leads me to say, as you look for the last ime upon the lifeless form of a dear departed mother, remember,Dear children: this leads me to say, as you look for the last ime upon the lifeless form of a dear departed mother, remember,
1st. That God has said to each of you, "Forsake not the law of thy mother." "Bind her precepts continually about they heart."
"Tie them about they neck.
"Let not mercy and truth forsake thee.
"They shall be an ornament of grace unto they head, and chains about they neck."
2nd. Remember her great love for you.
3rd. Remember her deep anxiety and care for your comfort and welfare.
4th. Remember her sympathy for you in times of trial.
5th. Remember her sacrifices and labors for you--her sleepless hours of toil and care.
6th. Remember her motherlycounsels for your good.
7th. Imitate the Christianexample of your dear mother--follow her insofar as she followed Christ.
8th. Remember that, as she has borne the image of the earthly, she shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
9th. Remember she now rests from the wearisome toils of life.
10th. Remember your obligation to meet her in heaven.
11th. Remember you will know her in heaven.
The above outlines were all accompanied by appropriate remarks by the speaker and followed by some excellent remarks by Rev.
Yolanda Campbell Lifter, Brown County Coordinator
Copyright © 2005-2007 Yolanda Campbell Lifter
This site may be freely linked to but not duplicated in any fashion without my consent.