The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-12-25
MANrUA.
CNrrcspondcnce.

The subject of the following sketch,
Mrs. Frances ID. Knapp, whose: transit
tion into spirit life was briefly noticed
in the PRESS" of last week, was the
third child E. of the late Col. Philip
Bump, of Mantua, and was born Oct.
18th, 1914, in Providence, r. T., where
her childhOod's days were spent until
she reached the age of eight years,
when her parents resolved to seek
their fortunes in the then Far West
Ohio-and, witheourageous hearts and
willing hands, encounter the tolls and
privations Incident to pioneer life,
and make for themselves and their
children future home. Animated by
these resolutions, which became con-
victions of duty, they made the.neces-
sary preparations fOralong and tedious
journey of nearly seven hundred miles,
and in January 1922, in the middle of
winter, they started for Mantua with
a single horse, and a wagon which con-
tained the whole family. of parents and
five little ones, the youngest only a
year old, together with all their house.
hold goods; and for six long and weary
weeks, with almost unexampled forti-
tude. and courage, they pursued their
toilsome journey, until they arrived
safely at the house of brother-in-
law in Mantua. the late Caleb Carlton,
Esq, residing in the west part of the
township. Here piece of land was
selected, and kind friends aided them
in erecting rude and comfortable log
house, and home was established, in
which was reared to maturity, one
son and eight daughters. Here" De-
sire;" as she was called, grew up to
womanhood, surrounded, by the in
ferior educational advantages of those
early Days, which, being none of the
best, afforded but limited opportuni-
ties for mental and intellectual culture,
yet, by application to study, she. be-
came qualified to teach the common
schools of those. days, which avocation
she pursued, alternating with other
employments for many years, until
December End, 1916, when she became
united in marriage with Ebert S.
Knapp, of Norwalk. Huron Co., Ohio.
There, a pleasant home, a congenial
companion and a dearly. loved daugh-
ter, contributed for few short years,
to render her life one cont inued scene
of domestic felicity and happiness,
which was brought to close March
25th, 1854, when her beloved husband
passed onward to the life beyond, and
she was left to battle alone with life's
stern realities. The shock was severe,
and with impaired physical energies,
her mind became overpowered by the
realization of her situation, and for a
time her reason was dethroned, and
she was placed in, the retreat for the
insane in Newburg. - After several
months treatment there, her restora-
ton to health permitted her return to
the ordinary duties of life again, until
April 1865, when her mind again be-
came beclOuded, and she was returned
to Newburg. Recovery followed as
before, but with shattered health and
for the last fifteen years, her life has
been full of strange vicissitudes, some-
times hopeful and cheerful, and again,
gloomy and respondent, but when her
health permitted, her time was spent
in initiating the, Divine }Exemplar,
whom she tried to follow, in literally
going about doing good" A few
months ago, she went to live with her
daughter. Mrs. Chas. F. Cole, now re-
siding in Norwalk, and while there,
was seized with the illness which
proved fatal. After five days of intense
physical suffering, she passed away,
Sunday, Dec. 14th, earnestly longing
for the rest which awaited her, and for
the. blissful companionship of the
loved ones '' gone BEFORE" whose pres
ence she had so often realived as a
living reality, and with whom she
had often held sweet spiritul commun-
ion in the bygone years. She leaves
behind a large circle of sorrowing
friends, to mourn the loss of an affec-
tionate mother, a beloved sister and a
kind neighbor and friend. j
Dec. %, 1870. 81 VERITAs.
= - 9.tst stt. 4+<-