Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-06-25
Obituary.
MRS. M. j. POUND.

L
Minerva Jane Martin was born July
27, 1908, at Fort Ann, N. Y, and died al
Cresco, Ia, June IA, 1897, aged SS years
II months and II days. She was married
to Eben E. Drake IN September, 1887
from which union were born two sons
Howell A. and Austin s., and one daugh
ter, Irene G. Adams of Cresco. Howell
died in Washington in 1892. Mr.. Drake
died Jan. 8. 1850 in Walworth county
Wis, where they had settled in 1910.
In 1852 deceased was married to Elijah
Pound who preceded her to the better
world in 1891. Their home for twenty
years was at Eau Claire, Wis. She unit.
ed with the Baptist church in early life
and was devoted member for II years.
After the birth of her first child she be.
gan to question the truth of her creed
which affirmed that some infants were
fore ordained to eternal punishment. To
her this doctrine seemed SO inconsistent
with the fact that God is just and low
ing Father that she renounced it and en-.
dured persecution and the alienation of
friends and relatives, all of whom were
members of that church. She was the
seventh daughter of the seventh son, and
possessed the remarkably clear spiritual
gifts and healing powers attributed to
such persons.
When modern Spirlt,lalism was in it's
infancy she accepted the philosopy of
spirit communion as truth and for nearly
half a century her visions aud inspira-
tions confirmed this belief. In the prime
of her life she devoted thirty years to
ministering to the afflicted in mind and
body, always without compensation from
the poor. She gave up active labor at rs
years of age but continued to study and
discuss all questions of science, philan-
thropy, religion and reforms to the day
of her sweet sleep. She had been prom
ised for many years by angel friends that
she should go to sleep in this life and
wake up IN the higher one, which promise
was verified in her departure. She was
an ardent and faithful friend but fearless
in her denunciation Of all hypocricy and
wrong. She returned from Florida in
May in company with her daughter and
son after sojourn of six years in that
cline. She was delighted to be again
in Iowa where all her children and nearly
all her grandchildren and greatgrand-
children reside. She was bright and
happy, patient and free from pain and the
asperities of life.
Rev. S. FL. Mitchell of the Cresco Bap-
tist church conducted the funeral services
Mrs. Moon and Mrs. Emery White sang
"The Last Rose Of Summer" her favorite
song, one she had taught to all her chill
dren and grandchildren. They also sang
"We Shall Sleep but not Forever" The
floral decorations were lovely and elab.
crate. Lilies, carnations and roses we're
mingled with the profusions of her garden
favorites. A bank of spring blossoms
beneath mound of ferns, an anchor of
white roses and star of yellow roses
cleaned down upon the peaceful form.
Her hands were filed with roses and
daisies and little bow of white ribbon
was on her breast, the temperance
emblem she loved. The members of the
W.. G. I. q. placed double wreath Of
of pond lilies and roses around the en-
tire casket and at the grave each laid
upon the casket white bouquet tied
With white satin ribbon. Death touched
her aged face with gentle fingers, smooth
i ing every wrinkle and leaving it SO lovely
that it was pleasure for her loved ones
to look again and again. She rests in
one of the loveliest spots in Oak Lawn
cemetery, the oaks bending over her and
birds and nature near to her as she loved
them.-Times.