The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-08
MRS. BEECHBR DEAD.
The Great Preachers Widow
Passes Away on the
Anniversary of His
Death.
SKETCH OF HER CAREER
Her Long Fight for Life in Her
Eighty fourth Year-Died at
Her Daughters Home.

STAMFORD, Conn.,, March 8, 1S97.-Mrs.
Henry Ward Beecher died at 10:42 o'clock
A. M, at the home of her son-in-law, the
Rev. Samuel Scoville, at No. SO South
street this city, where she had hovered
between life and death for many weeks.
It was just ten years ago today, and al
mcst exactly the same hour, that her
husband passed away.
Mrs Beechers death had been expected
at any time during the last two months.
Her vitality had surprised her physicians,
who for several weeks have not given the
slightest hope that she would recover.
Mrs. Beecher came to Stamford late
last November to spend Thanksgiving
with her daughter, On November 27, the
aged woman, who was eighty-four years
old, fell in her bedroom, cutting a deep
cash in the back of her head. She was
recovering from this when, on December
20, during one of several dizzy spells
that followed the first accident, she fell
again in her room, during the night, and
fractured one of her hips. 1t was this
that caused death. The physicians quick
~ saw that, even if she recovered, she
would never be able to walk on that leg
again. She gradually sank, her strength
failed steadily, and several times during
the last few weeks, it was supposed that
she would not live half a day longer Her
vitality was remarkable. however, and
she rallied from what appeared to be the
rigor of death.
Mrs. Beecher was unconscious for
twenty-four hours before her death, and
her end came peacefully. None of her
relatives except her daughters family
and niece, Miss Bullard, was present.
The family consists of Mr. and Mrs. SEQ
vile and their son and daughter.
William Beecher of New York was here
yesterday, but he went home last night.
All the kinsfolk are within easy call,
however.
No arrangements have been made for
the funeral, and 1t is probable that none
will be made until this evening or tomor-
row.
II will be necessary to wait until the
kirlsfolk arrive In Stamford before the
final decision is made
The fact that the patients rugged con-
stitution had enabled her to rally from
the very shadow Of death several times
in succession accounts for the absence of
finally came. Most of them were worn
out with watching and anxiety, and were
unable to be in Stamford last night and
this morning.
Mrs Henry Ward Beecher was Miss
Ellnice White Bullard. She was born
IN IN August, 1872, in Sutton, Mass. Her
rather was Dr. Blllard physician, who,
besides attending to a large practice own
ed one of the largest farms in that part
Of the country. His children comprised
seven sons and two daughters. Only one
clergyman, in Pennsylvania, whose twin
York
Mrs. Beecher came of a. family noted
for longevity. One of her maternal an
cestors lived to be los, and she had a
grandmother who was ninety-five years
ot Mass age at 1.-THE the tin time Of her death.
Ward Beecher took place at her home.
August 8, 1897
After the marriage Mr.. and Mrs Beech
er started for Lawrenceburg. The expe-
rlences and trials of herself and husband
on the Western frontier have been the
theme OF several interesting sketches from
Mrs. Beecher's pen. They were three
dianapolls and after that, Mr.. Beecher,
s.s pastor of Plymouth Church, Brook
lyn, and one of the most eloquent preach
ers OF his time, made worldwide repu-
Ut wals at their home, In Indianapolis, it
10 said, that Harriet Beecher Stowe, the
preachers 8 sister, got the Inspiration which
rMesuited IS in the production of "uncle
Toms Cabin
In August, 1895, Mrs, Beecher went to
Port Townsend, Wash, unattended, to
celebrate her eighty third birthday, and
visit her youngest son. Herbert Beecher
She stoo0 the journey well, and returned
in good health and spirits. A month or
two gao she went to visit her daughter
Mrs. Samuel Scoville, In Stamford, and
there fractured her hip This accident
proved too much for her vitality She
was a graceful writer, and had intended
to write a life of her husband.
Mrs. Beecher WAS always devotedly att
tached to her husband and child1len Four
children are living and four are dead.
The eldest is THE wife of the Rev Samuel
Scoville pastor of the First Congregation
al Church, of Stamford, at whose home
Mra. Beecher spent much time during her
later years, although she had a house in
Brooklyn. The other children are Col
onel HENRY Barton Beecher Of Brook
lyn; William, a lawyer, with am office in
the Broadway Bank building, New York,
and Herbert, captain of a steamboat ait
Porit Townsend, Wash.
Mrs Beecher's, death occurred on the
same date as that of her late distin-
guished husband, the Rev Henry Ward
Beecher, who died on March s, 1897.
ESCAPED TO HER DEATH.