The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-03-31
OBITUARY..

Miles " Blackburn, son of Abram Black |
burn and Elizabeth FentOn Blackburn, was
born in Muskingum county, Ohio JAN 9, 1s4S, |
deceased March q, 1899. |
Death deprived him CT mothers care when
he was about two months old. His early life
was attended with disease and feebleneSS,
which left him ever after sufferer from
weak nerves and enfeebed action of the heart.
This often rendered him unable to cope with
others in life's warfare in the financial world,
and some times adversity attended, where
most laudabe efforts had been made. But
uncomplaining and courageous he attempted
to overcome great difficulties in his desire to
promote the welfare of those he loved.
He was united in marriage with Hannah
Wanzer, Oct. 26, 1875. For over % years they
journeyed together on life's pathway with
exceptional happiness. The tender care and
regard which Miles Blackburn maintained for
his invalid wife was well known, and was most
gratefully appreciated by her children.
Possessing generous and sef-sacrifcing
nature in most marked degree, he nowhere
manifested this more fully than in the sacred
relationship of home life. He esteemed others
better than himself and strove to confer hap
piness upon them. Almost every message of
coincidence whether spoken written, bears
testimony to his kindness and helpfulness.
| The widow and the fatherleSs say Miles Black
| burn their friend.
| When he came to this county on his return
from the civil war, for the first time in his life,
he became acquainted with the Society OF
Friends. He attended the simple services as
they were held at Goshen over thirty years
| ago The manner of worship and simplicity
| of life were more in harmony with his ideas of
primitive christianity than anything he had
ever before witnessed. After becoming ac-
quainted with the religious truths OF the
Society, he became a member thereof, having
been converted some years previous, at the
Baptist church in Marmon Valley. Some OF
the changes which the Society of Friends has
made in recent years were source of regret
TO him, as he feared the church was drifting
from some of the foundation principles toward
worldliness and ritualism, and while not so
fully affiliating with the church in its present
methods he aided the spread of the gospel by
his means and influence as he felt it best to do.
| His aged father testified that this son was
lways moral and was prayerful before he
made a public confession of faith in Christ
Purity in word and deed most fully marked
his character.
| The past winter has been one of toll and
responsibility, which caused his friends to feal
his health might fail, but he endured it al
bravely, until the evening of the 18th inst,
, | when he was suddenly and violently stricken
with pneumonia. His suffering was intens'
and all efforts to restore or even to check thu
disease were unavailing He soon realized
the gray witty of the situation, though his mint
, was at times somewhat clouded by disease
, But no murmur escaped his lips. When hi
> father asked him if he wanted to go home, h
replied-sI had felt that l would like to liv
| fl auya Mv
/ suffic cient for thee" Later on being asked
he could leave it all with Jesus he replied il
| the affirmative.
The day previous to his death, he took thos
: then in the home each by the hand an
expressed his gratitude for favors receive
during his sickness, especially telling tn
. doctor he satisfied with his treatment
and believed he had done all he could.
q quietly sank to rest on the afternoon of tn
21st inst, in the SD year of his age. nobl
n man has fallen. The family is deeply stricke
r and bereaved. The blow falls with inexpre.
- sible weight upon the widow.
The deceased leaves no children but wa
:, fondly attached to the children and grant
children of his wife, to whom he had endeare
himself by his ministries of kindness; an
- they fully reciprocated his attachment. I'll
children are DIR. C. NJ. Wanzer, of Zanesfel'
| and their families.
The funeral services were held in the hon
y at Zanesfield, conducted by Joseph Hadle
S the pastor at Goshen. Two other ministers,
r. Presbyterian and Friend, took part.
m The remains were laid to rest in the Zane
. field cemetery in beautiful lot, where IL
~ widow will be placed by his side when her lii
Is work is done.
,e Miles Blackburn's earthly mission has bee
, one of ministry to Others, sometimes by gre;
self-sacrifices, and most constantly by ''litt
acts of kindness and ''little deeds of love
Such service done in the name of the Maste
will be rewarded as fully as that performt
40 before the public gaze of the world.
''Behold, 1 come quickly; and my reward
with me- to give every man according as h
~ work shall be.'-Rev. %: IL.
o. Zanes field, Ohio, March 2S, 1899.