The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-10-25
OBITUARY.

| MIDDLEBURG, o., Oct. %, 1901.
! Lydia Ballinger Bell, daughter O
Joshua and Delilah Ballinger, was borr
at the Ballinger homestead near Mid
dleburg, Aug, 20, 1S41. Departed this
life Oct. IL, 1901, aged GO years,
month and 81 days. Nearly all her
life has been spent on the farm where
she died. There she spent her child
hoods happy days. There she plighted
her troth and became the beloved wife
and father. There she has endured
most of the trials and perplexities of
life: and there she has drank of the
cup of happiness and victory. How
eminently fitting that on this battlefield
of life, with victory written upon her
banners, and glory in her soul, she
should lay down the weapons of her
warfare to receive her crown of ever
lasting life.
She was united in marriage with
Henry G. Bell, Sept. %, 1867, Rev. o.
P. Stephens solemnizing the marriage.
To this union four children were born,
three sons, Homer, Howard and Victor,
and one daughter, Florence, all of
whom are living and were present.
Her death is the first broken link in
the golden family chain which has
bound the family together for "a years.
How highly favored with life has this
family been. Very few families pass
the quarter century mark without the
loss of some member by the hand of
death. n
Soon after her marriage she and her
husband removed to Madison county,
Iowa, where they spent five years.
when they returned to take up their
home life where the remainder OF her
days were spent.
She united with the Methodist Prot
estant church in 1876, under the labors
of Rev. A. P. Powelson, and ever after
remained a faithful, devout christian
woman. She was of happy, cheerful
disposition, and won lasting place in
the affections of those who became ac-
quainted with her. She was kind,
loving. devoted wife and mother. None
have higher appreciation of the value
and power of her love than the bereft
husband and children. So patient and
gentle and kind and good. Always
ready to sacrifice self for others. AS
IL fvfa he
and obligipg. She was a good woman
and full of good works. How else could
the close IF her life be other than of
peace? For m any weeks she had been
rapidly sinking into death. But in
the midst of all the forbodings, the
star of hope for eternal life shining
more brightly day by day. Yet her soul
was serene and her trust in God un-
wavering. She frequently expressed
her hope and trust in God and rejoiced
in the consolation of his love. She ex-
pressed her willingness to abide by the
Fathers will. The fact that there was
little or no hope for recovery made no
change in her cheerful disposition. She
met her friends with the same fervent
cordiality, and spoke cheerfully of the
prospective end of her life, and when it
DID come at the close Of one earth's
most beautiful days-a day of good
cheer to her-she suddenly said to the
atte ndant: I'm going. Good bye"
And in moment she had exchanged
mortality for Immortality, and is no
doubt crowned with everlasting life.
"Then, farewell. but not forever,
There will be a glorious dawn;
We shall meet to part no never,
In the glorious resurrection morn,'