Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-01-17
MRS. ERNESTINE FONTAINE
Last Services at Congregational
Church Thursday Afternoon at
z O'clock.

U CLOCK.
AS the depth of the ocean is un-
fathomable, so the loss of mother
from the family circle can not be
measured even by the heart beatings
or the grief pains that weigh so
heavily upon those remaining. An
ideal mother is the dearest thing on
earth, the surest inspiration, and the
most perfect love band that God gives
to the world. The loss of such an one
therefore is the greatest loss.
Mother Fontaine possessed those
excellent traits of character which
drew friends to her and made her so
dear to the members of her family.
Her counsel and advice will always be
cherished as sweetest memories of her
existence. She exemplified the Chris
tian life of devotion and forbearance
to a high degree, and her influence
upon her offspring will never be
effaced. Her virtues and the lessons
OF her living must stand before US
monument of helpfulness while life
lasts. Our highest aim will be to
emulate her Christian character as
thine eye would emulate the diamond.
May that rest and peace that comes
as crown of glory for well-spent
years abide forever and forever and
forever in the haven of mother love.
For fifty-six years "Grandma" Fon-
talne has been a resident of this COM
munity. We intrust the history of
her vicissitudes and pleasures here,
the details of her work and loving
kindness to those who were her
friends and associates, to those who
knew her best.
Final services were held over the
remains at two O'Clock Thursday
afternoon, Rev. Fred Staff officiat-.
ing. Rev. Staff gave to the relatives
a most beautiful and comforting
application of the gospel truths, his
talk upon this sad occasion being un-
usually helpful. T. A. Taylor, Miss
Laura Reeves, Miss Anna Reeves.
and Miss Irene Gilkey at, the organ,
gave the song service. The bearers
were Messrs. E. P. Arpin, Emil
Rossier, Ernest Kellner, George N.
Wood, John c. Bell, and Theron
Lyon.
All the children of deceased were
present, except Ernest, of Colorado.
They are Mrs. Sophie Coats, Chicago:
Mrs. Marie Higbee, Toronto; Mrs.
Angelo Herbst, Minneapolis: Paul B.
For+ aine, Minneapolis: Albert l..
Fontaine, Grand Rapids: c. Edmonde
LaVigne, Washington, D. c. Messrs.
W. E. Coats, Newton Higbee, and
Charles G. Herbst were also present.
The body of Mrs. Fontaine rested
in state at the church from the time
of it's arrival from Minneapolis on
Wednesday afternoon until the
funeral service. 1t was viewed by all
the old-time companions and acquaint-
ances in this city. And then, at
last, the earthly tenement of a
mothers spirit was tenderly put
away in Forest Hill cemetery with
the benediction of the faithful around
it and the impressive religious rite
spoken by the minister of the church
in which deceased was so long and SO
faithful a member.
Mrs. Ernestine Melber Fontaine
was born in Wurtenberg, Germany,
November %, 1928, inheriting the
sterling qualities of mind, heart, and
character from the parentage Of that
country which throughout the indus
trial advance Of the United States
has made itself so cOnspicuously
valuable-German American citizen
ship Mrs. Fontaine lived with her
parents in Wurtenberg and attended
school until the age OF fourteen years.
She was then called to Lausanne and
Veyey, among the beautiful Alps in
Switzerland, to act as governess and
teach German to children of Govern
ment Minister Monnaron, wealthy
Swiss-French official. While thus en-
gagged, Miss Melber studied and mas
tered the French language for her own
use. During these years she made
the acquaintance of Henry Fontaine,
young man residing just across the
street in one of the imposing chateaus
of that time and country. Cupid's
arrow touched her heart at the age
of twenty. The young couple went
back to Miss Melber's home in Wurt-
enberg and there i'm little Lutheran
chapel the vows were plighted. Her
father, Leopold Melber, revenue
official on the staff of the Emperor OF
Germany, had died while she was
away. The mother of Miss Melber
and only few friends were invited
to the ceremony. Immediately fol-
lowing marriage the bridal pair
started on the honeymoon, joining
Emanuel Dutruit, once a resident
here but now of Merrill, friend OF
Fontaines, for journey to the new
world. Grandma Mennet and her
family Mrs. Caroline Rossier was
then sixteen years of age) and others
were in the party. Sail vessel took
twenty-four days from Havre de Gras
to New York City, then considered a
very quick trip. The travellers con-
tinued west to Highland, Ill. The
Fontaine's held headquarters in that
section of the country and in st.
Louis for two years, prospecting Tor a
place to settle. Cholera, fevers, and
ague from plowing up new farms for
settlement caused them to move on
up the Mississippi River, Mr.. Dutrult
M nIraI~ a