Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1914-03-14
Mrs. Naomi Mcdonald Phelps.

Monday morning, March 9th, a
S:45, 1914, ended the mortal life 0
Mrs. Naomi Mcdonald Phelps litt'
past the allotted three score year.
and ten," being born January 9th
1856, at Jacktown, Ohio.
Having led most active and much
of it public life, severe affhction i
was, a paralytic shock which con
fined her to the house some six years
ago, confirmed invalid for the res
: of her years. Suddenly taken worse
! two weeks since, she dropped into
unconsciousness, recovering only fol
brief time shortly before her death
to recognize her children; to kiss
them good-by; to request them to sing
some familiar hymns, one of hel
own composition; to bid them meet
her in heaven, where she said she
wanted to go.
Married in 1860 to Mark Y. Phelps,
lin Lacygue, Kansas, and owing TO
border war troubles and the Ill health
of her husband, in 1863 they went by
way of the isthmus to San Francisco,
California, returning to Kansas after
three years and remaining until 1880
when they came to Bellevue, Idaho,
and thence to this vicinity, up Syrup
Greek, starting the home which they
named "The Willows, the home
now owned by their son-in-law, Mr..
Fred Whitney, and where was laid
to rest the form of her husband In
1889, and where, by her own request
her own lies by his side.
From this retreat besides the
cares of a large family and the strug-
giles of widowhood, Mrs. Phelps made
herself felt in many public activities
by voice and pen, in helping to shape
public sentiment in the constructive
period of Idahos early history. When
Idaho was received into Statehood,
she was given a prominent place on
the platform, and wrote a poem Tor
The occasion entitled, Idaho Gem OF
the Mountains" being widely copied
and winning for her the reputation,
"The Gem-State Poetess. 3" She was
nominated Lieutenant-goyernor by
the Prohibition party OF the state and
was one of the speakers of the cam
paigu. The w. C. I. U. and Woman's
Suffrage found in her an earnest ad-
vocate.
But her interest and energies ran
more in the line of religious actiyl-
ties, being regular licensed Evan
gelist.
Of the many converts who became
Christians through her many years
of ardent ministry two We're present
at the funeral among tthe circle of
mourners.
The deceased was the mother of
ten children, the following survive
her: Mrs. Phelps Whitney, Of Noun
tain Home, Perry E. Phelps Of Cor
wallis, Oregon, Francis A. PHELPS of
Rodaville, Ohio, Mrs. Nellie Brooks,
Mountain Home, Rev. Guy Phelps of
Oregon, Mark Phelps of Dallas, Ohio
Wayne Phelps of Corvallis, Oregon
Gene Phelps and Mrs. Katie Colthorp
Of Mountain Home.
Funeral services We're conducted
Tuesday afternoon from the home,
North Elmore Street, the house be-
ing full Rev. C. E. Mason conduc-
ted the services, assisted by DR.. j.
w. Sifton, Rev. r. George and Rev.
Hawk. Selections from her own
bible which she had marked We're
read, also verses of a poem aid a
hymn which she had written and was
sung just before her death.
The remains were taken Wednes-
day to The Willows" and laid be-
side the husband S. The hymn dear
10 the family.
Just beyond the silent river
And the border land of gloom
Lies the beauteous land forever
Where undying flowers bloom.
There thy Saviour's interceding
For thy soul; Oh tempt not fate!
By and by he will cease pleading,
BY and by twill be too late.
Far above the clouds and shadows
See loves rainbow span the sky;
Hasten! hasten win mansion
In the blessed by and by
Fathers. sisters, friend and brothers
Little children who have died
Tender wives and blessed mothers
Over on the other side.
THE ART EXHIBIT
AS put on at the library, Wednes-