The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1920-01-30
OBITUARY

Susan Mcpherson Thomson, daugh-
Ter Of Joseph and Martha Wilcox
McPherson. was born in Kirkland. O..
June /, 1928. the youngest Of five
girls. In 1880 the family moved five
MILES nearer to Chardon. Mr.. Nc
Pherson was carpenter, but in poor
health.
From her childhood Susan tried to
lead Christian life. At II years of
age she was deeply moved in Meth
odist revival. She made her first pub
ic declaration of purpose to lead a
Christian life, but did not unite with
a church.
Her father being poor, she had to
make her way after her twelfth year.
While still at home attending the
district school, a visitor called one
day at the school. As she was leaving
the teacher asker her if she thought
that any teachers would ever come
from the pupils there. The visitor
replied that the thought one there
might become teacher, and indicated
Susan. This was continual source
Of inspiration to her afterwards.
At the age Of twelve she left home
and worked in families. At. about
thirteen years Of age she went to
Chagrin Falls and attended semi
nary there, living at first, for one
term, in the family of a Wesleyan
Methodist. She attended a camp
meeting with them, and united with
their church, later changing to the
Free Will Baptist church. Then she
lived one term in the home Of law
yer.
After these two terms she worked
in the Maple Grove Moolen Mills at
Chagrin Falls. While thus employed
7he attended lecture given by a
Mrs. Branch, who with her husband,
was teaching in Geauga Seminary at
Chester, Geauga county. Mrs. Branch
induced her to go to that school,
where she began her studies in the
autumn Of 1845. Her father had died
lust before. During the next four
years studied at Chester, teaching
district schools during the winter va
cations, and teaching in the seminary,
one Of her pupils there being Adelia
Field, afterward Mrs. A. A. F. John
ston, during many years Dean of
Women and Professor of History in
Oberlin College: James A. Garfield
was fellow student there.
In 1849 she went to Medina county
and taught two winters in the Wind
fall district and one in Northrupville.
She also taught one term in a select
school in Medina, and two summers
in Newcastle, Pa. She was married
to George Thomson March 8, 1852,
and until the spring of 1885 they
lived on their farm three miles east of
Medina and reared family Of six
children, four Of whom are living. In
1885 they moved to Medina.
Mrs. Thomson was woman of
rare helpfulness in her neighborhood.
For many years she taught a class Of
girls in the Medina Congregational
Sunday school, the members Of which
still cherish her memory. A broken
hip and the growing infrmities Of age
narrowed her activities, but to the
last she kept her interest even in
worldwide affairs. During the great
war she followed with intense interest
the course Of three grandsons in the
army and navy.
( After her husbands death, until the
day before her own, she was the re-
ligious head of her household. The
close of her earthly journey was as
quiet and serene as passing from one
room Of her fathers house to another.
A little girl Of the neighborhood,
who had loved her, on hearing Of her
death, said: "Jesus thought she had
better come up with him than stay
here till she was sick"