Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1924-05-07
JN MEMORJAM
OBITUARY ELIZABETH DUDLEY
"Death-a blest relief to those

| "Death-a blest relief to those
That weary-laden mourn"
| Elizabeth, youngest daughter of
Christopher and Elizabeth Eversoll,
| was born April 1880, in Hazel
Green township, Grant county, Wis,
her parents being first settlers there.
After "a years, one week and four
days of courageous living she entered
into rest from her daughters home,
Rose Lawn, Lancaster, April 26, 1924,
and only then was the wearied heart
healed of it's many sorrows.
Very early she assumed the labors
and bore the hardships of pioneer life.
At the age of II she was united in
marriage to Thomas Dudley and went
to live in the second house built on
Blakes Prairie. Here and in the
mining district of Beetown she spent
nearly 40 years. She became the
mother of six children, the youngest
died at birth. The eldest, Wessie,
Mrs. John Herring, and a son of near
ly IL years, Gordon, preceded her in
death many years ago. Of those long
ago years what stories could be writ
ten! The babies she has clothed, the
vigils kept, the forms robed for their
last sleep by her helpful hands are
past numbering.
Someone has beautifully said: ITO
paragraph the names and deeds of
such old mothers is to rehearse
fragment of the roll call of Gods
own" Those noble mothers to
whom having fulfilled their duty to
posterity and to God, He will open
wide the pearly gates with the plau-
dit, "they have done what they could"
Mrs. Dudley has been a resident of
Lancaster since 1884. She had never
spent a night outside the county-ex-
cept a very brief time when her father
took the family to a fort near Galena
for protection against the Indians at
the time of the Blackhawk uprising in
1882. She was a remarkable woman
and wonderful, up to her last illness,
in memory and activity. The courage,
patience, hope and faith that had
flowed from her brave soul to others
in the dark hours came back to her
and sustained life until doctors pro-
nounced her case phenomenal. Her
usefulness over she was glad to go,
and God mercifully sent sweet and
peaceful release.
There survive the daughter, Mrs.
Frank Smith. (B. d. So the sons,
Matt T. and Park of this city, three
grandchildren, Gordon D. Smith of
Eldora, Iowa. Mrs. Wessie Gates of
Lancaster, Belle Dudley, now in Mon
tana, and the beloved little great
grandchildren, Walter, Ruth, Emma
and John Roy Gates. Mrs. Dudley's
youngest brother sleeps with the ma
tion"s heroes at Arlington, two sis
tiers were buried in Switzerland, one
brother in the sea. Her parents and
oldest sister and two brothers rest in
Grant county soil and at Beetown,
among the groves and friends she
loved so well, this dear mother,
"1ife's fitful fever over" will rest we'll.
Words of comfort were spoken by
the Rev. J. De Vries, pastor of the
Baptist church, to a large concourse
of sympathizing friends. The floral
offerings were profuse.
Auf Wiedersehen
Until we meet again! That is the meaning
OF the familiar words that men repeat,
At parting in the street.
All yes til then! But when death in
Rends us asunder, with what ceaseless pain
We wait for thee again
The friends who leave us do not feel the
sorrow
OF parting as we feel it who must stay
Lamenting day by day,
And knowing when we wake upon the
morrow
we shall not find in it's accustomed place
The beloved face.
1t were double grief if the departed
Being released from earth should still
retain
A sense of earthly pain.
1T were a double grief, if the true-hearted
Who loved us here, should on the further
shore
Remember no more.
Believing in the midst of our Affections
That death is a beginning, not an end,
We cry to them, and send
Farewell that might be called predictions
Being foreshadoWings of the future, thrown