ELIZABETHTOWN, Ill. (April 1, 1926) — Mrs. Elizabeth Williams was born
August 25, 1844, in Winslow, Indiana some 50 or 60 miles northeast of
Evansville and died at her home in Elizabethtown, Illinois, March 18, 1926,
after a long and painful illness of a complication of ailments, due
primarily to senile debility, at the advanced age of 81 years, 5 months and
7 days. Her maiden name was Ferrell, a sister to the late Pernett Ferrell,
so well and favorably known by Hardin County people generally, she being the
last of her family.
She was married to John N. Williams about the fall of 1870, and lived with
him until he died about the year 1880, leaving her at the age of about 36
years with a family of three sons, George, John N. and Peter H. to support
and educate, the younest one, familiarly called Pete, being less than two
years old when his father died. It is said by those who knew her in her
early life that she was the most charmingly beautiful young woman and
remained so during her early widowhood, but notwithstanding her charming
beauty, she allowed nothing to tempt her to remarry, and remained single and
gave her time and attention to her little family, and tho she had a hard
time and made many sacrifices to support and educate her 3 sons, she
apparently felt she had been well repaid for any sacrifice made, since she
had been permitted to live to see them grown and able to take care of
themselves. Her love and devotion to her children absolutely knew no bounds.
During her early widowhood, she had the misfortune of losing her home near
Ledbetter's Mill, destroyed by fire, but the generous hearted people of the
town and from the country donated quite liberally, and she was thereby
enabled to buy a lot near the river, and rebuild and where she spent the
remainder of her life. Her early widowhood was spent so industriously and
herocially, that those who contributed to the rebuilding of her burned home,
doubtless enjoyed that feeling of comfort that comes to those who aid in the
accomplishment of a good cause. She doubtless had her faults, as we all
have, but they merely illustrated that inheritance of fallability which is
our common lot. This is one thing we do know. Her white hair framed a face
that expressed sense and amiblilty and her many friends showed that she was
a charming companion before ill health weakened and finally destroyed her
charming personality.
It is claimed the deceased was a member of M.E. Church, but for some reson,
not known to the writer, she was not a church worker, and did not manifest
as much interest in church affairs as the average woman member usually does,
but she has at time not long ago expressed herself in the belief that the
foremost force in the progress and civilization of the world is the
Christian religion. The morality and uplift of society is due to its
dominence of Christian sentiment and of standard of judgement created by it.
Skeptical as we may be when we stand in the presence of our dead, as the
three sons and other relatives and friends did a few days ago, there comes
to our aching hearts and affirmative answer to the question, "If a man die,
shall he live again?" And when Rev. Dr. A. Ledbetter, who conducted the
funeral, annewed the text from Marx 14:8, "She hath done what she could,"
the childen and perhaps all others present did not doubt that the deceased
was then enjoying "that peace that passeth understanding."
After the last sad rites at her residence were over of this grand old
mother, whom her children loved with all of the affection of which the most
ardent nature is capable, and lavished her the treasures of their heart, as
was known by their treatment and care of her during her long illness. Her
body was conveyed to the old E'town Cemetery where it was tenderly consigned
to its last resting place by her husband.
Peace to the ashes of this loved and lovable old mother, and sincere
sympathy for the children and grandchildren, and other more distant
relatives.
By a friend.
Thanks to Wanda H. Reed for contributing this article to the Hardin County
ILGenWeb site. The Hardin County Independent first published this article by
J A Oxford on April 1, 1926.
| Saline | Gallatin | Union KY |
| Pope |
 |
|
| Livingston KY Crittenden KY | ||
