Mrs. Ella, wife of T. H. Wagner, died in Oregon, Ill., December 23, 1883, aged 48 years. Deceased was born in the vicinity of Niagara Falls, Canada, and will be remembered by many as the youngest daughter of Alexander Irvin, who emigrated with his young family to Ogle Co., Ill., in an early day finally settling on a farm near Byron.

The arduous duties of farm life, however, did not prevent him from engaging in his chosed profession, the ministry, his time and talent being willinglly given to the Masters service, enduring the hardships and privations inseparable from the work in that early day, neglecting not in his active life to sow the seeds of Christian character in his own household. This youngest daughter died happy and triumphant in the faith that was part of her early education. How earnestly should we question the nature of a faith that can support and comfort one through long years of suffering, with an ambition excelled by none, sitting in her chair day and night for months, “Only waiting till the shadows are a little longer grown,” asking in her anguish, it might be, why she should suffer thus. Yet through it all, by faith peacefully awaiting His time. One has said that asked her during those last sad days, Auntie, how are you feeling now? that the resigned expression that came over and illuminated her face as she answered “I think I am growing gradually worse” was sufficient evidence of a triumphant entrance into the great beyond. Christs love was her joy and comfort.

During our Civil War, she was one of the many brave women that was called upon to send a loved one to the front, she in the meantime carrying on the home life in the best interests of the absent husband, and when sickness overtook him, hurrying to his side to nurse hime back to life; how well has he repaid her with his kindly ministrations during these years of her sickness. How fitting that good Father Cartright, who was so closely associated with this family in their early struggles in a new country, should perform the last sad service, say the last sad words, “Earth to earth, ashes to ashes.”

Byron Express, January 4, 1883, p. 4

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Contributed by Bob Hutchins