Obit: Eaton, Freddie Helen #2 (1879 - 1882)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Eaton

----Sources: Neillsville Times (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 4 July 1882

Eaton, Freddie Helen (13 Dec. 1879 - 28 June 1882)

Eaton - Freddie Helen, youngest daughter of A. S. and Emeline Eaton, was born Dec. 13, 1879, and died June 28, 1882.

The subject of this notice was a beautiful child of more than ordinary intelligence. She instinctively drew all hearts toward her; she was the pet of the town and the idol of her parents. Mr. Eaton is conversation with the writer said that many times he has taken her upon his knee and related incidents of the war of the rebellion, especially the ever memorial 13th of Dec, 1862 - the great battle of Fredericksburg, in which he was a participants, when 20,000 Union Soldiers fell in defense of the stars and stripes, and that the child seemed to drink in the very spirit of the incidents thus narrated, and said that because papa fought for the flag she would always love it. But God claimed the gift a while bestowed, and on last Wednesday morning just as the sun arose, her pure spirit took its homeward flight. Just before she closed her eyes in death she put one arm around her mother and one around her father, as much as to say, meet me in heaven.

The funeral took place from the M. E. Church Friday, and was attended by a large congregation of sympathizing people.

Wherefore should you make your moan, Now the darling child is dead? She is early rest is gone 00

She to paradise is fled; Youn can go to her, but she Never can return to thee.

Faith cries out, it is the Lord, Let him do as seems him good!

By thy holy name adored; Take the gift a while bestowed; Take the child no longer mine, Thine she is, forever thine.

C. C. Swartz.

* * *

IN MEMORIAM

Last Tuesday morning, at 4 o’clock just as the bright orb of day was ushering into this sad world of ours a flood of light and it came stealing over the hills into the window of her room, little Freddie Helen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Eaton, died. That golden sunshine from the morning sun, so pure and bright on other occasions, was an inky darkness compared with that little Sunshine, as we always called her, which had gone out of that household forever.

Little Freddie, aged three years, six months and fifteen days, with her great blue eyes, whose lovingness had kissed the blue vault of heaven, and from thence borrowed their color was a general favorite in the community, loved by all who knew her and idolized by her parents and sister. Her sister Viola had just done to Dakota to spend the summer, and after four days absence was summoned home by the news which went flashing over the wire, that little Freddie was dying; and ere she arrived, that little bud of promise, too pure and sweet for the gardens of earth, had been transplanted, in all her angelic beauty and loveliness, to the banks of that pure stream which flows by the throne of God.

Little Freddie, although the dew drops of three and one half summers, only, had kissed her loving lips, had keen perceptions, quick wit and bright intellect far in advance of her years. The woof and web of life of the heart stricken parents was made up of the love and sunshine their two little girls bore them, the one is taken the other left. Little Freddie’s hands, now folded in snowy whiteness across her peaceful breast, had a clear, unclouded mind up to the moment death released her from suffering. To show, for one so tender in years, how clear her mind was, how loving her heart, she voluntarily, a moment before death, lifted her little white arms and encircled the neck of her papa and mama and drew them to her, then took from her head a dearly prized and childish treasure, a little blue comb, and said give it to sister, who at that moment was flying to her as fast as the great railway engine could bring her. With her latest breath she left one kiss upon her mother’s lips for sister Viola, and her spirit took wings and ascended to God who gave it.

A. S. Eaton

CARD OF THANKS

In the saddest of sad duties that we have ever been called upon to do, burying our little Freddie, allow us, from grateful hearts to hold in remembrance Mrs. A. W. Bailey, Mrs. H. M.Weston, Dr. H. J. Thomas, Jas. Bryden, and a host of other friends who were but too glad to render kindly aid in caring for our little one while living and burying her when dead. May our hands be permitted to bless you all, and heaven be your rewarder.

--Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Eaton