Obit: Smith, Rachel (1833 – 1905)

Contact: Michelle Melcher
Email: michelle@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Smith, Graville

----Source: Fairchild Observer (Fairchild, Wis.) 9/14/1905

----Smith, Rachel (Sep 1833 – 6 SEP 1905)

Rachel Granville was born in Virginia in September 1833, coming west with her people while a young girl. She married John H. Smith September 15, 1853, and the following year accompanied her husband to Wisconsin, settling in Richland County. During the civil war they moved to Eau Claire county, and since that time have resided on a little farm just outside the village limits of Fairchild. She passed away las Wednesday night, Sept. 6th, at the age of 72 years, suffering a stroke of paralysis.

Always fragile, Mrs. Smith has been an invalid for some time, and of late has been disabled by rheumatism. Of an unusually sweet and patient disposition, she has borne her afflictions without murmuring, and at the last met the summons bravely, only regretting the separation from her loved ones.

The funeral was held at the home on Friday afternoon, Rev. R.W. Smith conducting services. Internment was at the old cemetery, beside a sister who passed before her.

The deceased leaves an aged husband and four daughters.

Our dear mother, Heaven bless her,
Has gone to the great beyond.
Her trails of life are done
And her tears are wiped away.

And now she walks by the river of life,
In the light of a sun that will go never down
And there she is waiting to meet us again
In that beautiful city without grief or pain.

The lips that so tenderly spoke our names,
As she bid us earth’s last sad farewell
Will greet us again and speak our names
In that beautiful Heaven, where Jesus reigns.

The hands that so lovingly clung to our own,
As they grew still and pulseless and cold
Will clasp them again with radiance bright
On the banks of that beautiful river of life.

Clothed in raiment so wonderously spotless and white
She can look back to earth and say with delight
Oh Death where is thy sting
Oh Grave where is thy victory.

Farewell dear mother
Farewell for a while
We shall meet again.