The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, February 18, 1909 DANIEL HOUSEHOLDER was born in Bedford County, Penn., Aug. 30, 1824, and died in Bloomington, Ill., Feb. 11, 1909, aged 84 years, 5 months and 11 days. He was the son of SIMON HOUSEHOLDER, whose grandparents were the founders of Hagerstown, Maryland, and on his mother's side his grandmother was ELLEN MARSHALL, a cousin of Chief Justice Marshall. On March 23, 1845, he was united in marriage to RUTH A. KANABLE, a union that lasted for sixty-three years and resulted in the birth of ten children, all living except the youngest son, who died in 1892. The wife, whose life is a precious memory to so many entered upon the life eternal eleven months ago, and it is beautiful to think that the deceased so soon follows the one who was so faithful a companion for so many years. In early life, before marriage, these two young people, with a number of others were converted in the Baptist Church and on a Sunday afternoon were baptized in a stream near their home. In 1855, the family moved to Knox County, Ill., and in 1875 to Chariton, Iowa, where some years ago father HOUSEHOLDER united with this church. For the past months he has visited among his children, and on his own choice he went to Illinois last November and after spending some weeks with other daughters, finally went to Bloomington, to the home of his oldest daughter. He had several sick spells, not serious, and was about the house until Tuesday when he stayed in bed but without suffering and on Wednesday evening he passed into a comatose state, and on Thursday morning at 10:30 he ceased to breathe. In his last days he had every comfort and the kind and tender ministrations of his daughter and two granddaughters. The son, W.M., of Chariton, went to Bloomington on Thursday and on Friday services were held at the home conducted by Rev. A.R. Morgan, who had been the pastor of the family 43 years before. The son returned Friday night bringing the remains. The relatives in Illinois were in attendance at the services there, those here today from out of town are the sons, J.K., from Lamar, Colo., and W.B., from Bladen, Nebraska. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 'FUNERAL DISCOURSE' Funeral address over the remains of DANIEL HOUSEHOLDER, delivered at the M.E Church on Sunday afternoon by Dr. A.H. Lathrop. Published by request. "Then Abraham gave up the Ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people." Gen. XXV.8. These words about Abraham may be fittingly used on this occasion, where in a life of over 84 years is worthily closed. The last time I saw the deceased was in my parlor. On the eve of his leaving Chariton, he called to bid me good bye. He spoke of his age and infirmity of the loss of his companion. Of his bright hope of joining her soon in the eternal home and a strange light glowed from his good old face. A vagrant poem we found describing the progress of a life from youth to old age beautifully describes the struggles and victory of the life now closed. "A young man, on his wedding morn Sang to the day just newly born, Right merrily, 'I never knew before' quoth he, How very full the world could be Of lover's happy ecstasy' " "A man with loving pride Sang by his sleeping baby's side So tenderly. 'I never knew before' quoth he, 'How very full the world could be Of duty's sweetest ministry.' " A Father, bent o'er casket white Moaned to his God through sorrow's night So brokenly. 'Oh never did I know' prayed he, 'How very full the world could be Of bitter loss and misery.' " An aged man, on his face Rests sanctifying sorrow's trace Sits patiently, 'My Lord ne'er did I know' thinks he, 'How very full the world could be Of Heaven's divine expectancy.' " You have seen in cemeteries broken shafts for monuments. That is not suitable for a life crowned with a "good old age." Its memorial would be a finished column crowned with capital complete. Life is made of doubles. Death and old age are naturally joined together. The death of a child is an event for which we have no natural preparation. We expect our children to be our support in age and to lay us away in "the dark chamber," as do these children this father. It is the expected for the aged to fall by the sickly of time and be gathered like ripe wheat into the garner. In a still deeper sense death and life are joined. Death makes for life. It is a part of the process of life. "Except a corn of wheat fall in the ground and die, 'Twill bear no fruit -- but all alone remain; But sown in earth and watered from the sky, A larger life awaits the springing grain." There are many evidences of immortality. One is the power to walk over the tesselated pavement of life from youth to a "good old age," with its many changes, and yet keep the spirit bright and sunny, social and true. Immortality means opening vistas for our mortal feet. That God's government is beneficent; good. It was John G. Ingalls who said "when I go down to my grave I can say like many others, 'I have finished my day's work,' but I cannot say 'I have finished my life.' My day's work will begin again the next morning. The tomb is not a blind alley. It is a thoroughfare. It closes on the twilight to open with the dawn." Here is another double -- Immortality and Responsibility. This mortal life is a preparation for the immortal. To improve it we have many admonitions. Death is one. It speaks to us today by the voiceless lips of this loved one whose noble form lies silent in its last long sleep. The Bible is another admonition. It sounds the Master's voice, -- "work cometh when no man can work." "Be ye also ready." "Blessed is that servant whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching." "Then build for thee more stately mansions, O my soul As swift the seasons roll. Leave thy low vaulted past Let each temple nobler than the last, Shut thee from Heaven with dome more vast, Till thou at length art free Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's Unresting sea." A "good old age" means more than a quota of years. It means a well rounded life. The wealth of a beautiful character. A spotless and a loved name. For such benedictus -- blessing, in earth and Heaven. For it, God has an open and eternal reward. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert May 14, 2005 iggy29@rnetinc.net Jack -- I know you will find this wonderfully written.