This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: SStamperYoumans Surnames: Batchfield Monks McBeth Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties.randolph/3379/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Winchester Democrat 1-23-1913 OBITUARY The maiden name of Aunt Fanny Monks was Frances Elizabeth Batchfield. She was a daughter of Christian and Wilhelmina Batchfield, and was born in Fasar, near Berlin, Prussia, November 19th, 1835, and died at the home of her daughter, Lizzie E. McBeth, on West Franklin street, Winchester, Indiana, January 13th, 1913, aged 77 years, 1 month and 24 days. She was one of a family of eight children. Six of whom preceded her to the other world, and one, her brother Charles Batchfield, survives her. Three of her brothers and one sister died in Germany before the immigration of the family to America. When Aunt Fanny was a child of ten years her parents came with her and her brothers, August and Charles and her sister, Henrietta, to the United States. The family settled at first in the city of Philadelphia, but about two and one half years later Aunt Fanny came with her parents to Winchester where she continuously resided until her decease. On the 24th day of December, 1854, she was married to Christopher C. Monks, who died on the 15th day of December, 1899. Of this union, five children were born: William E., Emma C., Minnie F., Lizzie E., and Edward F., of whom Emma C. died in infancy and William E. in 1881.The other three children survive. In childhood, while yet in Germany, Aunt Fanny was baptized into the faith of the Lutheran church, and thereafter throughout her long life, she remained steadfastly devoted to its doctrines and practices. Her school privileges were confined to that period of her life while she lived in Germany. While her scholastic education was limited, yet she had a broad, practical training that served her purposes well throughout life. She had a good working knowledge of the English tongue both for purposes of speech and writing, acquired by her contact with English speaking people. Aunt Fanny exemplified in her own life the dominant traits of the German character. She was steadfast in the faith of her childhood, and loyal to the religion of her fathers, she was scrupulously honest, industrious and frugal in all material and business matters. In disposition, she was kind, and cheerful, looking upon the bright side of life's problems as they presented themselves to her for solution. As she mixed and mingled with her fellows her influence and very presence tended toward comfort and good cheer, as one met her and talked with her he was led to believe, unconsciously perhaps, from the atmosphere with which her own disposition surrounded her, that this old World was a pretty good place in which to live. Aunt Fanny was pre-eminently a home woman, a self sacrificing woman. Her home was her little kingdom, and over it she presided with a gentle sway, and with authority that consisted of kindness and pleasant speech. Her children were the objects of her devotion and of her loving kindness. No task was too hard if performed for their comfort, no watch was too long or too weary if kept for their welfare, no night too long if spent in solicitude and kindly ministrations for their moral and physical welfare. Besides her children and brother herein named, she leaves surviving her, three grand-children and one great grand-child, of whom she was always thoughtful. Long will she be remembered, fervently will her name be cherished, sincerely will she be mourned, peace be to her ashes. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.