The following items are all from my yard sale book: "GONE HOME. O. H. P. Robertson died at his home in Mercer county, Mo., Monday, July 13th, 1891 at 6:30 a.m., aged 68 years, 1 month and 27 days. "Deceased was born in Hardon county, Ky., May 10th, 1823, and at the age of 10 moved to West Missouri with his parents, Carter and Mary E. Robertson. He was one of a family of 12 children, four of which survive him. He joined the Baptist church at the early age of 11 years and has been an earnest worker both in the Sabbath School and church. He moved to Mercer county, Mo. with his parents in the year 1847, where he has since lived the greater part of the time until death. He connected himself with the Zoar Baptist church and at the organization of the Zion Baptist church moved his membership, serving as Deacon until death called him to a better Home. He was married to Marsh Ann Clamands in the year 1849, whose death preceded his 30 years. He was again married to Margaret E. Ray, who still survives him. He was the father of 11 children, eight of whom are living, 4 daughters and 4 sons, all of whom visited him in his last illness. He has been sick for seven months and ! at times it seemed that his afflictions were more than he could bear. He was often heard praying that the soul might be removed from the body and then would say, 'My Savior is not ready yet;' and often he was heard weeping and saying 'What a glorious meeting I have been having.' His last words were 'I am ready.' A FRIEND.(The following comes from the 1986 cemetery book by Joe Dale Linn: "O. P. Robertson died July 13, 1891 aged 68 y 1 m 27 d; Sarah A. Robertson Dec. 20, 1871 - Apr. 15, 1911; there is another stone with Marsha A. Robinson and daughter with no dates"--these are all in the Liberty Cemetery--JV) The next comes from a different perspective: "ADDITIONAL LOCAL. We are called upon to chronicle the death of another old and highly respected citizen of Mercer county, in the person of James Ruth, who departed this life at the family residence, east of Alvord, last Saturday. The deceased was born in Tennessee in 1821, and in 1852 he moved to Mercer county and settled on the land upon which he died. He was for fifty years an exemplary member of the Missionary Baptist church and was a licensed preacher of the same. He leaves a widow and seven children, all grown, to lament his decease. The funeral took place on Sunday, Mar. 2nd at the Fairley church, conducted by the Rev. Thos. Harper. Deceased was a member of the Princeton Masonic Lodge and was laid to rest in the cemetery adjoining the Fairley church, with the honors of the order, by his bretheren of the Princeton Lodge. He was a man who by his upright life honored the community in which he lived; the church to which! he belonged; and the Masonic order of which he was a member." (From the Joe Dale Linn cemetery book comes the following: James Ruth died Feb. 28, 1890 aged 68 y 5 m 8 d; Ellen, his wife died Oct. 9, 1917 aged 92 y 11 m 22 d"--these are only two of a number of members of the Ruth family buried in the Fairley Cemetery. I don't know the relationships, or I'd add the others also--JV) Next, is a short obituary as follows: "DIED. On the fourth day of February, 1891, Eliza A. Heriford, wife of James Heriford. Sister Heriford was born December 25, 1838. Joined the Baptist church when fifteen years old, lived a constant Christian life as a member of that church until the winter of 1890 when she united with the Christian Union church, of which her husband was a member. Though her stay with us was short, she was known as a Christian wife and mother beloved and esteemed by all Though her place is vacant in the church and home, she has left the testimony behind that she has gone to reap the reward that is promised to the faithful. That she is now enjoying that perfect rest with Him who said 'I am the way, the truth, the resurrection and the life.'" J. C. C. (From the 1986 cemetery book by Joe Dale Linn is the following listing: "Eliza A., wife of J. Heriford died Feb. 4, 1892 aged 53 y 1 m 9 d." There is a "James Heriford 1839 - 1925," but with anoth! er wife, "Dartha A., his wife 1847 - 1888." There are two graves of tiny children with parents listed as James and Dartha A.--I don't know if this is the husband of Eliza A., but it might be.--the graves are in the Pine Cemetery--JV) No doubt, one of the saddest clippings in this book is the following one for four children, who died within a 12-day span of diphtheria. "OBITUARY. 'The King of Terrors loves a shining mark.' This thought expressed by some poet was closely exemplified in the death of the children of silas and Josie Epperson of Ravanna during the early part of November, that deaded destroyer of the children, dyptheria, flood-like, accomplished its work of death by taking their four bright and beautiful little girls.--Opening buds snatched from the parent stem, sunbeams severed from the rays of life's lifght, they were not permitted to bloom in the flower garden of promise or shine upon the bow of hope. 'The Lord gave and the Lord takes away, and blessed be the name of the Lord.' "The oldest, Lenora Ellen, was given December 30, 1881, taken November 1, 1892; Clara Mabel, the second, was given October 2, 1883, taken November 1, 1892, about three hours before her sister Lenora. These bright little girls were general favorites, at home, in the school room or among their playmates and friends. They were great lovers of the Sunday School of which they were constant and faithful members. They took pleasure in memorizing and reciting scripture texts and bible lessons. It was a pleasure to hear them repeat psalms and bible lessons, requested by their teachers. Their forms are, even now, pictured in the visions of memory as they would stand and repeat the 23d psalm. "Mabel, the first to pass away, just before departing and after calling for some of her school mates, said she wanted to see her papa and threw her arms around him as he stood by the bed side weeping, and breathed the last; about three hours later the summons came for Nora, she called her younger sisters and bade them goodbye. Lovely and beloved in life, they were not parted in death, but laid side by side in one little coffien they were borne to the Ravanna cemetery and consigned to their last resting place. While loving hearts and weeping friends were performing the last sad right in placing away these household jewels, little Edith Pearl, the tender babe, given December 22, 1889, was called for and taken from the arms of the weeping parents Nov. 2, and the next day following was borne to her last resting place, and laid beside little Nora and Mabel. What a sad bereavement the dear little baby must be torn from the parental arms; yet there was one left just one of the f! our in apparent good health, Eunice Gertrude, given March 18, 1888, taken November 12, 1892, the last one. Little Eunice, the only one left, and now she must go. She knew she must die and turning to her heart-broken father said, 'Don't cry, papa, don't cry, I'm going home, I'm not coming back any more don't cry,' and the last of mother's jewels was laid beside her sisters, and home is lonely, the lights of the household have been removed. "There is a membory in the home and in the hearts of the sorrowing parents. 'Whom the gods love die young," is what the heathen say, but those who have hope in a risen Savior can say through faith, 'it must be sweet in childhood to give back the spirit to its maker ere the heart has grown familiar with the paths of sin, and sown, to garner up its bitter fruits.' "Fear of the dreaded disease kept many away, that would willingly have taken part in the last services, especially the Sunday school, from turning out in one procession of mourners to the burial. While sympathy was strong courage was weak and so many yielded to their fears that the afflicted family were deprived of much assistance and consolation from their neighbors and friends. "Memorial services were held at the Baptist church on Sunday the 25th inst. in the presence of a full house of sympathizing friends and Sunday school children. Words of consolation and christian resignation were drawn from the text, 'The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed by the name of the Lord.' Warning to the unconverted from the words of the Savior which is Christ the Lord, 'Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matt. 18:3.'" (From the listing in the 1986 cemetery book by Joe Dale Linn, these children do not appear and there is no Epperson listing in any other cemetery in the county. There is a listing for: "Clarance K., son of S. J. and J. M. Epperson died Aug. 24, 1887 aged 1 y 7 m 14 d," which is possibly another child of this couple--Ravanna Cemetery--JV)