Obituary Record

Charlotte Maude (Maud) O'Hanlon
Died on 3/17/1904
Buried in Blair Cemetery

This long obituary is taken from the collection in the Notebook of Long Obituaries. The original newspaper article can be found in the Blair Library, Genealogy Room.

Find a Grave # 117679182; Blair Cemetery

Three newspaper articles

# 1 - - Published in The Pilot, March 21, 1904

MAUD O’HANLON

Last Wednesday The Pilot was called upon to chronicle the death of Carlyle, the bright little six-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Clark O’Hanlon, and in this issue we are called upon to chronicle the death of his little sister, their eight-year-old daughter, Maud, who passed from this life on Thursday afternoon.

The cases have been rather strange in that all three of the children were taken sick at the same time and all three with the most virulent form of the disease, scarlet fever. Where or how they came in contact with the disease is a mystery, and the strangest part of it is that all three of the children should be taken down at once. Little Muad was a great favorite with her schoolmates and playmates and her sweet disposition had endeared her to her teachers and to all who knew her. Whether at school, at home or on the playground, she was always a lady and a leader in the games and amusements.

It is almost beyond comprehension that she is gone and when we pause and reflect that only three short weeks ago she was here with health and youth and a good intellect that gave promise of a useful life and that now she is gone forever, we are impressed with the thought, “how frail a thing is life, the span of which is too short to comprehend the plan of the great Creator,” who, in His infinite wisdom, must know what is best. Words fail to express the loss suffered in the home by the dear ones taken away, but the memory of those precious lives will exert a hallowing influence upon the lives of all who knew them, and while the silver chord that binds heart to heart has again been severed, yet by that very act the tie that binds time to eternity has been strengthened and we have another hope beyond, and, as we approach the end of human life, the preparation to step from Time to Eternity is made the easier as the result of loved ones there who have gone before.

In the death of these children a great loss has been sustained, not alone to the parents, but to the entire community. From the cradle to the grave we need just such influence as was daily exerted by these children in the home and in the school and so great is the loss that it cannot be estimated by any worldly way of reckoning.

Such calamities as has at this time visited our city and the home of one of our neighbors, causes every heart to bow with grief and one is often constrained to ask, “Is there a just God?” Then comes the thought that God has an eternity in which to work out his plans and while at times the test is a severe ordeal - - so severe that it seems almost unbearable - - yet the very makeup of every mortal assures him that these plans are carried out only in infinite love.

The grief stricken parents have the deep sympathy of a grief stricken community in their sad bereavement - - in the loss of their little son and their only daughter.

The funeral took place at 3:30 p.m., Friday, the only service being at the grave and that conducted by Rev. Marsh in the presence of many friends of the family and of little Maud.

# 2 - - Blair Courier, March 23, 1904 The fear expressed in these columns last week concerning Maudie O’Hanlon, proved only too well grounded, for the angel of death entered that home for the second time within a week at about 5 o’clock Thursday afternoon. Little Carlysle, the youngest hero, died on Monday and the funeral was held Wednesday, then the next day Maudie, the only girl, aged eight years, passed away and the funeral was held at 3:30 Friday afternoon. As before no service could be held at the house and Rev. A. E. Marsh read the burial service at the grave. Few are called upon to suffer such a calamity as Mr. and Mrs. O’Hanlon have just passed through and their many friends extend heartfelt sympathy to them in their double grief. The blow has also been a severe one to the childrens’ grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Reed, for they loved them as much as if they had been their own. But both parents and grandparents are comforted in the happy fact that Reed, the eldest son, has been spared to them and is gaining in strength every day. He does not yet know of the death of his little brother and sister as it was feared he was not strong enough to bear the shock. When they think he has recovered sufficiently they will break the sad news to him and a sad day indeed that will be for the brave little fellow. # 3 - - Blair Republican, March 24, 1904

On Thursday afternoon of last week, only eight days from the time her brother died - - little Maude, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clark O’Hanlon, passed out of her suffering at the age of nearly eight years. Ruthless death has broken up the happy family circle and only the passage of time can alleviate the sorrow of the parents, relatives and friends so suddenly bereaved. All that human love and devoted care could do was lavished in vain and only sweet memories of the loved and lost-to-earth remain to cheer the mourners. The burial was on Friday afternoon at the Cemetery and the service was by E. A. Marsh.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #117679182

Printed in the Blair Pilot on 3/21/1904


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