Word was received in Blair Tuesday forenoon that Mrs. W. M. Martin who was operated on at the Swedish hospital was not expected to live through the day and her daughter, who came up the evening before, returned at once to Omaha. At about two o’clock the sad news was telephoned here that she had died, and while the news was not entirely unexpected, it was nevertheless a shock to the many friends of the family here who had hoped that she might return to Blair and to health. Mrs. Martin was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Wadsworth and had lived many years in Washington county. She leaves to mourn her loss a husband and one daughter, who in their sad bereavement have the sympathy of many friends and neighbors. The funeral will be held at the home at 3 o’clock tomorrow.

#2-7 Feb., 1907 - Blair Democrat - Mrs. W. M. Martin

Word reached Blair Tuesday afternoon that Mrs. W. M. Martin had died at the Swedish hospital shortly after noon. Mrs. Martin was taken down there a little over a week ago and operated on and at first great hopes were entertained for her recovery, but a few days later she took a turn for the worse and continued to fail until Tuesday when she died. Mr. Martin had been with her almost continually since the operation and accompanied the remains to Blair yesterday afternoon. The funeral was held this afternoon at 3 o’clock from the Martin residence.

#3-13 Feb., 1907 - Blair Courier - Ida K. (Wadsworth) Martin

MRS. W. M. MARTIN

Mrs. Ida K. Martin, wife of W. M. Martin of this city, passed away at the Swedish Hospital in Omaha February 5th.

She had been at the hospital for an operation which had been performed, and she was recovering from its effects with apparent success when new symptoms set in which caused her death.

The funeral services were held at the home on Grant street at 3 o’clock Thursday afternoon, February 7th, and were conducted by Rev. J. Wallace Larkin, a former minister of the Congregational church in Blair. Mr. Larkin came from his present location in Grand Island, and in the absence of Rev. A. G. Axtell, the present pastor who was sick in bed with the grip, officiated throughout the service.

Music was rendered by a quartette composed of Mrs. J. B. Adams, Miss Mary Cook, Mr. D. C. VanDeusen and Mr. John Moore. The pallbearers were Messrs. George B. Riker, S. W. Chambers, G. C. Marshall, W. H. Hill, J. B. Adams and Dr. R. J. Murdoch.

A large number of friends gathered to pay their homage to the memory of the one who had departed, and to show their sympathy for the bereaved. There was an abundant and beautiful tribute of flowers, representing many friends.

Mrs. Martin was one of a family of four children, sons and daughters of Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Wadsworth, and was born at Kinnikinic, Wisconsin Jan. 1, 1858. Early in life she united with the Congregational church in Bloomer, Wisconsin, together with her brother John.

She was married March 27, 1880 in South Dakota to W. M. Martin, who with their daughter, Flora, survives her. Also her sister, Mrs. Amelia Wilcox, now at Tabor, Iowa, and her two brothers, Chas. W. Wadsworth of Kansas City, Mo. and John G. Wadsworth of Council Bluffs, Ia. remain. Mr. and Mrs. Martin came to Nebraska in 1885 and lived out in Lincoln township for several years, coming to Blair in the spring of 1891.

Mrs. Martin united with the Congregational church in Blair by letter October 2nd, 1887. She has been a beloved member of the church since that time. Though extremely modest in regard to her own attainments in the Christian life, she has, nevertheless been an example of fidelity, constancy and devotion. She was always present at church services and prayer meetings, with some very rare exceptions, when it was actually impossible for her to be there.

In church work of every sort she did her share and more, cheerfully and well. She had the capacity for deep and abiding friendship; and in spite of physical suffering, which at times has been great, always kept a bright and happy countenance. She will be sorely missed by many, and especially by those who knew her best.

While she always had a word of sympathy for others, she kept her own sufferings from all but the most intimate friends, and to them she confided only efficient to lead them to realize something of the seriousness of her condition. She went away Monday, Jan. 28, for the operation, which was performed the next day.

Realizing that she might not recover, she nevertheless departed cheerfully, and her last words before leaving Blair were spoken in solicitation for others, not herself. Her passing was so unexpected that what under any condition would have been cause for the deepest sorrow, came as a terrible shock to all who knew her. Her loss is mourned unspeakably by the many who were happy in being reckoned among her friends.

Everything possible was done for her, the best medical and surgical skill employed, and trained nurses to do their part. The cause of her death was not the operation, serious as that was, but a condition that set in later.

Mrs. Martin has passed from us, and yet we cannot think of her as dead; rather as living in some brighter and better world. Her faith in a Savior who is the resurrection and the life must have found fulfillment in some way past our power to comprehend. We rejoice in her life, her faith, and in our faith that now she knows the reality of the eternal life.

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

Find a Grave Memorial #117185202