Memoir
The first settlers of Delaware county will soon have passed away. A few linger among us who came here forty, fifty or more years ago. The Gibsons, Reeces, Jacksons, Moores, Ribbles, Vannosdols, Truitts, Tomlinsons, Heaths, Wests, Peytons, and Cecils, with many others whose names are not so familiar to me, are gone. They were among the early settlers and were intimately connected with the material, moral, and religious history of this county. We see yet in our county churches, and at our large gatherings: Whitney, Bolton, Williams, Thornburg, Aunt Patsey, Mother Gibson, McKimmeys, Hamilton, Keesling and others of the same worthy class with the departed. From this small number death is removing one here and there, and the little band is growing less. On July the fourth, while many of the people in the county and town were enjoying a holiday, and many others more anxious for mammon that rest or pleasure, were busily employed on their farms or in their shops, in one of our county [illegible] another scene passing. Death was [illegible] and before the sun touched the meridian on that, the Nation's birthday, another soul, as pure as light, entered into glory. Anna Springer, daughter of John and Sarah B Springer, was born December 3, 1791, in the State of Kentucky, Fayette county. In 1815 she was married to Aaron I Cecil, and soon after emigrated to Shelby county, Ohio. In 1831, came to Delaware county, Indiana, and settled on the farm where they both finished their earthly course. Since the death of her husband, which occurred in January 7, 1860, mother Cecil has lived with her youngest son, Gordon, on the old homestead. She joined the Methodist Episcopal church when a mere child, and maintained her christian faith for nearly seventy years. She leaves five sons and two daughters to mourn their loss. Mother Cecil possessed in a high degree, every virtue and grace joined to a strong mind, that enters into the make-up of the wife, mother, friend and christian. When the last mortal conflict came she conquered through Jesus. On the fifth, her remains were followed by a large concourse of people to the [Mount] Tabor church and cemetery, where the funeral services were held, and the body deposited, where she rests from her labor and her works do follow her.
--B Smith |