| Elisha Stratton Sheffield (1824-1907) |
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Obituary SHEFFIELD - Died, Elisha Stratton Sheffield at the home of Sister Louie Sheffield, near Farnam, Nebr, of paralysis. Deceased was born Feb. 17, 1824, Bedfordshire, England. Died Aug. 17, 1907, at the age of 83 yrs and 6 months. Came with his parents to America in 1841. Married Miss Anna Kirby, Dec. 1, 1846, to this union were born 8 children, 5 boys and 3 girls. Two died in infancy. Six grew to manhood and womanhood. Two sons, Lucius and Kirby Sheffield, and a daughter, wife of Eld S. S. Davison, live near Fairview, Okla. The other living daughter, Mrs. Lovilla Templeton, lives in Los Angeles, Cal. His wife died Jan 16, 1889. On Nov. 26, 1896, he married Mrs. Cynthia Singleton, M. D. She, too, was taken from him by the cruel enemy, death, on his 82nd birthday. Our aged brother, his two companions, two infant sons, his son Wallace, and his daughter, Olive Darner, lie sleeping in Jesus, and the four who survive are in keeping with the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, prospective of a final reunion in the kingdom of God of the entire family. 0 blessed thought, how cheering and comforting the hope set before you who are left to mourn the loss of father, mother, brothers, and sister. Be faithful, dear brothers and sisters. Bro. Sheffield left his home at Bro. and Sister Davison for Atwood, Kan., and from there he came here to visit Sister Louie Sheffield and family, and from here he intended to go to the camp meeting at Ravenwood, Mo., and then up in Iowa to visit friends and relatives. He felt well as usual when he came here. Preached to the church here on Sabbath concerning the kingdom of God and spoke of the dear loved ones he had laid away to rest, awaiting the coming of the King of peace. On Sabbath day, after coming from church, he was well as ever, and near the close of the day he went out to sit in the shade, and was writing a letter to the BIBLE ADVOCATE when the stroke came, paralyzing his entire right side. He could only speak a few workds that could be understood and was semiconscious for a few days. On the following Sabbath, near the same time he fell asleep in Christ to wait for his coming to wake him out of the sleep of death in the morning of the resurrection. He embraced the Advent faith 55 years ago, and remained a faithful keeper, teacher and defender of the faith till death. Our dear aged brother was a grand, good, noble, honest Christian man. He was conscientious in his faith and practice, and an earnest, devoted, and zealous worker in the cause of the Master, with his means, his tongue, and his pen. Eld. Sheffield was a good Bible student, having spent many years in careful investigation of it sacred truths, and much time was given to then study of prophecy, and his writings have been very profitable and instructive to the readers of the ADVOCATE. A true and tried soldier of the cross has fallen, a kind loving father has been taken, the church has lost a worthy Christian member, and our paper an (X)ole and instructive contributor. We deeply fell the loss, as he was in possession of then faculties of this mind in a good degree to the last, giving us meat in due season. Gone, but not forgotten, his works do follow him. To know him was to admire and love him. His son Kirby and his daughter Matilda Davison, came on reciept of telegram and administered to his comfort and stood by him in his last hours. Funeral services were conducted by the writer after which the remains were taken to the train to be taken to Woodward, Iowa, there to be laid away to rest beside him former companion to await the call of the blessed Master to a new and better life, where sorrow and death shall not enter. His son and daughter accompanied the corpse to its last resting place, there to leave him in the enemies land till the day of final deliverance and victory, then to come forth with all who sleep in Jesus and shout victory, victory over death and the grave, going forth to meet the blessed Lord and King in the air coming to rule and reign over his everlasting kingdom, bringing about the restitution of all things spoken by the prophets of God. A blessed thought, a cheering hope, and a happy fruition.
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