Cemetery Inscription Mary J. ARTZ

  General Notes:

Photo: The inscription for Mary J. Artz on the side of the stone she shares with two of her brothers, Samuel and Charles, at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Pine Creek Township, Ogle County, Illinois, reads as follows:

MARY J
DAU OF
H & M ARTZ
DIED
OCT 2, 1885
AGED 31 Yrs
7 Ms & 25 Ds

According to her death record at the Ogle County Courthouse, Mary died from consumption. Her mother preceded in her death about eight years earlier, in 1877, her father two years earlier, in 1883.

In the background -- to the right of the stone on which Mary's inscription appears -- is the now-fallen stone of her father, Henry Artz.

According to Mary's date of death on the stone and her age at death, she would have been born February 7, 1854. That date does not coincide with the date of birth provided in her obituary because the date of death in her obit is one full month different from that on her gravestone!

Photo taken in 2007 by DeeAnna Allum Granston




OBITUARY (Mary J.) from OGLE COUNTY DEMOCRAT, Mount Morris, Ogle County, Illinois, December 3, 1885:

Mary J. Artz, daughter of Henry and Maria Artz, was born in Ogle county, near Mt. Morris, March 7th, 1854, died at her home in same place, Nov. 2d, 1885, aged 31 years 7 months and 25 days. [Mary's gravestone inscription documents "Oct 2, 1885," in which case her date of birth was February 7, 1854, not March 7.] The life of the deceasee was spent near the home of her childhood where she made many lasting friends. Hers was a life of contunuous toil. She watched without murmering at the bedside of her parents, and several members of the family, whose feet have touched the cold Jordon of death before her. In her last sickness she was resigned, often she spoke of death and said it could not come too soon. She felt her mission here was ended.

The funeral services took place at the Salem church where beautiful songs were sung and words were spoken by Elder Carr, of the christian church, of which she was a member. Her body was laid to rest in the cemetery near by and here we must leave her, and yet we cannot, her lie so full of gentleness and peace cannot be left. She is dead, yet she lives. The grave may cover up her form, but her actions of love and duty will ever come before us.

Dear is the spot where christians sleep,
And sweet the strains their spirits pour:
O! why should we in anguish weep,
They are not lost but gone before.




1854 BIRTH of Mary J. Artz

1860 CENSUS, Illinois, Ogle County, Pine Creek Township, P. O. Oregon ("Mary," age 7, with parents)

1870 CENSUS, Illinois, Ogle County, Pine Creek Township, P. O. Mt. Morris ("Mary," age 16, with parents)

1877 DEATH of mother, Maria (Funk) Artz

1880 CENSUS, Illinois, Ogle County, Pine Creek Township ("Mary," age 26, "Keeping house," is with her widower father Henry; also in Henry's household are Mary's younger brothers Charles and Luther)

1883 DEATH of father, Henry Artz

1885 DEATH, Mary J. Artz, at 31 years 7 months 25 days