"Blandinsville Star-Gazette", Thursday July 26, 1916: DEATHS
Naomi E Ballou

On Friday evening at 10:30 o'clock, Mrs Charles E Ballou closed her tired eyes and fell into the dreamless sleep that means for her the end of
sickness and suffering and worldly care, and brings instead, the tranquil peace and joy and rest assured to them who give their useful
lives in service to those about them and to God.  The sad intelligence of her unexpected death was a shock to the
community in which she had lived since childhood, and taken her part in every movement for the advancement of its mora and material welfare.

Her death is felt as a personal loss to the hundreds of sorrowing hearts of those who knew and loved her, to whom she was endeared by long
acquaintance, by social fellowship, and by kindly deeds and words of sympathy to those who had know sorrow or needed a friend.

Mrs Ballou's maiden name was Naomi E Creel.  She was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Creel, and was born at Bardolph, Illinois, on April
29, 1852, and died at her home in Blandinsville, Illinois, at 10:30 pm on Friday, July 21, 1916, aged 64 years, 2 months, and 22 days.

In her early childhood she moved with her parents to Colchester, and in 1867, when Naomi E, or "Nelle" as she was affectionately called was
fifteen years old the family moved to Blandinsville, where she has since lived.

In 1869 she was united in marriage with Charles E Ballou, and the happy home they established was blessed with two daughters, who are now Mrs
Lula Kleiser, of DeWitt, Arkansas, and Mrs Minerva Tanner, of Blandinsville.

She, with her family, united with the Christian church of Blandinsville during the ministry of Elder G F Adams, in 1880, and till the day of
ther death she was an earnest Christian and zealous member of the church, who gave freely of time and means and energy for its upbuilding
and welfare.

Early last winter Mrs Ballou became affected with an ailment of the heart and complications of other diseases, and suffered a severe illness
which lasted throughout the winter.  When warmer days came, she grew better, and was able to work a little in the house, to walk about the
lawn and take short rides about town, and her full recovery was hoped for.  But during the last few days she was not so well, though she was
up and around the house and sat out on the veranda the evening she died.  But about ten o'clock she became suddenly worse, and with the
heartbroken members of her family about her bedside, the messenger came, and she slept.

"Then fell upon the house a sudden gloom, A shadow on those features fair and thin, And softly from that hushed and darkened room
Two angels issued where but one went in."  In the death of Mrs Ballou the community has lost one of its best loved,
most highly esteemed and helpful citizens.  Her kind heart and cheerful disposition were an inspiration to those about her, and in every good
work in which she could cooperate her heart was ingaged and her hand was among the foremost.

For fifteen years, as president of the Ladies Aid Society of the Christian church, she guided and inspired its valuable and effective
work that was done for the upbuilding of the church and the cause for which it stands.  During its entire existence she has not only been the
president, but the life and soul and inspiration of the local Women's Relief Corps that has kept alive and honored the memory of our heoic
dead, and inspired the hearts of the younger generation with the spirit of patriotism which she felt, and on which the futre safety of our
country must depend.

But it was in her capacity as a loving mother, a faithful wife, and kind and helpful and sympathetic neighbor that her useful life's work was
chiefly done; and were every loving friend who is indebted to her for a kindly deed, a sympathetic word and smile or a neighborly kindness to
lay a bloom upon her grave she would sleep beneath wilderness of flowers.

Mrs Ballou had seven sisters and four brothers, all of whom except one sister, Mrs H A Cowgill, have preceded her in death.  Besides her
heartbroken husband, and sister and two daughters, she leaves five grandchildren, Mrs Reva Quertermous, Charles, Max and Roberta Kleiser,
and Henton Tanner.  One great grandson, Chas. Quertermous and a host of loving friends and neighbors endeared to her by long years of pleasant
association and loving esteem to mourn her death.

Funeral services were held in the Christian church at 2 pm, Monday, July 24, and the big church was filled with sorrowing friends who came to pay
their last repects to her whom they had known and loved so long.  The address by the Rev Ward E Hall was appropriate and eloquent.  Three
numbers were sung by the quartette consisting of E E Voorhees, Paris Jobe, Elgin Shifley, and Mrs Banks, and Miss Elgin Shifley sang a solo.

A large concourse of neighbors formed the procession that went to the Glade  City cemetery where departed one was laid to rest.