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Obituaries
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DR. J.H. GRAVES
d. July 28, 1875
Dr. J. H. Graves, a resident of Crystal Lake for many years, died in that village July 28th. He has been
in poor health for the past year. [McHenry Plaindealer Wednesday, Aug.
11th, 1875 - Contributed by Mert Sarvay]
MARGARET SHAVER GOODWIN
d. February 27, 1891
MRS. ABRAM GOODWIN -- Margaret Shaver was born in Troy, Pa. August 1, 1826. On March 4, 1844 she married
Abram Goodwin. A year or so later they drove across the country and settled on a farm near Cary Illinois. After
spending thirty-eight years on a farm, they moved to Cary, and made that village their home for four years. Seven
children were born to them, all but two died in infancy. As age came upon them, they made their home with Mrs.
Mae Lively of Irving Park, Chicago, often making lengthy visits to the other daughter, Mrs. Gertrude Parsons, who
now lives in Canon City, Colo., Mr. Goodwin died February 27, 1891. Death came to him swiftly and painlessly, as
he sat in his chair. Seventy-nine years is a long period of time to be spanned by one life, but when it is spent
as this mother in Israel spent her life, we should rejoice rather than grieve as she goes home to her coronation.
Shortly after coming west, Mrs. Goodwin and her husband were converted, and united with the Methodist Episcopal
church, and through all the changes of life were true to their honest religious convictions. The last years of
her life were comparatively free from pain and suffering so often incident to old age. Her eyesight remained good,
so that she could read to her hearts content, and her bible and religious papers were ever close at hand. Then
too, she was handy with her needle so that ever busy, she had no time to be lonesome. The best evidence of Christianity
is a Christian, and the best argument that can be found anywhere is not in a book but in life. Mother Goodwin lived
very close to God and all the promises, profound and far reaching though some of them are, were very real to her.
She had no fear of death. The life beyond was an absolute reality to her faith. She simply waited the Lord's will,
satisfied that He must have some for her so long as He permitted her to stay, but ready to meet him at a moment's
warning. On Thursday morning February 15, the summons came, and she passed away to be forever with the lord. "Death
is another life; we bow our heads As going out, methink, and enter straight Another golden chamber of the King's
Larger than this and Lovelier" The funeral services were held at the home of Mrs. Lively on Sunday morning,
with Rev. A. S. Haskins in charge. Miss Jensen, the soloist of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, sang "One
Sweetly Solem Thought" and "Nearer, My God, to Thee" The body was then taken to Cary, where services
were conducted by Rev. Geo. A. Tyler, in the little church she and her devoted husband helped to establish some
years ago. [Crystal Lake Herald, February 2, 1906 p.8. Contributed by Laurie
Selpien]