DR. J.H. GRAVES
d. July 28, 1875
McHenry Plaindealer
Wednesday,
Aug. 11th,1875
Dr. J. H. Graves, a resident
of Crys-
tal Lake for many years, died in that
village July 28th. He has been in poor
health for the past year.
Contributed
by Mert Sarvay
MARGARET SHAVER GOODWIN
d. February 27, 1891
Crystal lake Herald, February 2, 1906
p.8.
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.
Contributed by
Laurie Selpien, May 2006