DIED, – At her residence in Cincinnatus, December 25, 1896, at 12:15, a.m., Mrs. Lorinda Rorapaugh in the ninety-fifth year of her age.
She was born in Mass., Jan. 29th, 1802. Her maiden name was Hawley. After her father’s death, she came to live with her grandfather Olmstead in Smithville, Chenango Co., when nine years old. Soon after her marriage with Jeduthan Rorapaugh in 1819, they removed to Cincinnatus, in which town she has since resided. She was the mother of thirteen children five of whom survive her; she has lived to see great-great-grand-children. When our country was in jeopardy, and the call came for volunteers, she, sorrowfully, yet willingly, gave up her two youngest sons, one a youth of but seventeen summers, and sent them forth with a mother’s blessing, to battle for honor and right; and subsequently when at the battle of Gettysburg, a shell shattered the right arm of the younger, rendering amputation necessary, he was sent to the hospital at Washington, and word came that he must die, as gangrene had developed. This mother, naturally timid, unused to traveling sought the nation’s capitol, had an interview with President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton, secured his discharge, and with a mother’s love and tenderness watched over and nursed him back to health again.
She passed through all this and other troubles hard to bear, with unfailing and renewed faith and trust in her Father in Heaven. Her last years have been very happy contented ones in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Meacham, who with her husband and daughter, ministered unto her, gratified her every wish, and she died as she had lived, calmly, peacefully, like a child dropping off to sleep with a sweet smile on the dear face which no more will shine here, with that inner light and peace, “Which passeth understanding.” Her whole life has been a benediction, and as she neared the century mark, her memory never failed and she daily read the “Book” of books to her most precious. We shall miss her face as we go into her home and her words of counsel and help will long be remembered by her family and dear friends. Such a life as the one just closed is well worth the living, and as we go forth in our daily walk, we will ever remember the dear “Grandma” and her busy, helpful life will be a blessed lesson to be well learned and lived here on earth, and we pray as we go to our last home, the faith and hope in us, be as strong as hers and that we may hear as she has heard, the heavenly words “well done,” by her so well deserved.
