This post was contributed to the Crawford County Chapter of OGS by Kristina Stearley as part of the Florence Siefert Scrapbook in 2010.
The scrapbook is compiled from undated, unidentified newspaper clippings involving events in the lives of Crawford County citizens living in or having connections to New Washington, Tiro, Shelby, Sulphur Springs, Chatfield, Bucyrus, Ashland, Mansfield, and other areas. Only minimal spelling or punctuation corrections were made. Unreadable areas are shown by underlines, dots &/or question marks. This collection has been scanned, “optical character recognized” (OCR’d), proofed, then coded for HTML by volunteers of the Crawford County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. Since the copies are not of the best quality errors may have been made. Please contact us if you find corrections needing to be made or can verify any missing dates which could be added.
FLORENCE LYDIA, daughter of J. F. and Ida M. Kimerline, was born at New Washington Ohio, Feb. 2, 1883, was baptized by Rev I. Beebe, Oct. 24, 1884 died March 19, 1899, aged 7 yrs., 4 mo., 2 da.
CLIFFORD DALE, son of J. F. and Ida M. Kimerline was born at New Washington, Ohio June 8 1884, was baptized by Rev. I. Beebe Oct. 24, 1884, died, March 20, 1890, aged 5 yrs., 9 mo. 12 da.
In the death of Florence and Dale, not only the bereft household feel a great loss, but the community also. They were bright and intelligent children. They possessed religious intelligence even beyond their years. They would at times talk of heaven as though it were a familiar place to them. During her illness, Florence on one occasion, began to utter her prayer at midnight. They were both praying children. They have gone out of the walks of life; gone out of their pleasant earthly home, and we shall never more in this life be blest with their beautiful living forms and sweet presence! Death has destroyed their physical organization but Christ hath abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Death has no sting, and the grave has no victory; it only holds the caskets that once contained the jewels. Death was only the gateway through which their spirits ascended to God. They now share fully in the glorified bliss of heaven. Their companions are the Angels, and the vast armies of sweet children that have gone to climes celestial; and are in full possession of eternal life Their removal from all uncertainty, sickness, pain, sorrow, change and evil, and the place they occupy in heaven, the grand capacities and possibilities of life opened to them, afford the afflicted parents much consolation, and remove the anguish from their early departure. Clad in garments whiter than snow, they sing with sweeter voice than has e’er been, heard on earth, and bear a vocal part in that grand symphony of heaven: “Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” The funeral service was held at the house, and their remains were laid away side by side in one grave in the New Washington cemetery.
–S. Z. KAUFFMAN
A LETTER OF CONDOLENCE.
New Washington O.
DEAR BROTHER AND SISTER: With profound sorrow we learned of the death of your dear children, Flossie and Dale. Our hearts are full of sorrow for you in your great affliction. We realize fully how cold all words of sympathy are to the bereaved heart; yet we cannot refrain from offering our most sincere and heartfelt sympathy. A house of joy and happiness has been transformed into one of sorrow and mourning. You do not mourn alone. The school and community mourn with you. There is joy in knowing that you have two little angels in Heaven, who call you papa and mamma. Your darlings have returned to the God who gave them, pure, and untainted by the world’s temptations and sins. May God bless and comfort you! With feelings of the deepest sympathy, as teachers, we remain Yours very sincerely,
AMANDA HIGH
LOUISA KIBLER
F. H.. FLICKINGER
O. F. LAUGHBAUM
RESOLUTIONS LITERARY SOCIETY AND SCHOOL.
March 20, 1890
Whereas, It has been the pleasure of Almighty God to remove from our society and school on March 19, 1890, one of its brightest young members in the person of little Flossie Kimerline, therefore be it
Resolved, That we, as members of the Excelsior literary society, though humbly bowing to the Will of the Maker, express our deepest regret and extreme sorrow in the loss of our dear member, who was highly esteemed for her modest and kind disposition to others,
Resolved, That we extend our warmest sympathy to the bereft family in this their sad and double affliction. Conscious of the extreme grief which they endure over the loss of a bright and obedient daughter, we can speak no greater words of condolence than that He who doeth all things for the best, will guide and comfort them,
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented to the bereaved family, that they shall be recorded in the journal of this Society and that the same be published in the New Washington HERALD.
Committee – AMANDA HIGH
FAIRY SCOTT
NELLIE POWERS
M. E. SABBATH SCHOOL
Inasmuch as it has pleased Almighty God to remove from our Sabbath School and midst, a dear pupil and loving associate, Flossie Kimerline, to the home above, therefore be it
Resolved, That, though we humbly submit to the divine Will, we nevertheless, deeply feel the great loss of a dear associate, a faithful little worker and a true christian friend, in her early departure; while we rejoice in the spirit she has received the reward of a true believer in Jesus above, we nevertheless mourn her loss with profoundest sorrow,
Resolved, That we assure the bereaved family of our heartfelt sympathy; that they be furnished with a copy of these resolutions, that the same shall be recorded in the Secretary’s book of the M. E. S. S. and be published in the HERALD.
Committee – AMANDA HIGH
ADDIE GUTHRIE
J. I. MAHON
On the day of the funeral of Flossie and Dale the schools were closed out of respect to Supt. Kimerline. The building was appropriately draped and the bell tolled as the procession, including several departments of the school, advanced to the cemetery. Many beautiful floral tributes were presented by sympathizing friends. This Friday, memorial exercises are being held by the schools in honor of Flossie. In loving remembrance will we cherish Flossie and Dale.
