Henry Joseph Foster
FOSTER, BAILEY, BLANCHARD
Posted By: CJeanealogy (email)
Date: 2/5/2018 at 13:45:14
The Marion Register Wednesday June 28, 1899
The Late Henry Foster.
The Funeral services for the late Henry J. Foster were held at the family residence, on 5th ave. in this city at 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 28th, and were conducted by Rev. F.W. Luce, Pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church. The sermon was from Hebrews, 2-10 Preceeding[sic] the sermon, Mr. Luce read the following tribute to the memory of the deceased. HENRY JOSEPH FOSTER, was born in Lyons Iowa, forty nine years ago the seventh day of next October. The place of his birth was the place of his residence until he came to Marion with his widowed mother, about sixteen years ago. Here he has remained until last Sunday night at 10-45 after a long and very painful illness, he exchanged worlds.
When a child about 12 years of age he suffered a sever attack of spinal fever, and as a result a slowly creeping paralysis fastened itself upon him. So gradual was the tightening of the grasp of the relentless disease that its increase of power could not be seen day by day, or even month by month, but only year by year. But gradually his sufferings increased, he lost the use of his limbs, then the use of his hands, and for several years has been helpless, and a constant sufferer.
When he was a boy fifteen years of age he was converted and united with the Methodist Episcopal church. During his long and painful illness, he has shown a calm patience and resignation that was marvelous and charming. Dispair[sic] never seemed to get control of his mind and heart, but with hope for the future, born of a faith in God, he made the best of his opportunities, and used his sufferings as a means of developement[sic] and culture of character.
He began some two years of more ago, to practice writing by holding a pen in his teeth. At first it was a difficult task for him to make an inteligible[sic] mark, but by constant and patient practice he became so proticient[sic] that his writing was clear and the letters symetrically[sic] formed as those made by a careful penman.
Something over a year ago he began writing poetry. And has written something over three hundred closely written pages of poems on various subjects, some of which would do credit to a master in the art. These literary productions not only show the talent of a poet, but they breathe the cheerful spirit of the author.
He was very fond of his mother who has been his constant companion during his illness, and in honor of her seventy-fifth birth day wrote a poem commemorating the occasion.
He knew he must go to the other world, as he saw death creeping upon him day by day, and though he talked little about his departure, he was calmly resigned to the change to a world where his enchained soul would have free and untrameled victory.
He has gone to that land, where "sickness sorrow pain and death are felt and feared no more." Where two sisters and one brother and his father awaited his coming. He leaves to mourn their loss, but to be comforted in their sorrow by his gain, his mother, Mrs. H.R. Foster, and two sisters: Mrs. Laura A. Bailey of this city, and Mrs. Hattie Blanchard of Boon[sic] Iowa.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11007801
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