My Family Tree

Burial Plot: Lot N1/220, Sec 7, Grave 3.
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[Obituary]: Sep 27, 1886: Kankakee, Illinois:
——Frank Stoddard Chatfield
"His sun has gone down while yet it is day." A large and sympathizing circle of relatives and friends met on Monday afternoon to attend the funeral services of Frank S. eldest child of Wm. S. and Laura Chatfield who passed away from earth Sabbath noon after a sickness of 10 hours aged 14 years and four months. This beloved, departed one, was a youth of unusual intelligence and promise, gifted with a mind of uncommon ability, talents of a literary order, an extensive and diligent reader, he had already made a thorough and critical acquaintance with the works of many of the most popular authors of the day. A few articles published in the Truth Journal on "Dickens and Thackeray, Modern Fiction," "Victor Hugo," etc., with many unpublished manuscripts show a discriminating, and appreciative mind, mature beyond his years. In point of moral character he was affectionate and truthful, honest and upright, and chose only such characters for companions. He was reserved and unsocial with strangers, and a somewhat intimate acquaintance was necessary to draw out his amiable qualities. He invariably read from the bible before retiring for the night. The only time, for more than five years, when it was omitted, was when he lay upon the bed of death, the last night of his life. The resolutions and testimonials of his fellow students in the Commercial College read by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Upson at the funeral showed their appreciation of him, as did also their "token of love," an anchor of beautiful and fragrant flowers. Miss Shaw a former teacher, showed her esteem by a beautiful floral offering as did numerous other friends, all of which are gratefully appreciated by the bereaved parents. His last sickness, endured with patience, was short and distressing. During its continuance, he frequently said ‘'Papa I love you" or "Mamma I love you." Shortly before his death, he said "Mamma I am going to leave you, I am going to die, kiss me for good bye." Being asked, "Are you afraid to die?" He replied "No." "Are you willing?" "Yes," he answered. Retaining his consciousness to the last minute, he kissed all the family, bade them good bye, laid his hands on his breast, closed his eyes, breathed quietly a few times, and all was over. His spirit has passed into the unseen world. Consecrated to God by baptism in infancy, he was the child of many prayers and ardent hopes.
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Newspaper clipping in James Herrick Chatfield family Bible
Source: THE CHATFIELD STORY, Terry & Margaret "Peg" (Chatfield) McCarty, Georgetown, Texas, www.chatfieldstory.com

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