Memorial for Mrs. Margaret Catherine Copher (1830-1899)
Uncited clipping.
From the papers of Mary Omahundro Hutt Walker

IN MEMORIAM

Mrs. Margaret Catherine COPHER.

Someone once said that "An honest man is the noblest work of God," but I think the best of all is a noble Chrstian woman. And among all those I have known, certainly one of the best was the one whose name stands at the head of this article. It is now twenty-two years since I knew her; it was my good fortune to spend nearly a year in her home and during that time I learned to know and thoroughly appreciate this noble woman. It is with the greatest grief that I learn that she has been called away, that I shall not be permitted to see her again, in the flesh, and that only the mournful pleasure is left me of writing this brief sketch to her memory, which I consider but a feeble return indeed for the many, many acts of kindness shown to me in that long ago.

She was born in that decade of years in which the present queen of England began to reign, I think not far from where she was to pass the whole of her life. Her maiden name was WILSON and she belonged to that family of WILSON'S whose name in Lincoln county has been synonimous with all that was pure and good. In 1853 or '54, I do not remember dates well, she was married to Moses M. DUFF, a splendid man, but the happiness of that union was of a very short duration for in a little while the man whom she loved passed away, leaving her with one child, Sallie, now the beloved wife of Brother Will COPHER. In May, 1865, she married again, this time to Mr. Geo. H. COPHER, who had several children by a former marriage. Of this union two children were born; one boy, died in infancy; the other girl Liza M.COPHER, died at age fourteen.

It was during the lifetime of the daughter , a sweet and lovely child,that I knew her intimately, and one beautiful thing about her was that no one could discover by her treatment which was her child and which were her step-children. I had heard a great deal about the usual tyranny of the step-mother, but to all this Sister COPHER was a notable exception. It was a great grief to her, for her mother love was great, when her youngest, her baby died, but with Christian fortitude that was one of her strong traits, she took up life's burdens and with beautiful resignation said, "It is the Lord, let Him do that which seemeth right in His sight." She had hardly recovered from this stroke when there fell another. her husband died and her home was broken up. This was May 7, 1890, and from that time on she has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. William COPHER.

Here in the quietness of this happy home she passed the evening of her days, loved by all and loving in return in happy sweet content. Three years ago she was very badly crippled from a fall, from which she never fully recovered, being compelled to use a cane as she walked. She had not been especially ill, only compaining a little for about a week. Her loved ones were not-------all, thinking it was nothi------ On the morning of Dec----- from her bed ....[and rest is missing].

[Transcriber's Notes:

Vol 3 Lin. Co. Cem. Book page 34 Copher Cemetery
COPHER Margaret Catherine died Dec. 18, 1899 aged 69 years 7 month and 3 days
George H. Father b. Mar. 21, 1818 d. May 7, 1890
Jane E. b. Aug.14, 1821 d. Oct. 21, 1864
Thomas D. b. May 4, 1863 d. Jul.17, 1903
Eliza M. d/o Geo. H. & Catherine d. Sep. 9, 1881 aged 13 yrs. 1 mo. 15 dys.

There is an Allen and 3 Waltons buried in this cemetery. The names look as tho. at least some of them are perhaps children of the above. ]

File submitted to HERITAGE PAGES of LINCOLN COUNTY, MISSOURI by June Groshong, 26 October, 2003.

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