The winter of 1901-02 was a time of great anxiety and sorrow on account of the failing health and death of our first born, Gertrude.

She was born on the old farm 1 mi. north of New London, Indiana, on Feb. 20, 1886. She spent her first year in the cottage in the woods where she was born. On account of her grandpa Stout’s death we moved to live with her grandma when Gertrude was a year old. Her grandpa loved to nurse her and he succeeded in getting her to speak her first word viz: pretty (purty). She was then a close companion to her grandma Stout for over 4 years and afterwards made the remark that she wanted to be buried by Grandma’s side when she died.

Gertie was a goodly child from her birth. She was never hard to control but seemed always to choose to obey her parents rather than risk the results of disobedience. She never disobeyed her papa in her life.

It was a great trial to us to have to feed her artificially. We gave her the bottle at 4 weeks of age and she used it till 9 mos. old. She got along nicely with but one spell of sickness when she was 6 mos. old. This was serious for a time (cholera infantum) and it has always seemed to me her life was spared in answer to prayer.

She had a very bright mind to learn and never fell behind in her studies nor failed to pass from one year’s work to the next. Her first six years work in school were spent at New London.

She lived on the farm till she was 10 years old, when we moved to New London with Grandma Kenworthy, where we lived two years. At the age of 12 years she moved to Azalia, Indiana where she spent 2 happy years. She made several intimate associates here, among whom was a special friend Maggie Newsom and passed through the 7th and 8th years in common school receiving her diploma from the state in June, 1900.

In Sept. 1900 at 14 yrs of age she moved to Plainfield, Ind., her papa having accepted the pastorate of the Friends church at that place. Here she was a student of Central Academy for a year and almost one term of her sophomore year. She greatly enjoyed her schoolwork here and hoped in time to become a student of Earlham College. Her anticipations of college life were happy except for one reason, viz: she dreaded to be from home. Gertie was always a great girl for home – in moving from place to place wherever parents and sister were was home for her. She never chose to break that association and she found especially in her mamma a close companion to whom she told everything.

In the early summer of 1901 Gertie’s health began to fail. The mensis ceased June 20, and we soon applied to Dr. Cooper. She took medicine daily but still seemed to grow pale and lose some flesh. But she kept in good spirits, and started to the academy in Sept. and continued to go till the middle of November, and kept up her studies after till the close of the term, and continued to keep along with her class in Caesar till in a week of her death. She spent a week in Azalia the first of Sept. which she highly enjoyed.

In Sept. her abdomen began to be swollen and gradually increased till she couldn’t wear a corset nor make her clothes meet. About the time she quit school (Nov. 15) Drs. Carter and Cooper sent us to Dr. Drumming of Indianapolis. He examined her under chloroform and said she had ovarian tumor and set a day for us to go to the Deaconness Hospital for a surgical operation.

In a few days later she went to the hospital (her papa accompanying her) and Drs. Dumming and Davis examined her again. They said they had been mistaken and that the tumor was “phantom tumor” and so sent her home, giving us so much hope. Gertrude said she prayed all the night she was at the hospital that the knife would not have to be used.

The next several weeks were dark days of anxious waiting. She remained in much the same condition, her abdomen much swollen, but she was cheerful and hopeful nearly all the time. We asked God daily for her life and health. He did not tell us yes or no. He only bid us wait. We tried to be patient – we did trust God – but Oh! those heavy days and nights. My eyes fill with tears as I live them over again.

Gertie did not suffer very much pain – except a certain place in her side, and a disturbed condition of her heart, until on Thurs. Feb. 20 – her 16th birthday. She arose from bed feeling pain all over her abdomen. By 10 o’clock the pain grew very violent and the doctor was called during the time I was preaching Jabez Phillips’ funeral. The pain seemed unbearable and there seemed no way to relieve her except to administer morphine.

This condition continued for 3 days much the same and at times she had violent vomiting. The vomiting seemed to give partial relief for a little while.

On Sunday afternoon the pain was very severe. Dr. Cooper was with us all afternoon and we kept the hot water bottle on her bowels all the time. This finally seemed to give some relief and the pain never returned so severely.

Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 24th and 25th, Gertrude seemed a little better. She could not eat much but she didn’t suffer a great deal. On each of those days she sat up in bed and read considerably. Monday evening she talked freely and cheerfully with some members of her class in Academy, who had sent her so many nice flowers during her sickness.

On Tuesday night I sat up till 11 o’clock preparing for two funerals the next day. She seemed restless and asked me to put out the light and retire, thinking she might get some rest. But she got no rest. By 3 o’clock Wednesday morning she wakened us with very violent vomiting which continued at intervals until within an hour or two of her passing.

Wednesday morning it was very apparent that she was much worse. I told her I would stay with her all day and get the other ministers to attend the funerals. But she encouraged me to go said I “must not neglect my work.” I shall hear those words all the remainder of my life. Little did I think that would be her last day with us. I returned about 5 o’clock (also spent 1 hour with her at noon). She was glad to see me and wanted one to fan her. Her heart weakness made it difficult for her to get breath.

I suppose it was about 9 o’clock I had a long talk with her. We spoke freely about her leaving us, as she had done to Mamma earlier in the evening. She said she would be glad to live longer but if she did not all was right.

She asked me all about my day’s work, “if the mother of the baby that was buried took it hard,” and “if the young man that was buried was a Christian.” When I told her the young man left no evidence that he believed in Jesus she replied, “I am sorry to hear that.” I said “I’m afraid we’ll talk so much it will make you worse.” She replied, “No, I like to hear you talk” and said my voice sounded natural. She said she had no special message for anyone away. Said she had a few letters unanswered but if she didn’t get to answer them her correspondents would understand it.

She wrote her last letter to her cousin Almah the day she took worse Feb 20. She said she had no fear and if it was her Lord’s will she was willing to go.

About 10 o’clock she had a spell of vomiting which exhausted her very much. She continued to know everything for some time but we could see she was sicking. The last 20 or 30 minutes she sank into a sweet sleep seemingly free from pain.

Our heartbroken family – the 3 remaining – all knelt beside her bed. I held her right hand. Just before breathing her last a sweet smile came over her whole face and a deep calm seemed to possess her soul. She fell asleep in Jesus. She loved and believed in Him with all her heart. Her faith was strong yet simple and childlike. She passed away 10 min. before 12 midnight.

Gertrude had a deep religious spirit. For 4 years she was a member of the Christian Endeavor Society and never broke her pledge in the prayer meeting. I miss her power and work so much in the Endeavor. The first part of Feb. she seemed a little better and having purchased a loose-fitting coat she attended a number of sessions of our revival meeting, where her voice was often heard in praise and prayer.

The last place she went was Feb. 19 (the day before she took worse) to the church. I spoke that day from the text “Fear not little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

As I close this sketch my heart is strangely moved to follow her to Heaven. Her life was very pure. We have no doubt she is with Jesus. I want to meet her there. It is hard to get along without her. Her sympathy for me in my religious work always seemed so real and close. But God’s grace is marvelous. I thank Him for Gertrude – for those 16 beautiful, happy years. Oh! Father in Heaven! I pray none of us may miss meeting her when earth is done.

A further reference to Gertrude’s life may be found in the obituary written by Deborah Furnas and finished with her lithograph by my brother Charles.

This little sketch is written as a loving tribute to one I loved most dearly. I did not know while she was here how much I loved her. I did not always treat her right but God has forgiven me.

Written July 19, 1902, Saturday, at my study table in the room at Plainfield, Ind., where Gertrude died. Mamma and Tirzah are on a visit to Azalia.

Lewis E. Stout

P.S. The autopsy revealed Gertie’s disease to be “chronic peritonitis” (inflammation of the membrane surrounding the stomach and bowels). Her case was all a mystery to the Doctors as well as to us. No treatment she received was directed toward the real disease – it was all for a symptom of the real disease.

“Sometime, somewhere we’ll understand.” “Now we know in part, but then shall we know even as we are known.” The cause and origin of her disease is shrouded in mystery.

L.E.S.

Plainfield, Ind.
Feb. 18th, 1902

My Dear Alma;

Yours of the 30th at hand and read with much pleasure. Really I did not intend to wait quite so long as this but we have been quite busy lately and I could not find time to write until now. Our Revival Meetings have been going on for two weeks, closed last Sunday night and Mr. and Mrs. Cox, the preachers, left this morning. They were at our home nearly all the time for breakfast and supper and part of the time for dinner and when there was church twice a day for two weeks it kept us very busy. There were between four and five hundred at church Sunday night and maybe you don’t think the house was crowded.

Murray K. was at our house yesterday. He is holding a revival at Mooresville and they had no meeting on Monday so he came over to see us and we did enjoy his visit so much it was short but it was short and sweet you know.

Mr. Phelps, a member of our church, died this morning about eight o’clock after being sick almost a year. Papa and Mamma went up there about twelve o’clock and I have spent the afternoon alone. My how I wish you could have come over and stayed with me for I get so lonesome when the folks are out visiting families and such as that and Tirzah in school but I guess it is good for me.

We have not had enough snow for sleighing at all and you have had so much also a friend at Azalia has been writing about what fine sleighing and coasting they had there for a week or two. When it does snow here it melts about the next day.

I do not study any school-work only Caesar and I don’t know whether I will try the examination in that or not for it will be so hard for me unless I could recite some.

I know you must be stuck on this paper I think it would do for wrapping paper about as well as writing paper but we have it and I guess it has to be used up.

How many valentines did you get? I only got three, one valentine letter from a friend at Earlham, a valentine came through the mail that was the prettiest of all and then one was left at the door after dark and I don’t know who left it.

Uncle Lews have reached their new home before now I suppose. Where is Dora sleeping?

Guess I had better stop off here. I am feeling about like I was when I last wrote. Please tell me what <4 initials, unreadable> means.

As ever yours lovingly, Gertrude