Early Friday morning the sad news of the death of Mrs. A. J. Horton, wife of Ex-Supervisor “Jack” Horton, was brought to Astoria.
The Horton home is on a farm two miles east of Astoria, and early that morning Mrs. Horton went to milk the cows while her husband fed the horses. Mr. Horton heard the cows kicking the bucket and realizing something was wrong, went to where he had left his wife. He found her in a reclining position and apparently she had fallen backward. She was probably dead when he reached her, and owing to her fleshy condition there is no doubt but that she died from heart failure. The husband called for help and as soon as possible the remains were taken to the house. Mr. and Mrs. Horton had lived in Woodland township a great many years and are among the most respected of that township. Her death caused sorrow in many homes, and relatives and friends to a great number attended the funeral that they might pay a last tribute to a noble woman. The following obituary has been prepared for us by a friend of the family for publication:
Polly Horn was born in Knox county, Ohio, May 14, 1838, and came with her parents to Fulton county, Illinois, in November 1855, settling on a farm in Woodland township, now owned and occupied by Thomas Hartley.
June 25, 1857 she was united in marriage with A. J. Horton, a native of Coshocton county, Ohio, and together they resided on the Horton homestead, adjoining that of her father, for forty-two years. This union was blest with six children, five of whom remain to comfort their father, three daughters and two sons, all of whom are married and comfortably settled in life.
Mrs. Horton united with the Christian church in early life while yet at her old home in Ohio and lived a noble christian life. She was a very enterprising, capable woman and during her husband’s absence of three years in the civil war — a part of which time he was detained as a prisoner of war — she lived on the farm alone with the two oldest children and very ably managed affairs and supported them comfortably.
While engaged in her daily duties at home on the morning of July 20, 1900, ever suddenly the messenger appeared and she who had been so good a nurse and comforter to others in sickness and sorrow for more than forty years was cared for by Him “who doeth all things well.”
Funeral services were held at the Christian church in Summum, Saturday afternoon, July 21, conducted by Rev. J. E. Diehl, of Ipava, assisted by Rev. J. W. Carpenter, of Astoria, after which the remains were laid to rest in the Sixteen cemetery, followed by an immense concourse of people.
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SUMMUM — It is with a sad heart that we write these lines, that death has stolen in when no such visitor was expected, and a kind friend, a loving mother was taken away. Polly, wife of Little Jack Horton, died of heart failure last Friday morning. She had been enjoying her usual health and while milking dropped over dead. How sad that such an obliging neighbor, a kind mother and such a loving wife to be taken away so sudden. Sister Horton was an example of a woman and ’tis useless to speak of her christian life. She was a friend to every one. A husband, two sons and three daughters are left to mourn her loss. Services were conducted at the Christian church, Saturday afternoon by the Christian ministers of Astoria and Ipava. The remains were laid to rest in the Sixteen cemetery.