Mrs. Margaret Rae Notman, who was beloved by all the residents of Ipava and vicinity, passed away at her home on South street Monday, May 24, after an illness of some eight weeks, aged 75 years, 5 months and 8 days.
Margaret Rae was born in Borroble, Sutherlandshire, Scotland on Dec. 16, 1844. She grew to womanhood in her native land and, in her younger days, like David of old, cared for her father’s flock, he being a shepherd. She could relate many interesting experiences of those early days and of the manner and customs, family, social and religious life of the sturdy Scots. One of the events of her childhood was a trip to Dunrobin Castle to see the queen on a gala day. Though she left her sheep on the hills to make the journey and it required three days work to gather up the scattered flock, she felt well repaid for the effort. On May 30, 1867, she was united in marriage to Walter Notman, of Kimbrace, Scotland and here they lived for a few years and two children were born to them. They came to the United States in 1872 and settled in Chicago, where they witnessed the great Chicago fire of that year. They went to Bloomington, and [text is missing … assume it may have said “the two children who were”] born in Scotland, died of measles. They then moved to Rich Hill, Mo., where they lived for a time. They came to Ipava, in 1886 where Mr. Notman continued to follow his occupation as a miner for a number of years. Later he went west for the benefit of his health and was overcome by gas and died in a mine at Walsenburg, Colorado in April, 1907.
To Mr. and Mrs. Notman were born seven children, May and James, who died in Bloomington, Mrs. Anna Bader of Astoria, Robert, of Peoria, Mrs. Margaret Lee, of Ipava, Walter, who died in Granby, Col., July 17, 1912, Thomas J. of Astoria. There are also ten grandchildren.
Mrs. Notman was a jovial, happy woman, who had suffered much, but knew how to make the best of troubles. She was loyal member of the Presbyterian church and was a faithful attendant as long as she was able to walk. She had a fund of remembrances of her life in Scotland and always had a pleased audience when she related her experiences. She was an ideal mother. Her life was devoted to her children who will miss her from the family circle. She rests well after a long life of toil and struggles and a fitting epitaph would be, “she hath done what she could.”
The funeral was held in the Ipava Presbyterian church on Thursday afternoon at 3 o’clock, conducted by the Rev. J. T. Sullivan of Lewistown.
Mrs. Notman, had visited often at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Glen Bader in Astoria and was known and loved by all those who had made her acquaintance here.
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Mrs. Knotman aged 77 years, mother of Mrs. Glen Bader and Thomas Knotman of this city, died Monday morning at 9:30 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Cora Lee in Ipava.
The funeral was held at 3 o’clock Tuesday at Ipava.