Obituary for Charlotte Longenecker Squire Christian

Source: Atchison County Mail. 6 March 1914.

Mrs. Charlotte E. Christian, widow of L. C. Christian who had been sick throughout the winter, for a time being near death's door and been improving so that she was considered convalescent, and her many friends were thinking that she would recover and be able to take personal charge of her affairs again, when on the 28th, she suffered a relapse and soon passed away.

Mrs. Charlotte E. Christian was born in Robinson, Illinois on July 12, 1843 and died at her home in Rock Port, Missouri on February 28th, 1914, aged 70 years, 7 months, and 10 days. Mrs. Christian's mother was a native of New York state, whose maiden name was Beckwith; her father was a Pennsylvanian named Longenecker. The Longeneckers and Beckwiths were prominent people in New York and Pennsylvania and in the East in general. Her father and mother were married in Lancaster, PA and afterwards went to Robinson, Ill. where Charlotte E. Longenecker was born.
Later they moved to Cottonwood Falls, Kansas where she grew to womanhood and was united in marriage to Mr. E. A. Squire, of Roxbury, Conn. in 1858, a prominent merchant. After their marriage, they settled in Holden, Kansas where two daughters were born- Alice A. and Harriet E. Her husband died in 1863. About the year 1867, she and her two daughters came to Rock Port, MO, where she afterwards resided continuously. On August 2nd, 1876, she was united in marriage with L. C. Christian, who died on Sept. 4th, 1910. She is survived by her daughters- Mrs. L. W. Campbell and Mrs. C. W. Halson, of Oberlin, Ohio, and an only sister, Mrs. J. E. Sparlock of Rock Port, MO.

Mrs. Christian was a member of the Presbyterian Church, having united with that Church in her girlhood and always being a consistent Christian, ever helpful, with charity for all and malice toward none. A beautiful Christian spirit was hers, the 13th Chapter of Corinthians being appropriate of her life and character. To know her was to love her and she had the respect and admiration of all and having been in business in Rock Port more than 40 years, she had a wide acquaintance and we will say, by the way, that she was a capable business woman too. She was also a prominent worker in the Order of the Eastern Star, having been an organizer in that order at one time. She was also Matron of that order in Rock Port several terms.

Considering the busy life of this lady - a life of cares and responsibilities - we think of the quotation: "Night came releasing them from labor, when a hand from out of the darkness touched them and they slept."

Funeral services were held on Sunday afternoon, at the home of the sister of the deceased - Mrs. J. E. Spurlock - friends from far and near attending. A beautiful sermon was preached by Rev. J. Jay Cokely and the Rock Port Rebekah Lodge performed the last sad rite for their beloved sister. The floral tributes were profuse and beautiful. Her remains were interred at Elmwood Cemetary, by the side of those of her father and mother.