Newspaper, Barry, Illinois, October 1896
Miss Amelia Mattox was born in Clermont county, Ohio, July 22, 1814, and died in Astoria, Ill. Oct. 2, 1896.
She was married to Henry Bonnell, October, 1834, and shared with him for almost 36 years life’s sorrows and joys. They moved from Ohio to Griggsville, Ill., in 1850, and Mr. Bonnell died in that city in 1870.
Mr. and Mrs. Bonnell were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are now living – Dr. William of Astoria, Ill.; Rev. Thomas, of Taylorville, Ill.; Rev. Joseph G., of Harrisburg, Ill.; Albert, of Chicago, Ill.; Mrs. Helen Smith, Mrs. Margaret Watson and Miss Kate Bonnell, of Barry, Ill., and Mrs. Belle Farwell, of Astoria, Ill.
Mrs. Bonnell was converted when quite young in Ohio, and for more than sixty years was a member of the Methodist church and a devoted Christian. She could say, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord,” for she delighted to attend the Sunday School, the class meeting and the preaching services.
After spending more than sixty years very pleasantly in the service of Christ here, Sister Bonnell has been taken to her reward, and in her heavenly home with loved ones she will have the privelege of spending eternity in His service. Christ said to her, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joys of thy Lofd.”
“Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
Mrs. Bonnell was buried at Griggsville, Ill., and her funeral services were held in the Methodist church at that place, Sunday afternoon, Oct. 4, 1896. All of her children and a large company of relatives and friends attended the services. As Sister Bonnell’s home was in Barry, and she was a member of the Methodist church in that place at the time of her death, her pastor, Rev. W.N. Rutledge, had charge of the funeral services, and preached from Psalm 116:15 – “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”
Dr. Horace Reed, her presiding elder, and Rev. A. C. Armentrout and Rev. R. L. Steed assisted in the services.
W.N. RUTLEDGE