November 25, 1880

In Whitefield township, Nov. 23, at the family residence, "Our Mother", Jerusha, 80 years, 4 months, 27 days, wife of George Burt, Sr., and mother to J. Spencer, George Jr., and Clarence E. Burt and Mrs. Cornelia Ellen Losee.
Funeral today (Thursday) at 2 pm at the family residence. Rev. J. J. Bunnell, her pastor will officiate. Interment at Sugar Grove cemetery.

The subject of this obituary sketch was "Our Mother," who departed this life on Tuesday afternoon a few moments past three o'clock. Ah! How much comes home to the bereft as he writes that ever recurring, endearing title - those memories of the past, of a mother's care, anxieties, kindly and untiring offices, and the highth and depth of a love that was so generously bestowed upon her children from their birth to her death.

Jerusha Spencer was born in the city of Hartford, Ct., June 27, 1800. She was the second of a family of 11 children, all but one of whom reached maturity and married. From Father Spencer and his wife Mary there is a family connection, quite extensive and in many respects remarkable. The first and second cousins alone number upwards of 100 by a late census. Not one of the family was ever sent to prison, while all were good citizens, and most of them members of churches. This is a proud record for any family, and especially of so great a progeny.

On May 8, 1833, she married George Burt, Sr.; a native of Lansingburg, N.Y., but at that time a leather dealer in Hartford. Five children adorned their hearthstone, four of whom survive - J. Spencer and George, Jr., of Henry, Clarence E. and Mrs. Cornelia Ellen Losee of Whitefield. Elizabeth Reeve, the third child died 20 years ago. The family came to Illinois in 1846, and for 34 1/2 years Father and Mother Burt have occupied the homestead where our good mother has been laid to rest. Great has been the changes of that 34 years. Few remain to recite the privations, hardships and inconveniences of the early settling of this section. Those that do remain are like Mother Burt has been for some time, waiting for "the golden slippers" to mount the stairs of the upper kingdom. Of these venerable in ago and endeared by ties of long association are Mrs. Richard Hunt, Mrs. Samuel Coleman, Mrs. Chauncey Hoyt, Mrs. John Locke, Mrs. F. A. Raymond, Mrs. Frances Gregory, Mrs. Richard Tremain, Mrs. L. A. Jones, Mrs. John Gregory, Mrs. Henry Clift, Mrs. David Culver, Mrs. Orsemus Culver, Mrs. John Clawson, Mrs. W. E. Cook, Mrs. Allen Ford, Mrs. Abijah Lyon, Mrs. W. H. Williams, mrs. Clara Morgan, Mrs. Riddle Taliaferro, and a number of others whose names we cannot now recall. It is blessed to reflect that they all have lived three score and more years, have discharged with womanly fidelity and honor the work of life, and are ready for the decree that shall number them in the circle of the blessed hereafter.

A blessed career has been that of our mother. She was generous to a fault. Sympathy was one of her ruling traits. She never hesitated to help the sick, to aid the poor, or to do any neighborly or kindly service. She gave much time for many years to religious meditation and was a faithful observer of the Sabbath, while by principle and example taught her children to love the Lord, respect his word and to lead holy lives. Much of their success in life is due to a mother's admonitions for temperance, fidelity to duty, for an upright life and for industry.

The western climate seemed to agree with the deceased. From a spare figure she developed into a strong, portly woman. She has had but little sickness in all these years. Blessed with good constitution, she has always had the care of her own house, and its only about three years that she has given up active domestic work, and assigned it to help. Her final sickness commenced August 5th, and from the first she was cognizant of the fact that her life's work was done, and that her end was near. Her physical powers gently relaxed, followed by a giving away of her mental powers so that in the past few weeks she has been indifferent to surrounding objects. Her last hours were peaceful, and the change quiet, as she fell into that deep sleep that knows no waking.

Father Burt, faithful in life, was her patient and constant attendant, day and night, during all her long illness, and watched with intense anxiety and trust the slowly descending sun of her who has been his bosom companion 47 years and upwards. It may be said of them, that so harmonious were their ties of mutual love, that there are no recollections of a harsh word being spoken one to the other in all these years. Thus has life at the hearthstone been peaceful, serene, joyous and blessed - a home frought with all the virtues, the hopes and felicities of devoted love in unity of life.