July 26, 1921

MRS. MELINDA DURFEE.
Melinda Breeden, daughter of Jacob
and Sarah Lockhart Breeden, was
born near Versailles, Ind., on May 18,
1838, and died at her home in Grinnell,
Iowa, on July 24, 1921, at the age of 83
years, two months and six days.
In Oct. 1865, she with her mo-
ther and sisters, Juliette Mitchell and
Susan Thomas and Priscilla Burroughs
and families came by immigrant wa-
gons from Indiana to Hickory Grove,
in Jasper county, Iowa, where she
made her home for several years.
After her marriage to Rev. Howard
Durfee she accompanied her husband
on his travels as a pioneer minister
and missionary in some of the most
needy sections of Iowa. During that
time they both gave freely and gladly
their best in the way of service to those
coming within their assigned ter-
ritory.
Finding this work too strenuous for
her they settled permanently in their
home at Kellogg, Iowa. But as long as
her strength would permit her hospi-
tality was extended to all and especi-
ally to those interested in Christian
work. Though naturally timid she
bravely bore the loneliness and bur-
dens of home life while her husband
was away much of the time for years
engaged in doing missionary and evan-
galistic work.
In the meantime she cared for an
aged mother who spent her last years
in her home. Though never a strong
woman she cared for her husband
through long months of illness which
preceded his death. Also an aged sis-
ter received her kindly ministrations
until death claimed her, the last re-
maining member of her household.
The high ideals and consecrated
Christian spirit of her parents found
continued expression in her life since
early childhood, always contributing
as far as possible to every worthy
cause. When the affliction which
caused her death developed she con-
fided to no one of her friends her
trouble feeling that any surgical as-
sistance would at best bring only temp-
orary relief and preferred to trust
herself in the hands of Providence.
When she could no longer conceal
her affliction she accepted the care
and help of those nearest to her, and
bore her sufferings with Christian for-
titude to the end, thinking only of oth-
ers.
Her church relations were for years
with the United Brethren while her
husband served that denomination, and
later with the Free Methodist church
of which she was a member at the
time of her death.
She leaves a large number of
nephews and neices and a host of
friends to hold her in grateful mem-
ory.