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Submitted: 9/19/12 • Approved: 9/21/12 • Last Updated: 9/24/12 • R758083-G0-S3
March 9, 1888 - January 17, 1912
*Obituary
The Springdale News
Friday, January 26, 1912
McFARLAND, Samuel Gehen - Samuel Gehen McFarland was born March 9, 1888 and died Jan. 17, 1912, being 23 years, 10 months and 8 days old. Ordinarily we would mourn at the departure of one so young but we marvel rather at his life than at his death for in this brief period he had the experience of an ordinary man of seventy years. Before he had really reached the age of manhood he went west for his health. There he grew into manhood and grew well and strong at the same time. As he threw himself into the whirl of life on the western prairies he caught the spirit of optimism, so prevalent in that new and growing country. It seemed to him and his friends that there was a long life and bright future ahead of him. So, as any other young man with limited means would have done, he availed himself of the opportunity of the plains. He took up a plat of land. But feeling the need of money to improve his possessions and believing his strength to be sufficient for the task he went to the railroad to work. Within a few months his health had again failed and he started down the western slope. It was not long then until he was forced to return to his old home where he spent a little more than two years in his second childhood, as truly so as any octogenarian. About 14 months ago he surrendered his life to Him who said, "Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." It was my privilege as his pastor to visit him often during the last eight weeks of his life and I was profoundly impressed with the spirit of calm and trustful resignation with which he faced the future. During his months of helplessness he did not mourn or grow peevish. He was conscious to the end. He was not only willing but anxious to go. A.L. Cline.
Contributed on 9/19/12 by wfields55
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Record #: 758083