USA > Indiana > Memorial and genealogical record of Representative Citizens of Indiana > Part 7
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Soon after the breaking out of the Civil war Doctor Winans enlisted as a surgeon in the army, from which he received an hon- orable discharge on account of illness. In the spring of 1862 he moved his family to Muncie, Indiana, and established his home on the same lot, No. 116 Adams street, where the old Winans home stands today. In the fall, October 21, 1862, the daughter, now Mary Winans Spilker, was born. Here she grew to young womanhood and after her marriage continued to live near her mother.
Doctor Winans died October 17, 1884, after a protracted illness. In 1899 Mrs. Spilker came to live again with her widowed mother in the old family residence where she lives today. To her the old home is a hallowed spot, full of happy recollections of her childhood days, and sacred memories of later years when it be-
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. ame her blessed privilege to live with mother once more. These arte years of precious companionship for mother and daughter. the writer knew them intimately all these years, and could not ful to see the tender solicitude each expressed for the other. They ermed to he singularly bound together; one life was the comple- pornt of the other. So they lived and studied and worked together. Iwy listened to the call of distress, and together they gave of their worldly means for its relief. Together they entertained their friends and dispensed a cordial hospitality of which many norr glad to take advantage. The library was a favorite room, with its cheery fire and comfortable easy chairs on either side the large table which was always filled with choice books, and one lingered long to chat with this gifted woman, who shed so much light over the pathway of all who chanced her way. Mrs. Winans had a dignified bearing, a sweet motherly face and so cordial a handelasp that she won the heart at once. Her very presence Idinted sunshine and good cheer. A student all her life, she «jent many happy hours with the books she loved. If a dis- ronrnged friend called, she always had a comforting word and a helpful book to loan them. Frequently she had little verses of helpful thought printed on cards and gave them to any she felt might be helped by them. Her mind was a rich storehouse filled with treasures, which she freely dispensed to comfort the sorrow- mg, strengthen the weak, and renew hope in the weary ones of Ifv. Her friends regarded it as a rare privilege to spend an even- ung with this noble woman whose ripened years sat so lightly upon her. She never knew what it was to retire from life's activities or whun any of its responsibilities. To the very end she kept her place in the front rank in the battle of life. In church, Sunday erhool, prayer meeting, elubs, D. A. R. social functions and other publie gatherings, mother and daughter were familiar figures to the last.
Mrs. Winans' life had unfolded like a beautiful flower; full of promise in her girlhood days, in the fullness of time it had burst into bloom, scattering its fragrance into the lives of those around her. Into her life had come many of the experiences common to the lot of mankind. The pathway had led her over many rough places and through trying ordeals which had only strengthened the beauty of her character and broadened her sympathies. Under the most trying circumstances, her quiet demeanor spoke of the confidener that came from a trust in a higher power. Joy and
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sorrow, pleasure and pain had been sipped from life's chalice and left her sweet and pure, trustful and hopeful.
The close personal acquaintance of the writer with Mrs. Winans warns her that she would wish her to be brief, that no eulogy be pronounced over her. It is true that there is not much out of the ordinary to be said concerning the life of the average woman. But in every city or town there are some whose work has been so important, and whose influence has been so great that the record of their lives becomes a matter of community history and should be preserved for posterity. Such an one was the sub- ject of these memoirs, and we recount the deeds of this woman who was wife, mother and home-maker first of all, and for this very reason had not confined her work to the boundaries of the home, but had found the opportunity and inclination to extend her field of usefulness into the world around her, and had become an integral part of the best things that made up the whole of the community life. The results from kindly deeds and noble aets are as far reaching as Time itself. As the afterglow from the setting sun gives but a faint conception of its glories at noonday, so the memories of a well-spent life reflect but a passing glimpse of the beauty of a life which was hid with Christ.
A consistent member of the Presbyterian church, the record of Mrs. Winans' church life in Muncie covers a period of more than forty-six years of active service. Absence from the city or ser- ious illness were the only causes that ever prevented her from at- tending the usual means of grace. At the regular church services, both morning and evening, her place was rarely vacant.
At the weekly prayer service, publie worship and Sunday school she was always found in her place, even up to the last week of her life she attended all of these services, and was the first at Sunday school on Sabbath morning to greet her class of young boys. She was unusually successful as a worker with boys and young men, teaching one class after another throughout the years, and helped to organize the King's Sons, meeting with them at four o'clock every Sunday afternoon for years. One of the sweet- est lessons in her departure was the tribute paid by her class of young boys. Quietly and with bowed heads they came to her door carrying flowers, which they placed at her feet as their of- fering of love. Almost eighty years of age and still so useful in the Master's vineyard that she could win and hold a class of young boys! She had learned the secret of growing old gracefully, by
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Looping in constant touch with the young life around her. Her mtluence had led many a young man to give his heart to God. The twa prayer services following her death were turned into memor- ud services. Many were eager for the opportunity to tell what her influence had meant in the moulding of their lives. Among them Mr. L. A. Guthrie, the mayor of the city, spoke very ten- derly of her helpfulness to him in his young manhood.
ller church work did not end with the Sunday school. She was always an active worker in the Missionary Society, and found time to serve as president of the Ladies' Aid Society from October 29, 1897, to October 27, 1898. Her pastor, Rev. B. F. Nyce, said of her: "The secret of her sweet life was that she always placed the first, first, and her first was her Master through all the years of her life. We all hope to meet this lovely tender spirit in that glad morning-meet her still young."
She was a prominent member of the Woman's Club since 1876, the year of its organization, and was most gracefully filling the office of president emeritus at the time of her death. She was also vice-president of the Monday Afternoon Chib, which organi- zation she had previously served as president for two terms of one year each. Her home was frequently opened to the regular meet- ings and anniversary banquets of these clubs. She came very carly to the club meetings and greeted each newcomer with a warm handelasp and a cheery word. The timid member reading her first paper, saw her sitting with hands crossed, listening atten- tively, and was rewarded by her words of praise at the close. Sometimes she made the heart beat more quickly by her approv- ing smile, and when she asked to take the paper home to read again, there came the thought that there had really been done something worth while.
It was by such acts as these that she endeared herself to all and inspired many a woman to study and research who had felt that the time for such things had long since gone by. She herself was a splendid example of her own gospel of knowledge. At the age of fifty-four she took up the regular four-years Chautauqua course, completing it ereditably and passing through the "Golden Gate" with the class of 1892. Not content with this, she began the study of the French language, and with Mrs. Carolyn McCulloch, a close personal friend, translated several French books.
She was an honored member of the Daughters of the Ameri- ran Revolution, and served as regent for one year. She had been
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elected chaplain for life and was faithfully fulfilling the duties of this office at the time of her demise.
Mrs. Winans was actively identified with every humanitarian work in her home city. Her words of encouragement were always accompanied with financial support. She was the first to promote the Free Kindergarten, one of the most potent factors for good ever inaugurated in Muncie. It stands today as a living monu- ment to the forethought of this good woman. From one school it has grown into three and has brought joy and sunshine into the lives of hundreds of little children. Mrs. Winans was a member of the Free Kindergarten board for years, served as its president, and lastly, was elected as an honorary member for life.
In this brief summary of her life's activities, one catches but a brief glimpse of the place she filled, and the influence she had in the life of the community. Charitable and kind, she never lost an opportunity to say a helpful word to all with whom she came in contact. The man who drove her carriage, the waitress at the table, all who have in any way ministered unto her, speak of the goodness of heart, and encouraging words of this noble-hearted woman. She lived a life of exalted purpose, the value of which cannot be estimated. Her death caused a feeling of sadness throughout the city, and on every side were heard expressions of profound respeet and deep regret.
On the Monday following, the members of the Woman's Club, Monday Afternoon Club, and Daughters of the American Revolu- tion united in a joint memorial meeting, the like of which had never been seen in the city of Muncie. The death of no other citizen had ever ealled forth such a demonstration.
The large assembly hall of the Commercial Club was filled with men and women who came to do honor to the memory of this good woman. Mrs. Nellie M. Stouder, president of the Woman's Club, presided over the meeting. With her on the platform were Mrs. W. A. Meeks, president of the Monday Afternoon Club, and Mrs. J. A. Heinsohn, regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The impressive service began with an invocation by Rev. B. F. Nyce, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, fol- lowed by Miss Klarissa Koons singing, "One Sweetly Solemn Thought." The presiding officer said: "Sorrow is the one touch of nature that makes all the world akin," and that "this bond of sympathy had brought the members of these organizations to- gether to pay their tribute of love and honor to an esteemed
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friend." Mrs. W. W. Shirk and Mrs. E. S. L. Thompson spoke for the Monday Afternoon Club. The Woman's Club was repre- sented by Mrs. J. V. H. Koons and Mrs. Arthur Smith; the Dangh- ters of the American Revolution by Mrs. W. C. Ball, Mrs. Martha Ivins, Mrs. JJ. D. Moek and Miss Emma B. Goodin.
Excerpts from the beautiful tributes paid to her memory by these admiring friends, showed the high regard they had for her, and the great loss these organizations had sustained.
Mrs. W. W. Shirk: "Since early childhood I have known and admired Mrs. Winans for her sterling worth and beautiful character. Her charming personality, gentleness of manner, cheerfulness of disposition, earnestness of purpose, ever striving after the better things of life, have greatly endeared her to us all. I became a member of the Woman's Club in the third year of its history, and well remember the club anniversaries held in her home. I was present at the annual banquet of our Monday After- noon Club which was held in her home just three weeks before her death. What a blessed sweet memory that evening will be to all who were present. Eight weeks ago today she performed her last literary duty in the Monday Afternoon Club, when she read a paper on 'The Palace of Versailles.'
" 'Such sweet communion had been ours, We prayed that it might never end. Our prayer is more than answered now-
We have an angel for our friend.' "
Mrs. E. S. L. Thompson: "Our warm-hearted helpful friend, whose large heart was full of desires and affections, was always awakening new music in the scale of life. What impressed us most was that she created a new atmosphere wherever she went. How beautiful was her good-night on earth and her good-morning in heaven.
"The secret of our friend's happy and useful life was not to "ling to the earth earthy, but to the heaven heavenly. Into the mosaie of her life was woven all the touch she had with books, nature and human kind.
"The shock of her death was relieved by the manner of it. She 'wrapped the drapery of her conch about her and lay down to pleasant dreams.' She awoke to walk the God-lit hills of eter- nity."
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Mrs. J. V. H. Koons:
IN MEMORIAM.
"Waiting in the evening twilight, Patient, hopeful, brave and true, Softly came her loved ones' voices Calling her beyond the blue. When the rose is shorn, its petals Linger full of sweet perfume, Thus abide endearing mem'ries Hallowing the present gloom. For our selfish selves we sorrow Bowed in anguish at our loss; Let's be glad: Heaven's crown of glory Robs of pain earth's every cross. Through a vision of carnations, Roses, lilies, loved erewhile By the heart that sleeps beneath them, Sweetly shines her winning smile. Essence of the gentle spirit That with childlike power could hold All our hearts most willing captives In its love-encircling fold. She is in the light-be happy, Grieve her not with fears or tears.
Gild with love-light every pathway Leading down the vale of years. She is in the light, be trustful; Wait, the Comforter will come. We shall greet her in the morning Where no lips with grief are dumb."
Mrs. J. D. Mock :
"A virtuous woman we read in God's Book Is far above rubies, and when we looked On the face of our friend we saw written there The beauty of virtue beyond compare."
Mrs. Martha Ivins: "While building bridges into the past, yesterday, I was led far, far into the past, to where three children
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were at play. A woman's face, a vision, appeared to us asking after two little boys. I hope my sister replied to her for I was too much dazed by her beauty to make reply. That beautiful face has appeared in my fairy stories, in my day dreams, and girlish imaginings, and if I were a Raphael, I would not paint the Italian face, or a Marillo, I would not paint a Spanish face, but I would paint the face of our own friend for the Madonna.
"It was my good fortune to live near this good woman again when a young girl, and her passing to and from church with her little daughter by her side, was a benediction in itself.
"My latest association with her was in the chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. At almost the first ineet- ing which I attended, she asked me to help her elect a certain mem- ber to be chaplain; I promised to do so, but failed to keep my word because some one moved to make Mrs. Winans chaplain for life, and I voted 'yes.'
"During the preparations for our state convention she was more enthusiastic than many younger women, and when echoes of praise came to us from our departing guests, she was as happy as any one to hear them. One week ago last Saturday, when, in the beautiful home of Mrs. Van Nuys, she read the collect, the sun kissed her silvered hair and put a blush upon her cheek, making so beautiful a picture that I thought, who, but she, could so well exhort us to greater loyalty to our country, greater love for our flag, and greater faith in God."
Mrs. W. C. Ball: "A beautiful human flower crossed my path one day. So sweet was the fragrance of her life, so brave her spirit on its battle fields, I stood enchanted with her worth; and when as time sped on, I found her hand outstretched to me in friendship, I gladly clasped it, and she held it close and warm for many a month which lengthened into years.
"And as we, whom she called her friends, walked with her the changing paths of life we wondered at her 'peace that passeth understanding;' her love that 'knew no dissimulation,' always «leaving to that which was good, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. We found her distributing to the necessity of the saints, given to hospitality. We found her rejoicing with them that re- joiced, and weeping with those who wept.
"Like the Pilgrim's little flower-the arbutus-she was pure and sweet; but she was more, for she had found her Lord and in
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her daily converse and walk with Him had come to be like Him in her life of love and service.
"A descendant of those strong and dauntless men and women of those old days, her spirit, like theirs, was strong in love of country and its freedom, and as a Daughter of the American Revo- lution, we held her a dear and honored member of our order, for her sympathy was so keen and far reaching, her comprehension of its characteristics so broad, and her efforts in its behalf so un- tiring, that her vacant chair will mean much to us. Tho' not in our midst she is still helping us from another sphere."
Mrs. Arthur Smith: "It is a fitting tribute and a sweet privi- lege that we, the members of these chosen organizations, can unite in devoting this hour to the memory of Mrs. Arrabella Winans, one who was worthy of our highest honors and whose life and labors have inexpressibly endeared her to us all. So close was the personal touch with her large acquaintance, and so felt the im- pulses of her helpfulness and Christian love that each says to each, 'I had a friend.' So suddenly and so lately has come the separa- tion, that the eyes still glisten with tears, and the heart throbs with the sorrow of our loss, and beyond that with sincere sym- pathy for the beloved daughter whose companionship blessed so many years of her life. Already, too, we are conscious of the in- fluence of her joy and sweet content with life and its ministeries which must prompt us to reach towards the same hope for the triumph of the good which was hers.
"What of the forty-six years she dwelt among us? It would take as many chapters as years to tell of the loveliness of char- acter and gentleness of spirit as exhibited in her home, among her friends and amid the world's activities. With an intelligent mind, refined nature and largeness of heart and soul, she exemplified in every-day life her strong faith in Christianity, and it was for the doing of many little things in her own sweet way that we loved hier most. A part of the atmosphere at home was the hospitality we have felt alike; her books, whose treasures were always shared with others-the Bible most of all. Then, who has not been lov- ingly directed to Mrs. H. W. Smith's 'The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life,' 'for,' she said, 'it has been such a strength to ine and I fly to it so often that while I cannot do without mine, we always keep a fresh copy on our table for our friends.' So it was with the music of her earlier years, the flowers always near her and the gifts from an open hand. To her friends she brought the sweet presence, the happy face, the cheery words, the kind sym-
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pathy and love, therefore a welcome awaited her in social circles, whose obligations she entered into with joyous enthusiasm, yet, without for a moment shifting the steady viewpoint from which religion and her church held highest place in all human concerns. An early memory tells of a child watching for her coming on a Sabbath morning into the church she loved, 'because she always came, and because she always looked so nice.'
"In 1876 the club movement was started in Muncie and at once gained her favor as shown in the list of charter members of the Woman's Club. To this club she gave intelligence, enthu- siasm and efficiency. The doors of her home were often open for our meetings and anniversaries. She served us as president and up to the time of the twenty-fifth anniversary year was actively interested. How well we remember this celebration when none rejoiced more over the victories of the Woman's Club than Mrs. Winans. About that time she felt that owing to evening meetings her attendance must be uncertain and, unwilling to deprive her- self of such advantages, she became a member of the Monday Af- ternoon Club, where she found much enjoyment. Her member- ship, however, remained with the first named elub, and in 1904 at a memorial meeting she graciously accepted the place of president emeritus and so happily has she borne this honor that we have felt what a member expressed when she said, 'She was a benedic- tion whenever she was present, and it always did me good just to see her, although I wanted to throw my arms about her.'
"The Woman's Club will lose a precious name from the roll to place it upon memory's wall, where it will stand to remind us of a radiant example of rare usefulness and sweet devotion with whom no selfish motive ever found lodgment."
Miss Emma B. Goodin: "Her life could be expressed by three words, inspiration, benediction and beneficence. Inspiration, be- cause her intellectual life kept moving on; benediction, because she had a word of commendation for all; beneficence, because she kept reaching out to help others."
With words of praise and thanksgiving, for this beautiful life, Rev. G. I. Keirn pronouneed the benediction.
Her life's story is ended, but the influence growing out of that life will never end. Its fragrance will linger long in the hearts of her friends. Like the broken vase, the scent of the roses will eling to it still.
Mrs. Zula M. Valentine,
Muncie, Indiana, June 15, 1912.
SYLVESTER JOHNSON.
Over ninety years have dissolved in the mists of time, em- bracing the major part of the most remarkable century in all the history of the race of mankind, since the honored and venerable subject of this sketch first saw the light of day. Heaven has bounteously lengthened out his life until he has seen the crown- ing glory of this the most wonderful epoch of all the aeons of time, rewarding him with an unusual span of years as a result of virtuous and consistent living in his youth and years of his active manhood, until now, in the golden Indian summer of his life, surrounded by comfort and plenty as a result of his earlier years of industry and frugality, Mr. Johnson can take a retrospec- tive glance down the corridors of the relentless and irrevocable past and feel that his has been an eminently useful, successful and happy life, a life which has not been devoid of obstacles and whose rose has held many a thorn, but with indomitable courage he pressed onward with his face set in determination toward the distant goal which he has so grandly won; a life of sunshine and shadow, of victory and defeat, according to the common lot of humanity since the world began, but nobly lived and worthily re- warded, as such lives always are by the Giver of all good and precious gifts, who has given Mr. Johnson the longest span of years of any of his contemporaries, a great gift, indeed, of which he is duly grateful. Mr. Johnson is the founder of Irvington, the beautiful suburb of Indianapolis, where more than forty years of his life have been spent, and his long residence in the community has won for him a very high place in the confidence and esteem of his many acquaintances and friends. He has always been deeply interested in whatever tended to promote the prosperity of his chosen town and county and to him as much as to any other man, if not more, is the community indebted for the material de- velopment for which it has long been noted. He has also used his influence for all moral and benevolent enterprises, being a friend and a liberal patron of the church, which he believes to be the most potential factor for substantial good the world has ever known or will ever know; he has also been an earnest worker in
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the cause of temperance, and he merits in every respect the high esteem in which he is universally held.
Sylvester Johnson was born January 31, 1822, in Union county, Indiana, three miles southeast of Liberty. He is the son of Pleasant and Sarah (Huddleston) Johnson, the father a native of Virginia and the mother of North Carolina, each representing fine old Southern families. Pleasant Johnson devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, and he moved with his family to the vicinity of Dublin, Wayne county, when his son Sylvester was fifteen years old, and there established the family home. The father's death occurred in 1873, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1866. They were typical pioneers, hard-working, honest and their hospitality was proverbial. They were Quakers, and the subject is a Quaker by birthright.
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