Mrs. Nels Johnson and Mrs.
Ralph Harris Taken But
a Few Days Apart

Side by side in the Ord Cemetery yesterday two graves received their precious charges; mother and daughter they were, Mrs. Nels Johnson and Mrs. Ralph Harris. When Rev. Davies read brief notes about each, intimate friends of the families were surprised to know that Mrs. Johnson was so young, only twenty-two years older than the daughter who was but twenty-six years of age.

Mrs. Johnson had suffered an attack of influenza earlier in the season but she supposed that she had fully recovered and it was not counted as a recurrant (sic) attack when she became sick last week. Pneumonia developed soon and the close of a beautiful life came on a beautiful spring morning, Sunday, March 30 th.

As the final summons came to the mother, in another chamber the eldest daughter, Mrs. Harris, was known to be very sick; Ralph was also ill and Wallace the son was also sick, although not serious. Miss Helen, who had been teaching at Blue Hill had been called home and she and her father carried the burden of managing the affairs of the afflicted household, with the assistance of kind neighbors, and many of the friends in town.

As soon as Mrs. Johnson passed away word was sent to Rev. P. A. Davies, formerly Presbyterian pastor of the families at Ord, but now located at Fairbury, that it would be appreciated if he could come to conduct the funeral services. In the meantime Mrs. Harris had succumbed to pneumonia and a double funeral had been arranged. Brief services were held at the county home, north-east of town, and considering the showery weather and the slippery roads there were more cars filled with mourning friends at the home than had been expected and these followed the two hearses as they wouThend their way to the cemetery.

floral offerings at the home and at the grave were unusually profuse and appropriate. Rev. Davies spoke with deep feeling as he referred to the estimable qualities of the deceased women. And spoke appreciatively of the splendid qualities possessed by the surviving members of the families. A quartet consisting of Messrs. Perryman, Wright, Petty and Detweiler sang at the cemetery.

Miss Alice Johnson was a sister of William B. Gregg. She was born on a farm near Nodaway, Iowa, April 29, 1870. At the age of eighteen years she was married to N. E. Johnson and they lived at Genoa until they came to Valley county about seventeen years ago when they purchased the farm where they have since lived with the exception of last summer when they purchased a house in Ord. Following the unfortunate accident that befell Ralph Harris they moved back to the farm. She was the mother of three children, Bethene Harris, Helen and Wallace Johnson. She is also survived by a mother, two brothers and three sisters, who were able to be at the funeral. Mrs. Johnson was active in church and club life and was a capable, broad and lovable character. Her greatest achievement was the quality of the home atmosphere with which she constantly surrounded her children. A chance visitor at the Johnson home could not fail to be impressed with the sincerity of her hearty cordiality.

Mrs. Bethene Johnson Harris was born near Genoa, November 6, 1892. She was twelve years old when the family moved to Ord and her girlhood was almost entirely spent here. Almost six years ago she was married to Ralph Harris, they having become acquainted while he was employed at the Johnson farm. Bethene was in many ways a replica of her mother, and like Mrs. Johnson gave her first and her best effort to her home. They resided at Lincoln until two years ago when they returned to Ord to manage the big Johnson farm while the parents were to live more comfortably in town. Ralph lately returned from Washington, D. C., where he was employed and joined his wife who had been living in the meantime with the parents. Contrary to the orders of his physician he attended the services at the cemetery, although scarcely able to stand following a severe attack of influenza. Ralph and the two year old son, Frederick, were particularly to be pitied as they stood beside the graves yesterday. The father was all too conscious of what it was all about but the wandering eyes of the babe seemed to study the faces of those about him for an answer to the feeling of mystery that he could not fathom. Ralph's father, F. M. Harris, had arrived from Kansas in time to attend the funeral and will afford great comfort to the sorrowing young father.

Seldom has the hand of death been laid more heavliy (sic) upon a family in this community. As before, it seems that the recent attack of influenza has chosen for its victims those who can least be spared.

There may be this consolation pointed out to the mourning survivors, that the people of the community generally feel the deepest sense of loss along with them. Church associates, lodge members and fellow members of clubs were generous in their offers of assistance and attended the funeral with the purpose of offering such consolation as possible to the relatives who suffered the deepest sense of grief and loss.

Record	Events	Title	Source Website	Type	Created
Obit: Mother & Daughter Die			Forces War Records	Image	21 May 2007
johnson_loss.jpg			Forces War Records	Image	21 May 2007

"Mother and Daughter Die"

Source Documents