Mary Bond Duncan
1843-Oct. 18, 1887
Niles Republican, Thursday, October 20, 1900, page 5, col. 2, from Niles Daily Star, microfilm Niles District Library
OBITUARY
Died, at her home in this city, Oct. 18, 1887, Mrs. Mary Bond Duncan, aged 44 years.
The unexpected tidings of this death of this lady, so dearly beloved by a large number of appreciative friends in this city and throughout the state, will be read through blinding tears. But yesterday she was the radient centre, the life and soul of a loving circle, to-day, while on every side are displayed reminders of her thoughtful care and tender love, she has passed from the sight of loved ones; only the echo of her cheery words salute us as we linger sadly among the scenes she loved so well, but her voice is silenced forever, and the once happy home is desolate. The sisters who shared her loved and companionship listen in vain to catch the sound of her lithesome step. The mother, bending under the accumulated sorrows of four score years, feels that the staff upon which she has so securely leaned is broken. The bereft husband--but no, we may not if we could, speak of his loss. No words, however tender, no language, however soothing, can staunch his bleeding heart. As loving friends we may weave a garland of immortelles to place over the pulseless heart, and strew choice flowers about her casket. These tokens of love bring a slight relief to our sorrow, but even the tenderest words of affection and love sound harsh to such a stricken soul. Only he who brought joy and gladness to the mourning sisters of Bethany can speak peace and comfort to his stricken heart.
Mary Bond was born in Niles, was educated in our schools, and has always lived among us, with the exception of a few years spent in teaching at Detroit and Battle Creek. As a teacher, no more conscientious and painstaking instructor ever crossed the threshold of our schools, and her success was equal to her endeavors. It is doubtful if her system ever recovered from the hard strain incident to her profession. The seeds of disease, received during the long years of exhausting labor in the heated air of the school room, ripened at last in death.
Six years ago she was united in marriage to Major L.A. Duncan, Editor of the Republican, and the shower of congratulations which was poured in upon them gave evidence of the love and esteem in which they were held.
Mrs. Duncan was endowed by nature with more than average intellectual ability which she [illegible] and strengthened by by judicious reading and study. Her well-known industry in this direction was not that she might outshine others, but that she might the better enjoy the companionship of the educated, and add something to the general stock of intelligence in this age of advancing and advanced thought. Her place in the historical club will, we fear, long remain vacant.
Her busy brain and active hands found ample time amid her family cares, to labor for the church and for society at large. When in early life she united with the Presbyterian church, she gave herself to Christ, to spend and be spent in his service, and her devotion never flagged. As president of the Ladies' Aid Society, her tact and judgment were conspicuous. We need not look long to discover the cause of her phenominal[sic] popularity among all classes. She possessed a true woman's heart, polished and adorned with all the Christian graces. To her immediate friends she was unselfishly devoted. To all with whom she came in contact, equals and inferiors alike, she was courteous, considerate, charitable, cordial, without affectation. Her heart glowed with kindness for all, enabling her to stoop to the humblest without loss of dignity. Her influence was wide spread and did not die with her. Her neighbors and friends will emulate her virtues and hold her memory as a sacred inheritance. Sorrow for her death is noticable[sic] on every hand, surely if a wealth of sympathy could assuage grief the mourning of the family would be short.
The funeral will be attended at the Presbyterian church Friday afternoon, at 3 o'clock.
Niles Democrat, Saturday, October 22, 1887, page 5, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library
Died
Died, at her home in this city on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 1887, of neuralgia of the stomach, Mary Bond, wife of Major L.A. Duncan.
Though Mrs. Duncan was confined to the house for some days, having relapsed from a former long and tedious illness, the news received each day from the sick room gave promise of her early complete recovery, and when the said intelligence was received that death had claimed her, the sorrow expressed was wide felt and sincere.
The deceased was born in this city, being a daughter of the late John Bond, was reared here; educated in our schools and spent all of her too short life among us, except for a few years when she taught acceptably in the schools of Detroit and Battle Creek.
She was married Nov. 17, 1881, to Major L.A. Duncan, of the Republican, and seldom indeed it is given to any to know how large a place they have in the respect, esteem and love of their fellow mortals, as it was given to her the idol of many a heart.
She was devoted during her life to all good work being prominent in church, literary and charitable movements. But is is of her school life we would chiefly speak.
Entering upon her chosen vocation of teaching before she was seventeen years of age, with a bright and active mind, an enthusiastic spirit and a kind and sympathetic heart, her success was assured from the first--a success that has today its grandest testimony in the minds and heart of the many of her old pupils scattered through a dozen different states who so fondly remember their former teacher not alone nor chiefly for the "book knowledge" so successful imparted, but for higher lessons of life taught, for the hearty sympathy that so freely went out to them in the trials and tribulations of school life.
Such lives, such examples are not, cannot, often be given us yet they accomplish the highest of good--the making of the world better, the purifying and ennobling of the purposes and lives of others, It seems now that "Miss Bond" was too devoted to a calling in enduring the labors of which she shattered her constitution, the strain resulting from which too soon loosed the silver cord, and though sympathize as we may we cannot do nor say aught to allevate[sic] the crushing sorrow of those nearest and dearest to her, can there be in their hearts aught, but the holiest joy that of such as she it has been written "Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends."