STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 193, page 1, columns 5, 6

LAURA (KIDNEY) CASE, 14 Jan 1808 - 08 May 1903

   Laura Kidney was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, January 14, 
1808, and died at her home one-half mile south of Fox Lake, May 8, 
1903, aged 95 years, 3 months and 25 days.
   At the age of 22 years she was united in marriage with James 
Case, and to the union were born four children, the only surviving 
one being Mrs. George Cline.  She and her husband united with he 
Freewill Baptist church in 1851, both being baptized in Fox lake 
the same day.  Her husband died May 11, 1863, and since that day 
until her death, about forty years, she lived a widow.  As all the 
early pioneers experienced hardships, hers was no exception to the 
rule, she and her husband having come to Steuben county in 1844.
   One day in 1865, some two years after the death of her husband, 
her son, W. H. H. Case, brought to her home as his wife, Sophrona 
Case, a lady whom she had never seen until that day, but one who 
proved to be a veritable Ruth, who in the long round of years 
manifested the highest rule of grace in her devotion and self-
sacrifice for her mother-in-law.  Above we give a picture of the 
two in front of their humble home.  For the past ten years Aunt 
Laura has been practically blind, and most of the time entirely so, 
yet her mind was clear and bright, and while her life marked almost 
a century's duration, she was not childish, but was cheerful, and 
like fruit on the tree, became more beautiful and sweet in spirit 
as the harvest day approached.  But in spite of pleasant 
surroundings she realized that she had lived too long, as she 
remarked to a representative of the REPUBLICAN a short time ago, "I 
have lived so many years I feel that am ready to go at any time.  
My husband, two boys and oldest daughter are sleeping in the church 
yard and I want to be with them, not because I do not have good 
care, for I have the best and most loving anyone could wish."  She 
was a good neighbor and will be missed by her many friends who 
always had a warm corner in their hearts for "Aunt Laura," but no 
one will miss her more than the daughter-in-law, who in all her 
trials night and day, alone with the aged lady, had truly earned 
the title of guardian angel.
   Funeral services, beautiful beyond words to express, were held 
on Sunday afternoon, May 10, at the home, conducted by Elder C. S. 
Medbury, neighbors and friends from far and near coming to pay 
their last respects to one whom they had learned to love and 
reverence.
(Picture of Laura Case, Sophrona Case and their home included with 
the obituary)

ADDITONAL INFORMATION:

   Laura (Kidney) Case, 14 Jan 1808 - 08 May 1903, on 12 Feb 1831, in 
Cuyahoga, Ohio, married James Case, 05 May 1797 - 11 May 1863.

Children:

   Betsey Keziah Case, died 02 Mar 1899, aged 67 years, 11 months and 26 
days. 
   Martha Ann (Case) Cline, 26 Nov 1836 - 22 Sep 1903, on 15 Oct 1854, 
married George G. Cline, 04 Sep 1824 - 03 Jul 1907.
   James Case, 1840 - 1850.
   William Henry Harrison Case, 18 Jan 1842 - 18 Apr 1893, on 19 Nov 1865, 
married Sophronia/Sophrona (Hazlett) Case, 11 May 1845 - 20 Feb 1923.
All of the above are buried at the Old Angola Cemetery, Angola, Steuben 
County, Indiana.

Salt Lake City, Utah, Family History Library Film #1254312, NA Film #T9-
0312, page #324D, 1880 U. S. Federal Census, Pleasant Township, Steuben 
County, Indiana, lists this information:
   W. H. H. Case, self, married, Male, white, age 58, born in OH.,farmer.
   Sofrona Case, wife, married, female, white, 35, born in Wurtemburg, 
(Germany), housework.
   Laura Case, mother, widow, female, white, age 72, born in CT.
   Betsey Case, sister, single, female, white, age 48, born in OH.

Steuben Republican, Old Settlers article, 23 Aug 1899, pg. 4, col. 
2,3,4,5.
"Cemeteries of Steuben County, Indiana, 1990", by Audree Siebel Lewis,  
Vol. I, pages 301, 302, 304, 361, 362.
www.familysearch.org.
Submitted by:  Mona Hilden-Beckwith
e-mail:  hilbeck123@att.net