Wayne County Press
Fairfield, IL
Thurs, Nov. 8, 1932
p8,c3:

Keenes, Ill., Nov. 3. --- Mrs. Cynthia Ann Clark  died this morning at 2 o'clock at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Sam Keen of Keenes.

Mrs. Clark was born near Fairfield, April 1839, and her age at time of death was 93 years, six months and 27 days.

She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Sam Keen of Keenes, and Mrs. Ida Young of Enfield.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 10 o'clock a.m. in Boyleston church, and burial will follow in Bovee cemetery in Lamard township.

Mrs. Clark was one of the oldest and most highly respected residents of Wayne county, and in her life embracing almost a century, the country made its greatest advancement in science, invention, and in every line of human endeavor.

She had seen the great progress made in Wayne county and had seen Wayne become one of the leading counties of the state.

Cynthia Ann, daughter of John and Hannah Bovee Gaston, and granddaughter of James Gaston, a Revolutionary soldier, was born near Fairfield, Illinois, April 4th, 1839.  She peacefully reached the end of a well traveled road and went to her reward at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Alice Keen, of Keenes, Illinois, November 2nd, 1932, at the beautiful age in life of 93 years, 6 months and 26 days.  She was the last in a family of nine children and belonged to one of the pioneer families and knew something of the hardships of that day.

Aunt Cynthia, as she was known, belonged to a patriotic family --- a grandfather in the revolutionary war, her own father in the war of 1812, four brothers in the civil war, a nephew in the Spanish American war, and a grandson in the late world war.
 

She was united in marriage to Edward Clark, Nov. 17th, 1859.  To this union were born seven children, four having preceded her in death, John L. 1930; Emma J. 1881; Hannah E. in infancy, and Eber L. in 1910.  In addition to her own children she took a little motherless grandson, Ralph Clark, and cared for him as her own.

She professed faith early in life and has lived a Christian for over 78 years.  She united with the Methodist church at the old Bovee school house and when the Boyleston M.E. church was organized she was one of the charter members and this church was always dear to her.

Aunt Cynthia lived a humble faithful Christian life until called to her eternal home.  She loved to read and study God's word and made this a part of her daily program.  She retained her mental faculties until the last and
arranged her own funeral service.  She has lived her whole life in Wayne county where she has many friends.  Her influence was always on the side of right, willing to make allowance for the frailties of others and always took pleasure in contributing to the happiness of others.  But the earthly career
of this good woman has closed and as she goes away she leaves broken  hearts lifted Heavenward by her departure.  We appreciate the value of her life and her many acts of kindness through all the long eventful years she trusted God.  Few have given more years to the service of the Master and we believe her Spirit is enjoying the life beyond, the reward promised by Him who said "I go to prepare a place for you," and through our tear-dimmed eyes, we hope to meet that saintly mother, our neighbor and friend in that world when the
Lord shall call us home.

She leaves to mourn her departure the three children, William E., Alice and Ida.  Nine grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren, besides a host of relatives and friends.