Catherine Robe: A Find A Grave Success

While wandering around some old Muncie, Indiana, newspapers, I found a fantastic obituary for Catherine (Darnell) Robe. I searched for her on Find A Grave but found nothing in my initial search. Thinking outside the box, I searched for her last name and year of death. There she was. Her entry did not include her first name but the bio portion indicated this unknown woman was the wife of Josiah Robe. That clicked with the obituary that I had found. The death date was correct, too. I messaged the memorial manager who promptly added the obituary to the website. Later, another contributor added a photo of her beautiful zinc marker. The spelling varies a bit with 'Catharine' appearing on her marker. A community of contributors ensured that Catherine has not been forgotten. She was buried in Thompson Cemetery, Gaston, Delaware County, Indiana.

Muncie Daily News, January 17, 1890

Mrs. Catherine Robe, the subject of this notice, was born in Mongahala County, Virginia, May 13, 1816, and departed this life January 8, 1890, aged 73 years, 6 months, and 25 days. Her maiden name was Catherine Darnell. She was united in marriage to Mr. Josiah Robe, August 23, 1839. The result of the union was seven children - two boys and five girls. The husband and one daughter preceded her to the spirit land. Six children are left behind to mourn their loss.Immediately after her marriage in Virginia, she, with her husband, left the place of their nativity and emigrated to Indiana - a distance of over 400 miles. The trip was made in a wagon. They landed on the spot in Harrison Township, Delaware County, that Mr. Robe had formerly entered. They were in a waste, howling wilderness. Tangled forest around them had not been broken, and the wild beast roamed almost undisturbed. The prowling wolf made the night hideous. With these surroundings and all the difficulties incident to a pioneer life, they started out, and by industry that is only known to the sturdy pioneer, the forest gave way to fruitful fields, and as the years glided by joy and sunshine filled the hearts of this happy family in their cabin home. But alas, the severest ordeal is yet to come. The death angel came into this happy household and took the husband and father, leaving the wife and seven children in the wilderness thirty four years ago. To provide for these children and train them up for future life and usefulness was a heavy task, yet this mother looked upon these children as her own. She loved them as none but a mother could love. She accepted the situation, virtually saying "By the help of God I will keep them together." She did her work and did it nobly, and the children rise up blessed and call her blessed.She joined the M.E. Church when she was a girl, and always lived according to her profession. She was one among a class that worshipped in log cabins, when church houses were unknown in this vicinity. For six years she was an invalid, and for the last three years of her life her sufferings were intense. She bore it all with Christian patience. Religion was her consolation in life and her solace in death. She died in the faith.The writer conducted the funeral exercises in the M.E. Church at New Corner, assisted by Rev. Croan, to a large and sympathizing audience. God bless the sorrowing ones.-C.W. Boxell.

You may visit her memorial here:
Catharine (Darnell) Robe

Originally published on 7/29/2013