“Death takes occasion at time to warn humanity, in a most startling manner by, what a frail tenure this life is held.”
“Mrs. Hannah M Masterson is the wife of James Masterson who lives on West Second street near Scioto. On last Monday morning she came uptown, and in company with Mr. Ed Coriell went to the Farmer’s National Bank to effect a loan on some building association stock which she held. She was a very fleshy woman, and when she reached the bank her brisk walk in the keen air seemed to have exhausted her. She complained of being ill and a chair was given her near the door, and as her symptoms became alarming a physician was summoned. Before the doctor could reach her she had rapidly sunk into an almost comatose state, so that when Dr. Bing arrived he pronounced her beyond recovery. A bus was called and the unfortunate lady was taken home, attended to by her husband, who, in the meantime, had been notified of her condition. She lived but about five minutes after reaching home. When her husband came to her at the bank, she faintly articulated, ‘Oh, father I am dying,’ and those were her last words. She died without a tremor. Mrs. Masterson was seemingly in the best of health and spirits on the morning she died, and her fresh, youthful appearance was remarked upon by her neighbors as she started out in the morning ot be brought back dying. She had been threatened with the terrible malady, heart disease, which carried her off, and seems to have dreaded the dreadful summons which she looked forward to.She was a woman of most extraordinary size, weighing 270 pounds.”
“Mrs. Masterson, whose maiden name was Byers, was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1832, and married James Masterson, who survives her, in 1853. She had been a resident of the city for 48 years. Four children survive her; Charles, William, Emmet and Mary Emma, wife of James Curtin, express messenger on the O & NW, living at Walnut Hills, Cincinnati. Her funeral took place from the residence at three o’clock Tuesday afternoon, the Reverend Mr. Slutz conducting the services.”1
