“The funeral of Nettie Williams, the young girl, who died from her burns sustained at the pistol factory, took place at the family home on East Front street at two o’clock, Thursday afternoon. There was a large attendance at the services which were in charge of Reverend George P Taubman of the Christian church. She often attended the services of this denomination and only Sunday before the accident, she had signified her desire to become a member there.”
“A number of flowers were brought by friends and deepest sympathy was extended to those who are bereaved by this loss. Elder Taubman’s talk was feeling directed to them and to the young people gathered, dwelling upon the uncertainty of this life.”
“The Williams family came here nearly five years ago from Adams county, but had previously lived in Cass county, Kentucky. Their relatives all live in Cass and Nicholas counties of that state.”
“Nettie is spoken of in highest terms by those who knew her. She was an industrious girl, and had formerly worked for two years at the Drew-Selby shoe factory. She had only taken this new employment on the day the accident occured. A neighbor girl, Miss Lucy Meeks, prevailed upon her to accompany her to the pistol factory when it resumed after its summer shut down, last Monday. Both were happy in the prospect of better paying positions there. Miss Weeks worked by the side of the Williams girl and rushed to her aid when the accident occured. She states that Nettie gave a loud scream from the pain and as the blazing compound flashed up, she could not help inhaling some of the flames. The neighbors were all apprehensive of a fatal result from the burns and assisted the stricken family in every way.”
“The physicians did all in their power to alleviate the pain, and to save the girl’s life, but against a slender hope. Nearly every one who saw her and witnessed her sufferings seemed to have feared the worst. The death is a particularly sad one, in the loss to parents1 and the other children of the household, and to a number of young friends by whom she was greatly esteemed.”2
The Headstone of Nettie Williams at Greenlawn Cemetery in Portsmouth, Ohio
- Moses Williams and Amelia Jane “Millie” Beck Williams
- Very lovely tokens. (1904, September 17). Portsmouth Times, p. 7.
