Elizabeth Jane Babcock Van Horn was born in Shelby County, Ohio, April 24, 1844, and died at the home of her son, Ralph R. Van Horn at Rifle, Colo., November 29, 1927.
In 1857 she suffered the loss of her mother, and from thence forward was looked to by a younger sister, Charlotte, and two brothers, John Hill and Peter Owen, as taking the mother's place.
In the fall of 1857, the family removed to Welton, Iowa, where on October 20, 1859, she was married to James R. Van Horn. Here three children, Minnie, Leon, and Irene, were born. In 1873 they were among the pioneers to Nebraska, settling on Davis Creek, about eight miles south of North Loup. Here, in 1877, the youngest son, Ralph, was born.
In very early life she became a member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church and was always the most loyal and enthusiastic church worker. The Sabbath to her was always the most sacred and precious time, and she longed and worked eagerly for its recognition and observance. Nine years of their lives were spent as lone Sabbath keepers at Taney, Idaho, and two years in the Seventh Day Baptist Colony at Hewitt Springs, Miss.; and in the fall of 1893 they removed to Boulder, Colo., where she became a member of the Boulder Seventh Day Baptist Church where she held membership at the time of her death.
She has made her home since the death of her husband in January, 1913, with her children, mainly with her daughter, Mrs. Irene Wheeler, in Boulder.
This summer she had longed to make the trip across the mountains to Ralph's home at Rifle, and in September, Leon and Irene took her by automobile on this beautiful trip and she remained for a visit. It was from this home she was summoned by the angel of death.
Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Skeen of the First Baptist Church of Boulder, in the Howe Mortuary, December 2, at ten o'clock, and she was laid to rest in the Green Mountain Cemetery between her husband and daughter-in-law, Mrs. Myrtle Van Horn.
A. T. W.
