ALDER, RACHEL A. - This beloved and much respected Christian lady, the wife of Mr. Daniel Alder, one of Baltimore county’s best known and most useful citizens, died at her late residence at Corbett’s on the N. C. R. R., on Friday morning, 19th inst., after a painful stroke of paralysis from which she suffered untold agony for nearly four months. It became apparent that her sufferings had nearly ended, and as death approached she became calm and tranquil, and thus passed over into sleep, liking unto a tired child surrounded by her loved ones. As soon as death had done his cruel work the body was at once embalmed and made ready for mother earth to receive its own. The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon, 21st inst., at 3 o’clock. The remains were placed in a beautiful casket, velvet and cloth covered, with heavy silver handles and silver mountings: a silver plate on the lid gave the name and age of deceased. She looked as though she had fallen into a peaceful slumber and needed rest. The Rev. F. H. Havenner, of the M. E. Church, commenced the mourning exercises by reading a part of the services for the dead, followed by prayer, when the choir sang sweetly “It Is Well With My Soul.” After this Mr. H. concluded the reading and spoke for some time on the beauties and Christian virtues of the departed. After concluding his remarks a last look was taken and the lid fastened down, thus hiding forever from mortal gaze – the wife, mother, friend. The casket was then removed to the hearse by Messrs. John B. Pearce, Thomas J. Miller, Josiah Sparks, John W. Shepperd, Richard A. Remare, Jr., and John V. Slade, who acted as pall-bearers. The cortege began to move slowly toward the little cemetery situated on the home place about a quarter of a mile west of the residence, where the remains were finally deposited into the freshly made grave. After the concluding of the rituals for the dead the choir again sang “Asleep in Jesus, Blessed Sleep,” after which the grave was filled up and the sacred spot was soon deserted and thus left alone. The floral offerings from relatives and friends were very handsome and costly, and in great profusion. The funeral was very largely attended. Many came from Baltimore and the surrounding country. The people from Monkton turned out almost solidly. Mr. Wm. H. Stiffler, of Parkton, was the undertaker. He also embalmed the body, and credit is due him for the complete manner in which everything was managed.
Mrs. Alder was 74 years and 7 days old on the day of her death. She was the daughter of the late Nathan Stevenson, near Mt. Washington, and the granddaughter of the late Rev. Sater Stevenson, a well-known minister of the M. E. Church, of whom it is said built the first Methodist Church in Baltimore county near the city. She herself was a devoted member of that faith from early womanhood, and was always keenly alive in her duties as a Christian to the church, and prompt to obey every call. She was the sunshine of her happy home circle, untiring in her love and devotion to her husband and children, who in turn fondly loved their now sainted mother. She was ever ready to relieve affliction, want and distress, and never turned the needy away empty-handed.
She was the mother of twelve children, seven of whom are yet living and are all married with the exception of one son. There were fourteen grandchildren, of whom eleven are still living. The writer of these lines knew her well and desires to lay upon the grave of the departed fragrant flowers of remembrance. To the aged and stricken husband there is no relief until the sunlight of peace will bless his longing eyes as he tries to pierce the mists of the great beyond, where hope ends in the full fruition of being reunited to her he now so deeply mourns. H.
