The Last Words of Isabel Williams
Isabel Williams1, while on her deathbed and there being several present, asked them to talk. Her mother asked her if she wouldn’t rather hear them sing. “Yes, I want them all to sing, and I want to see who all is singing.” She said, “Sing ‘Jesus, Lover of My Soul’ and ‘When Jesus Comes to Reward His Servants,’ and ‘Oh Happy Day that Fixed My Choice.’” She said, “I wish I could go; I am so much trouble to you and Ma.2 I know you have done all you could, and it looks like more.”
(Her mother said, “I don’t want you to think you are any trouble, for we are willing to do anything we can do for you.”）
She said to her husband, 3 “You have always been so good to me and looks like you have done more than you could do. You have never been mad at me, have you, Jake?”
She called her little brothers4 and said, “I want you to go to Sunday School, when there is Sunday School, and shun bad company. And when you become grown, or old enough, prepare to meet me in Heaven, won’t you boys?”
She called her youngest sister5 and said, “Be a good girl, and meet me in Heaven.”
She called her oldest sister6 and said, “Be a good girl, and mind Ma and help her do her work and meet me in Heaven.”
“Oh, I am so glad he has promised me, that he will meet me in Heaven. I feel almost like shouting. I am so glad he has promised me, that he will meet me in Heaven. I think it is one of the grandest things that ever happened.
“I think that you can do so much good at New Hope.7 You would be such a useful member there.
“I want you all to sing, ‘We Are Going to Yonder’s Bright Glory,’” and she commenced singing it herself.
She called Isabelle Goodpastor and said, “Howdy do, Isabelle. I have to die. I want you to meet me in Heaven. Will you meet me in Heaven?”
1 Isabel Tempe Seat was the first child of William Littleton Seat (10/15/1849~9/9/1880) and Rachel Jane (Clark) Seat (10/2/1852~6/14/1941). She was born in rural Worth County, Missouri, on 9/9/1871 and died on February 13, 1890, three days after these “last words” were spoken. Sometimes her first name was spelled Isabelle, but the shorter form was used on her tombstone.
2 Ma was probably her grandmother, Elizabeth (Ramsey) Clark (1832~1916.
3 Isabel’s husband was Jacob Theodore (Jake) Williams (1867~1951).
4 Isabel’s brothers were Elvis Irvin (b. 8/1/1875) and George Sylvester (b. 1/20/1878). 5 Isabel’s youngest sister was Rella Ruemma (b. 1/6/1881).
6 Isabel’s oldest sister was Anna (Annie) Missouri (b. 1873).
7 New Hope Church was established in 1877, and Isabel’s mother, Rachel, and many relatives were charter members. In March 1878, Elizabeth (Montgomery) Seat, Isabel’s great-grandmother, was the first to be buried in the adjacent cemetery.
She called James Goodpastor and said, “I want you to meet me in Heaven, will you?”
Then she called Mrs. McElvain and pled with her to meet her in Heaven. “Will you promise me you will meet me in Heaven?”
She called Perneicie Williams. “Niece, I am going to die; I want you to meet me in Heaven.” She called Mr. McElvain and pled with him to meet her in Heaven.
She called Emma Clark8 and said, “Do you enjoy religion? You will meet me in Heaven. Oh, that is such a grand thing.”
Then she called Riley Seat9 and said, “I want you to go to meeting and quit your bad habits and go to Saturday meeting as well as Sunday. I want you to meet me in Heaven. Won’t you commence now? Give your whole heart to Jesus, have faith, believing that he will save you. Pray, and pray in earnest.”
She called Irvin Williams and said, “I want you to meet me in Heaven. Will you?”
She called Francis Murray and said, “Do you enjoy religion? You know how to pray don’t you? You can pray, can’t you? Will you meet me in Heaven?”
She asked Mr. Spillman if he was a Christian. “I want you to meet me in Heaven.”
“I love everybody. I wish I could see all the New Hope members and talk with them. I think it would be so nice for everybody to go to Heaven. I will be so happy when I get there. I think it is such a grand place.”
She called Mrs. Spillman and Victoria (absent). She called Lena Lewis and said, “You will meet me in Heaven, won’t you? You are a Christian. You must never turn back. I think it is so nice.”
She called Hank Muirhead and said, “I am going to die. You are a Christian; you will meet me in Heaven, won’t you? You will go to meeting at New Hope. Go every Saturday; don’t say you can’t. Of course, you have your work to do. You are young in the cause. You can be a useful member.”
“I want to talk to all the New Hope members. I want them when they go to New Hope each one to do their part, for you don’t know how much good you can do. You may think you can’t do much. One time I got up to talk in church and I didn’t say but a few words, and when I sat down, Uncle Henry Seat10 got up and said, ‘It done my soul good to hear that child talk.’
“The first time I was called on to pray, I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t think of anything to say. I said a few words and felt like I had done my duty.
“I think New Hope could be one of the grandest places that ever was. It seems like everybody is going to be Christians.
“Hank, it is so hard. You never had to give up a companion, did you? I hate to leave Jake and the baby so bad.11 But I am going to Heaven. I am so happy. I think it is one of the grandest places that ever was. I have faith. If I only had strength; let’s go home.
8 Emma R. Clark (2/21/1861~3/22/1937) was Isabel’s aunt.
9 Joseph Riley Seat (12/1/1863~11/25/1942) was Isabel’s uncle.
10 Henry Newton Seat (8/7/1826~7/16/1899) was Isabel’s great-uncle.
11 Leslie Ernest, Isabel’s only child, was born on 1/25/1890, less than three weeks before his mother died from childbirth complications. He lived until October 24, 1969.
“Won’t somebody take my place? Hank, won’t you take the oar? I don’t know how.” (She said Christ was the oar to the boat.) And she prayed.
She called John Chapman and said, “You are a member at New Hope. Do you enjoy religion? I am so glad you are a Christian. Will you meet me in Heaven?”
She called Sam Murray and Becca and Polly. She said to them, “I have seen them all but you, and I wanted to see you, to know if you will meet me in Heaven. I was afraid I would die before I saw you. Will you? I wanted to see Becca and Polly and Patience and tell them to meet me in Heaven. They haven’t been to see me for a long time. I always thought Becca was a Christian when she joined the Church, and always have thought she was a Christian.”
She called Mr. Dunfee. “Are you a Christian? I am going to die; I want you to meet me in Heaven. I love everybody. I want all to go to Heaven and they could if they would only give their whole heart to God and tell Him to take them just as they are.”
Called Maggie Dunfee (not present).
Called Thomas Murray and said, “Are you a Christian? Do you enjoy religion? Have you ever received forgiveness for all your sins? Will you meet me in Heaven?”
Called Josie Robertson. Called Lee Seat.12 “Howdy do, Lee. I am glad you have come. I am going to die. I was afraid I would not get to see you. Are you a Christian? Will you be a Christian tonight and meet me in Heaven? Now won’t you? How can you deny me? Kneel down and pray.” And she prayed and pled that he might be a Christian and meet her in Heaven.
Called Whit Seat.13 “Whit, do you want to be a Christian? Won’t you try to be a Christian tonight? I would like to know that you are a Christian before I die, that when you go to my burying you would be a Christian. I think it would be so nice for both of you boys to be Christians and go to New Hope. It would be so nice; you could be so useful. Oh, what would I do now if I didn’t have religion and have faith in Christ? But I have and will be so happy.”
She called her father-in-law and said, “Howdy do, Mr. Williams.14 I wanted to see you so bad; I was afraid I would die before you got here. You’re such a good old man. Won’t you promise me you will meet me in Heaven? Say, won’t you? Won’t you start tonight? It isn’t hard if you will just surrender and give your whole heart to God. He will never turn anyone away, if you will only trust him. ‘If anyone will come unto me, I will no wise cast out.’ Won’t you commence tonight? ‘Ask and ye shall receive. Seek and ye shall find. Knock and it shall be opened unto you.’ Ain’t you a Christian now? Can you pray?”
And she prayed, “O father, forgive this old man. O Father, do forgive this father. He is an old and gray grandfather and he needs Thee.
“Are you a Christian now tonight? Can’t you enjoy religion? Pray this way” (and she repeated the Lord’s prayer), “and continue to pray until you find him precious to your soul.”
Then she called Noah Williams.15 “I am so glad to see you. I want you to meet me in Heaven when you die. Will you? Won’t you promise me? John has promised to meet me and I believe he will. He has got religion tonight. I believe he will be a useful member in the New Hope Church. Before I died I wanted to know that all my brothers-in-law enjoyed religion. It would be so nice for them all to go to church with Jake and sit up in front and not sit away back where you always do. It would be so nice. It will be so nice, won’t it!
“I am going to die, and I hate to leave Jake and Leslie and Ma and the children. Now won’t you promise me to meet me in Heaven? And commence now, tonight.”
She called General Lewis and said, “General, will you meet me in Heaven? Won’t you start tonight to live a Christian life? Won’t you?” And she pled with him to be a Christian.
And she said, “Howdy, Uncle Billy. I know that you are a Christian, and always have been. Howdy, Aunt Betty.” And she began to sing; “When we gather round the great white throne.”
“I am so weak; Francis, you sing, won’t you start it? And howdy do, Zilpha. I am going to die; Jake, I am going home. Home is in heaven. You will come, won’t you Jake? Yes, I know you will come; you are so good. I am so happy in one way, and I am sad in another way, for I hate to leave you and Leslie and Ma and the children. But I am going to see Pa and Uncle John and Sammie and Grandma Seat and so many others that are gone. I am so happy.”
And she prayed, “O Father, dear Father, come take me right home.” And after her voice failed her, she continued in a whisper and kissed her relatives and others good-bye and was conscious to the last.16
15 Noah Richard Williams (1869~1958) was Jake Williams’s brother, and in March 1892 he married Annie, Isabel’s sister.
16 Transcribed, edited, and annotated by Leroy Seat, Isabel (Seat) Williams’ great-nephew, first in April 2007 and then further edited and annotated in February 2022.
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Isabel was rightly named "God is my oath (or trust)"!
ReplyDeleteHer story works at many levels. The old-time dangers of childbirth; the "unsophisticated" nature of her testimony and exhortations as she lay dying; her resolute calmness and trust as she said goodbye--it seems to almost everyone she knew. The grief of those she left behind thinking perhaps "it should have been me and not this young mother." The account reads like the Gospel of Mark. We should be more thankful for all that is good and right with us today, if we were not so faithless toward true God and our neighbors--surely we do not truly understand what we have been given so that we are grateful. Isabel must already long since know others have been delighted to meet her in heaven. We all should hope that for ourselves and our neighbors far and wide.