Austin Baughn Obituary
We are today in the midst of another spring. The leaves of the forest are green and full of life. The first rays of the sun call forth the beautiful flowers and bid the birds send forth their melody of joy and praise.
Amid these scenes of new life our beloved one is called to close his eyes upon this fair world and passes over into immortal life beyond where pain and sorrow are unknown.
Thus reminding us that all flesh is as grass and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
In the morning it flourisheth and groweth up;
In the evening it is eat down and withereth.
Our night of sorrow with it impenetrable gloom is to his precious soul the dawn of the eternal morning. The sun of forty eight winters has set upon his beautiful life and the heavens opened and his spirit in its purity, arose to realms whose clime is everlasting Spring.
Austin Baughn was the second of a family of nine children of Simon and Catherine H. Baughn and was born near Sedalia, Ohio on the 14th day of April, 1871, and departed this life near London, Ohio, May 1, 1919.
He had not been in good health the past few months and when stricken with that dread malady, influenza, all that human aid could do seemed in vain.
He was united in marriage to Cora Allen, June 26, 1893, and to this union were born three children, Chester McKinley, in the service of his country with the 84th division now in France, and Lorena and Evelyn at home.
How sad! with wife and mother on a bed of sickness and the son and brother in the far off France only those who have drunk this bitter cup, know the depth of their sorrow. We remember the words of our Savior to his disciples: "Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would not have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
He united with the M.E. Church at Union Chapel during the pastorate of Rev. Steward some thirty years ago, and has since lead a true Christian life: His faith was of a practical character and manifested not by saying but doing.
He was a member of the Old Fellow lodge of London, which order recognizing his virtues, feel that they have lost a valued member.
Aus Baughn was a model citizen, deliberate, fair-minded and always tried to gave a "square deal" in all transaction of business with his fellow men. So grounded in his principles was this idea that he repeatedly said during his illness, "Give every body a 'square deal' as I have tried to do."
These high ideals won for him friends and while he did not seek political honors, he was glad to give his service as trustee of his township.
All his neighbors and friends will long remember his obliging, kind and amiable disposition and in his death will feel that they have lost a faithful friend. The home will sadly miss him and once more we have learned that earth is not man's abiding place. His form will be hidden from sight, but the remembrance of his many acts of kindness in the home will live in the hearts of the bereft ones until the golden bars of time are loosed and they step beyond the confines of this earthly life into broader existance.
The home circle now remains a broken link, but after a few years the circle will lessen. So live, that one by one you will be joined in one unbroken circle far brighter and happier around the heavenly throne of God.
Besides a loving wife, one son and two daughters and friends, he leaves to mourn their loss, a father, Simon P. Baughn, Jeffersonville, Ohio, four brothers and three sisters: Otis, Genia, Almus, London; Carl, Jeffersonville; Frank, Sedalia; Ida May Chaffin, Jeffersonville; Lois T. Porter, Jeffersonville; Roxie I. Allaway, Columbus. The mother and one brother have preceded him to the Spirit World.
"Lord what is life?" Tis like a flower
That blossoms and is gone,
We see it flourish for an hour
With all its beauty on,
But death comes like a wintry day,
And cuts the pretty flower away.
Lord What is life? If spend with thee
In duty, praise and prayer,
However long or short it be,
We need but little care,
Because eternity will test
When life and death are even past.