Elizabeth Higbee was born on 2. Dec. 1829 at Higbeetown, Atlantic County, New Jersey. She was the daughter of
Edward Higbee and
Dorcas Sooy. Elizabeth Higbee married
Henry Bitterman, son of
Henry Bitterman and
Susannah Birely, on 18. May. 1848 at Jefferson County, Indiana. Elizabeth Higbee married
Benjamin Wilson on 11. Jun. 1856 at Sangamon County, Illinois. Elizabeth Higbee married
William F. Schwarberg on 16. Oct. 1858 at Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois. Elizabeth Higbee died on 21. Dec. 1906 at at home south and east of, Okarche, Canadian County, Oklahoma, at age 77. She was buried at Mennonville Mennonite Cemetery north of, Reno, Oklahoma. Death of Mrs. Schwarberg. Late this afternoon we are informed that Mrs. Schwarberg, who has been in ill health for the last year, died at her home south of town, at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Arrangements are being made for the funeral services to be held Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Schwarberg have lived here since the opening of the C. and A. country and have always taken a prominent part in the affairs of the community, and have a host of friends all over CANADIAN COUNTY. Mr. (sic) Schwarberg was nearly eighty years old.
Okarche Times, Friday, December 21, 1906
Mrs. ELIZABETH SCHWARBREG(sic) wife of William Schwarberg was born Dec. 2, 1829 died Dec. 21st, 1906.
Age 77 years 19 days. She was buried Sunday Dec. 23 at 2 p.m.
The deceased was born in New Jersey and in her youth she came to Madison Ind. She came to Springfield, Ill. in 1850 and was married to William Schwarberg October 16, 1858.
She was early converted to the Christian faith and lived a true and devoted christian until the end.
The last services of love were conducted by Rev. Murry of Kingfisher, using in a beautiful and touching manner that comforting text from Mark, 'She hath done what she could, she is come aforehand to annoint my body to the burying.
'Let not your hearts by (sic) troubled ye believe in God, believe also in me, if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also.'
In a sympathizing way he spoke of the alabaster box being broken and that the precious ointment was a mother's love left to soothe, and sustain, and comfort the sorrowing family. 'Mother' the most beautiful word of all, that were spoken brings to us all beautiful, touching memories that nothing else can do.
A.E. Bracken of Kingfisher had charge of the funeral services.
Mr. and Mrs. Schwarberg have made their home in Oklahoma since 1892, and have many friends, who mourn their loss and sympathize with them in their sorrow.
A precious one from us is gone.
A voice we loved is stilled:
A place is vacant in our home
Which never can be filled.
And is thy lovely shadow fled?
Yet stop thy fruitless tears:
She from a thousand pangs is freed,
You from a thousand fears.
Though lost, she's lost to earth alone
Above she will be found.
Amidst the stars and near the throne.
Which mothers like her surround.
Look upward and your mother you'll see.
Fixed in her best abode:
What child would not motherless be
To give her up to God?
Okarche Times, Friday, December 28, 1906
The obit says she was born in New Jersey, but every census gives Pennsylvania as the state of birth. A.M.
Card of Thanks--
We desire to thank our friends and neighbors for their many acts of kindness during the sickness and after the death of our beloved wife and mother.
Wm. Schwarberg.
Augusta Smith.
Amelia Tolbert.
Emma Bornholdt.
Lulu Dillingham.
Okarche Times, Friday, December 28, 1906.