Jane Francis (Young) McKibbin (1828 - 1862)

Born 1828 in Virginia

Descendants

Died 25 Jun 1862 at about age 34 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Biography

Sadly, Jenny died in childbirth, giving birth to her stillborn daughter. The local newspaper ran a beautifully written obituary for her, reproduced below.

DIED

McKibbin -- On the 27th instant, Jennie F., wife of Captain David B. McKibbin, in the 24th year of her age.

The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend her funeral, from the residence of her parents (Merchants' Hotel) Fourth street, below Arch street, on Sunday, the 29th instant, at 3 o'clock, without further notice. To proceed to Woodlands Cemetery.

Obituary

We are deeply pained to hear of the death of Mrs. David McKibbin as announced in this column. Amid all the clash of arms and turmoil of political movements, these sad disruptions of sweet family and social ties come to us with startling vividness. The soldier is drawing around his last agonies all the pomp of military pageantry, all the glory which daring, all the courage which desperation can give. His groans mingle with the cannon's roar, his last sights are borne upward on the smoke of conflict and carnage.

Life's wild scene finds an end in the wilder scene of such a death. The sunset has no quiet beauty; the midnight brings not on its wings a breath of balm; the life meets an appropriate close; its best energies were given to struggle, and now, when its every vital force is waning, struggle closes its troubled eyes.

But here is a death amidst friends, and peace, and brightest hopes; here is one, crowned with all that is loveliest in womanhood, breathing out, in quiet resignation, a life that had been silently molded by sorrow and sacrifice. Here are no flashes of blood, but regretful tears; hers are no yells of defiance, but low prayers of entreaty. There is heroism no less; for our departed friend walked towards death as her fulfilled life had given her right to walk -- with a step firm yet humble, distrustful of its own power, but with implicit reliance on a Higher Power. May this painful shock open the eyes of sorrowing friends to the heroism of a life so true, so noble, so pure, so strong as was Mrs. McKibbin's.

Author Unknown, June 1862. From The Press, Philadelphia, Friday, June 27, 1862. Transcribed by David M. Pierce

Sources

• Death Certificate. Return of a Death in the City of Philadelphia. Jenny F. McKibbin; white, female, 24 years; married; date of death Jun 25, 1862; place of birth Virginia; residence: Merchants Hotel; date of burial June 20, 1862; Woodlawn Cemetery.
• Obituary: The Press, Philadelphia, Friday, June 27, 1862.