Matilda L Hunting

  General Notes:

From Autograph Book of Matilda Hunting Dedicated April 30, 1864
It may be your privilege to move the world by reason andthesternlogic of facts, but is it not rather yours to strengthen faithinyourown perception and love of the beautiful instead? AlexanderandRaphaelhave lived and conquered yet whose was the greatervictory?Oneconquered by the force of arms; - the other by the spirit ofbeauty;onestamped his soul in blood, - the other in sunlight. (Love?) -Mattie-you may not catch and imitate the rosy light of the summer(cloud?)witha Raphael, or sweep the trembling lyre with a Mozart, or makethecoldmarble speak pleasure or stern agony; - but a far brighter pageofthebook of Life is open wherein it is yours to write. Painters areweall -of our own and others life scenes - scenes of whosegorgeousbeautyRaphael never dreamed. It is ours to paint in glowingcolors -Charity,Confidence and Holy Love so that when our work is done -thoughblottedhere and there with many tears - God will approve. With great respect Yours - M.H.Reynolds ************
Letter written to Mattie Hunting: Nashville Tenn. June 12, 1864
Long, long ago I wrote to my dear friend at Lima hoping soon tobethejoyful recipient of one of her ever welcome and interestingletters.Butalas, my expectations were only a castle in the air for Ihaveheardnothing from her since. Why is this delay? Has she forgotten me? I hope that is not so butthatImay soon realize my expectations and from patient waiting suffernoloss. J.E. Pound Care Capt. J.C. CraneA.Q.M.U.S.A. To: Miss "Impersonation of selected things" Lima N.Y. ****** NEWSPAPER CLIPPING
'Matilda Hunting (Mrs Reynolds, now dead) a singer oftwenty-fiveyearsago, will be remembered by many. She had a voice ofgreat beautyinquality and was a charming singer who always touched thehearts ofherlisteners. She was leading soprano in the First PresbyterianChurchofthis city for several years.... Miss 'Cornie' Hunting who died some twenty years ago, whenquiteyoung,gave great promise. She was a daughter of M.S.Hunting,formerly ofthiscity, and a sister to 'Mattie' Hunting (Mrs. Reynolds) whorecentlydiedin Chicago.

Montrose Died: October -- 1885, after a few days of strugglingandterriblesuffering from diphtheria, Mrs. Matilda A. Reynolds, leavingahusbandand four small children, two boys and two girls, to mournherloss. Such is the common announcement which conveys theintelligenceofdeath to a listless world, or overwhelms with grief thebereavedandloving ones left behind to mourn the loss of one so amiable,so kind,souseful, so loving and self-sacrificing. The casual reader merely sees the name. He knows not who sheisnorpauses to give it further thought. The more thoughtfulexperiencepang asthe tender words "leaving a husband and four smallchildren, twoboys andtwo girls to mourn her loss," is read. But to thosewho knewher theannouncement strikes deep into the heart and brings backall thetenderrecollections of her womanly virtues, her sweetChristiancharacter, herexalted piety, her devotion to family and friends,and allthe sterlingqualities that belonged to the credit side of her lifeandworks, whilethose near and dear to her who were loving and belovedarebowed in sorrowand overwhelmed with grief at her loss. Mrs. Reynolds was born in Lockport N.Y. and enjoyed the benefitofapolished education, both classical and musical and possessing toahighdegree...traits of character which go...the perfectwoman,and...thereto, and combining therewith the rare gift of vocalcultureandintonation, she at once became the admired of all admirers,thefavoriteof all favorites and though...with praise, and delugedwithflatery, hermeekness of disposition was never counterpoised nortarnishedwithvanity. Marrying at an early age, she cast her fortunes withherhusbandcoming west, and settled with him at Irving Park, when shedrewaroundher the local musical talent, as well as the bestelementsofsociety--and while she was the idol of her associates,shebecameunconsciously the beloved of the entire community. Her tender heart and benevolent disposition led her intodangerstowhich great strength and vitality must have succumbed.Butalwaysunmindful of self when to her duty pointed out the wayandunwittinglyexposed her..confronting dangers of disease? with calm.. Having just passed through a severe trial of watchfulnessandcareover her beloved Ralph, her youngest son, and being in anexhaustedstateof vitality, disease found an easy lodgment, and byexposure, shebecamethe victim of malignant diphtheria, and a martyrtoself-sacrificingbenevolence, and has gone to reap her reward. Mortals weep at the loss of such an exemplary character,andangelsweep at their grief; but they forgot not to bear theliberatedspirit ofone so pure, so angelicto its place of Heavenly rest,and theinfluencesof her last words in holy council to those most dear toher,aided by herdearer and sweeter memory, magnified by her absencehere,will exert alasting and holy influence, and buoy the hopes of thosewhowitnessed theclosing scene, and stood in mute and silent grief atherbedside, whilethe struggling spirit, liberated from its frailandtranscient tenementof clay, winged its way heavenward.

Matilda married Mark H Reynolds on 28 Oct 1869 in Lockport, Will, Illinois. (Mark H Reynolds was born on 12 Mar 1844 in , Putnam, New York, died on 14 Jul 1900 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois and was buried on 16 Jul 1900 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.)