Skeen, Matilda Casto

Passed: 1908-01-17

Age: 73

Source: Jackson Herald

Death Notice:

Obituary Date: 1917-08-10

Information: FUNERAL WILL BE PREACHED AUGUST 26 - The funeral of Mrs. Matilda Skeen, wife of Joseph Skeen, deceased, will be preached by Rev. W. B. Parsons in a grove at the old homestead, now home of Joel Skeen at Kentuck, at 10:30 a.m., Sun. Aug. 26.  There will be a basket dinner and also devotional services in the afternoon, either singing or preaching, or both.  Plenty of water handy for man and beast and plenty shade and room for horses and vehicles. D. L. Skeen.   FUNERAL OF MRS. MATILDA SKEEN - The funeral of Mrs. Matilda Skeen was preached at the residence of Joel Skeen at Kentuck on Sunday, August 26.  The day was born with a golden sunrise, not a cloud could be seen in the sky, the leaves and flowers were kissed with morning dew. Not a mischance happened to the cool, refreshing breeze, nor the rippling streamlet during the day; everybody seemed to be happy and revived and the birds would sing and chatter as they flew from bough to bough in the beautiful grove and decorated rostrum in the midst of seats to contain 1000 people.  At 8 o'clock the people began to gather and by 10 o'clock, there were at least 2000 people to hear the funeral sermon by Rev. W. B. Parsons, whose sermon was oratorical, sincere, deep and par-excellent.  He preached 48 minutes and held the congregation spell-bound, then came dinner and everybody was invited to partake of all the good things to eat that any country could afford.  The choir rendered excellent music during the day. At 1:30 p.m. there were addresses by Rev. John H. Skeen, Rev. Emsey Good, Rev. Rankin and others. on religion, love and patriotism, which were well received. Rev. Emsey Good, a fine citizen and a minister who moved West from this county eighteen years ago, gave us a description of his travels and the Western country.  He preached among the Indians and many of them were converted.  He moved all the way from here to Arkansas in a wagon, and now lives in New Mexico and is doing well.  At 3 o'clock Rev. W. B. Parsons announced an old time speaking meeting and the church people gladly responded and such a time I never witnessed in my life.  There were people from four states, New Mexico, Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia, rejoicing and shouting and praising God at the same time.      Among the ministers taking part were all the first named and Rev. B. P. Mangus, who gave a fine experience and a very able short exhortation.  Among the others speaking was an old gentleman, whose hair was turning gray, that stood up and rested himself against a small tree, who began to speak in a low, audible tone filled with the Holy Ghost, who seemed to be a stranger to most of the people.  As he spoke he became more earnest and you could hear the people say, ""Who is that gentleman?"", and the longer he talked the more eloquent he became.  He claimed that he believed that it was ordained that we should all meet on this day, that the presence and goodness of God could be manifested, and they still asked who the gentleman was.  Before he finished he developed into as fine an exhorter as ever was listened to in this community and I think at least one-tenth of the people were shouting or rejoicing before he finished his talk.  Someone in the audience shouted that man was Uncle Henry Parsons of Given, W. Va.  A large part of the crowd actually stayed and rejoiced until 5 o'clock.  Such days as these prove to us more that it's only a foretaste of the other shore.   D. L. Skeen   (Mrs. Matilda Casto Skeen was the daughter of George Casto, Sr. and Sarah Ours Casto.  She was born July 1834 in Jackson County, VA and died on 17 Jan. 1908 in Jackson Co.  She married Joseph Skeen on 12 Mar. 1861 in Jackson Co.  D. L. (David Leon) Skeen is a son.  Why her funeral was preached in 1917 is unknown)