Death came last night at 7:25 to Elsie Middendorf Monahan at St. Mary's hospital, as a blessed surcease of pain.

For eight months, she had fought her battle bravely and patiently, sustained by the love, the prayers, and the care of husband and family, friends, and her faith.

She had at her command every resource that medical skill, money, and care could suggest, but all to no avail. With a vitality and willpower that won the admiration of doctors and nurses alike, she kept up the fight until the tired mind and weakened body yielded at last to the final summons, and her eyes closed in eternal sleep.

The case of Mrs. Monahan is familiar to all newspaper readers since the time of the accident last May, at her home in Des Moines, Iowa. The baby daughter of the Monahans was playing about the room, when the child managed to upset a lighted oil stove.

The oil spilled on the little one's garments, was at once ignited, and although the mother seized thee child and smothered the flames, it was not until her own clothing had caught fire, and the babe was fatally burned.

The baby lingered for a week in the Des Moines hospital, where both were brought. For a time, it was thought that the mother's life might be spared, an operation of skin grafting having been tried, it was thought, with success.

On October 12 last, she was brought to Quincy, her girlhood home, by her husband and her brother, and placed in St. Mary's hospital. Here, she was made the object of every care and attention, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Middendorf, and her husband, being constantly at her beside, along with a host of relatives and friends.

In all, the skin grafting operation was tried four times, the husband and other submitting to the pain and inconvenience, in hope that the healthy skin might unite, and grow over the burned area. But the burns were so deep, and over such a wide area, that the process failed of its mission. For some time, it has been feared that death would be the final result.

Her wonderful vitality and willpower were a powerful factor in her favor, and until that failed, about ten days ago, the family still hoped for her recovery.

An attack of bronchitis developed about a week ago, and since that time, her decline has been rapid. Yesterday, it was seen that the end was near, and shortly after one o'clock, she sank into unconsciousness, from which she never rallied. Her passing was peaceful, so quiet that the sorrowful group of watchers around her bed scarcely knew when the supreme moment had come.

Elsie Middendorf was born in this city twenty-seven years ago, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Middendorf of 1326 Lind street. Her life was spent in this city, and her education received in the parochial schools here.

She was a winsome and attractive girl, with a host of friends, and when, three years ago last October, she was united in marriage to Jame Monahan, one of the city's sterling young men, everyone who knew them prophesied an ideal married life for them. And such it proved to be.

They were an exceptionally happy and devoted couple, and through her weary months of suffering, Mr. Monahan has been almost constant in his attendance at her bedside. The only time he was absent was [for] a week and a half at his work in Des Moines, when Mrs. Monahan's improvement seemed to justify it. His absence was a trial for her, and for that reason, the husband gave up his Iowa interests to be with her.

Besides her husband, Mrs. Monahan is survived by her parents, the father being the head of the well known Middendorf Lumber company, and the Broadway Bank. Also, there are two sisters: Mrs. Herman Rakers of 1504 Vine street, and Mrs. Joseph Kuhlmann of Chicago; and one brother, William,at home with his parents.

Mrs. Monahan was a devout member of St. Francis' congregation, and of the Young Ladies' Sodality of that church; also of the St. Francis choir.

Her passing will be mourned with sincere regret by all who were privileged to know her, and there will be many to mingle their tears with the stricken family.

- The Quincy Daily Journal, Wednesday, January 10, 1912; page 6.

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There was a great outpouring of friends of the late Mrs. James Monahan, yesterday, to pay her a final tribute of esteem.

The funeral services were held at the home of William H. Middendorf, 1326 Lind street, at 8:30; and from St. Francis Catholic church at 9:30. The church was filled with friends of the deceased, and of her family, while the floral tokens were magnificent, coming from Quincy and from Des Moines, Mrs. Monahan's former home.

There were four priests at the mass: Father Eugene Sullivan; Father Hiliarin; Father Lambert; and Father Francis Middendorf, a cousin who was master of ceremonies. The music for the mass was furnished by the choir, of which Mrs. Monahan was a member when a girl in Quincy, and the services were impressive in every respect.

Five of the pall bearers were young men who had contributed some of their skin, [for grafts], in hopes that by grafting, the life of Mrs. Monahan might be saved. They were as follows: Theo. Middendorf, Henry Niehaus, Henry Althoff, Rolla Earl, Walter Bernzen, and George Middendorf, the five first named, being the ones who bared their arms to the surgeon's knife.

The body was laid to rest in Calvary cemetery.

Among those from out of town who were in attendance at the funeral, were: Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kuhlman and family of Chicago, Mrs. Kuhlman being a sister; Misses Katherine and Mary Monahan of Des Moines, sisters of Mr. Monahan; and Mrs. George P. Monahan, also of Des Moines.

Mr. Kuhlman left for Chicago last night, but his family will remain for several days. The Misses Monahan will leave, today, for Des Moines.

- The Quincy Daily Whig, Saturday, January 13, 1912; page 3.