Sarah E. Benbow Dorman

Joined The Majority.

Death Calls Mrs. Dorman of Mill Plain

Mrs. Sarah E. Dorman, a resident of Fern Prairie for about forty years, died on Tuesday evening after being confined to her bed for nine days.   She had been a victim of “creeping paralysis” for more than three years, and for three months had been almost helpless.

Sarah Ellen Benbow was born July 3, 1815, in Warren Co., Ind.  She was married to Thomas Dorman May 18, 1865, in Iowa.  She died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. G. Eddings.

Deceased moved from Iowa in the spring of 1875 to this county, and settled on a farm at Fern Prairie, where they lived most of the time since Mr. Dorman died March 4, 1904, at Ashland, Or where they had gone for his health.  Twelve children were born to them, ten of whom survive.  A son, Lester M., died on September 29, 1876, at the age of five, and a daughter, Clara C., died Sept. 29, 1883, at the age of 16 years.

The surviving children are Minnie C. Eddings and Raymond H. Dorman of Fern Prairie.  Marian E. Lee and Bertram L. Dorman of Vancouver.  Grace M. Anderson and Evelyn L. Fanning of LaCenter, WA; Lena M. Ball and Addie L. Dorman of Portland, Sherman S. Dorman of Bar View, OR, and Fannie L. Scott, of Washougal.  Mrs. Dorman leaves thirteen grandchildren, besides a large number of other relatives and friends.  Among the relatives surviving is Mrs. Felix Van Vleet, a niece. 

Mrs. Dorman was converted early in life, and was an exemplary Christian.  She united with the M. E. Church, of which she remained a faithful member until the end.  She took an active part for many years in the church work of Fern Prairie, being Sunday school superintendent and also holding other offices.  She was a good friend and neighbor, ever ready to help others in time of need.  Her children have all been with her at different times during her last illness.

The funeral services were held in the Fern Prairie church yesterday afternoon at 1 o’clock and were largely attended.  Rev. E. L. Hughes of LaCenter, a friend and former pastor, preached the sermon, and Rev. W. E. Rossman of Washougal had charge of the music.  The remains were interred in the family lot in the Fern Prairie Cemetery.