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BELLVILLE -- Miss Blanche Hazelett, niece of A.A. and S.M. Douglass, of Mansfield, died Wednesday morning, July 22, at 1 o'clock, after a lingering illness of six months or more.  Miss Hazelett was a great worker in the church and Sunday school and will be greatly missed.

The following week's paper, dated 01 August 1896 (Vol. LXXIX, No. 12), had the following additional information about Miss Hazelett's death ...

Olive Blanche Hazelett died at Bellville, July 22, 1896 A.D.  She was born Feb. 28, 1878.  Therefore at the time of her death she was 18 years, 4 months and 24 days old.

She was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Hazelett, and the granddaughter of the late John J. Douglass of this city.  

At the age of 12 years the deceased became a member of the M.P. Church of Butler, O.  Two years later she severed her connection with this church and became a member of the regular M.E. Church of the same place and continued her membership there until her death.

She was a member of the Epworth League of Bellville and an energetic and zealous Sabbath school worker.  Though young in years her influence was felt in almost every department of the church.  Had she lived she would have graduated with the class of '97 of the Bellville High School.

One of the saddest features connected with her demise was the fact that she was engaged to be married to one of the most estimable young men of the vicinity who showed his manly courage and sincere devotion by watching at her bedside for weeks before the end came.

The deceased was a young lady of sweet disposition of fine attainments, the possessor of a pure mind, affectionate and kind, patient even in suffering, always endearing herself to those with whom she came in contact.  Her loving kindness was especially exemplified in her every day home life.  She truly was the idol of her parents.  But alas, for family, friends and kindred, blighting, withering, remorseless disease laid his dread hand upon poor Blanche and after weary suffering the messenger came, but death seemed now only the good angel to take her spirit from a world of sorrow to one of eternal pleasure and delight.

The funeral services were held at Bellville the day following her death.  Rev. W.J. Hyde of the M.E. church, assisted by Rev. Caldwell of the Presbyterian church and Rev. Scott of the M.P. church, conducted the services, which were exceedingly touching and appropriate.

In the vast audience few indeed were the dry eyes.  Beautiful flowers, sweet tokens of love and friendship, surrounded the casket.  Six little girls in white, Maude Haas, Gertrude and Edith Daugherty, Jessie Etz, Nellie and Lillian Beckwith, aside the hearse, carried the flowers from home to church.  Six young ladies, dear and loving friends, Ida Rinehart, Jessie Smith, Jennie Oberlin, Jennie Shafer, Nora Long and Stella Sharp, all in spotless white, acted as pallbearers.

The interment was had at Mansfield which took place at 6 o'clock in the evening, when all that was mortal of Olive Blanche Hazlette was laid beside the bodies of her grandparents in Mansfield's beautiful cemetery.  Peace to her dear ashes.

-- D.

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