Adams County History & Genealogy

Cienda Agnes Brown Herdman

The family and friends of Mrs. Cienda Herdman were deeply grieved when on August 6, 1938 she slipped quietly away from this physical realm in which they had known and loved her, into the life eternal.

She was born near Rarden, Ohio, September 28, 1856, the daughter of Hugh and Margaret Brown. Early in life she united with the Christian church. On December 28, 1973, she was united in marriage to James Herdman. After the death of her husband on May 13, 1907, her sister-in-law, Mary Herdman, near Peebles, ohio, Unselfishly welcomed her into her home. Since that time they have shared not only a home, but each others joys and sorrows as well, and the beautiful devotion that existed between those two makes the love of one inseparable to the other.

She leaves to mourn her passing, one sister Mrs. Mary Copeland of Jamestown, Ohio, and four children, Mrs. J. A. Wickerham, Mrs. Alta Copeland, Mrs. E. H. Shoemaker and Joe herdman, all of whom live near Peebles, Ohio. Also among those who feel keenly the loss at her departure are 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Five of her children preceded her in death.

Her passing has left and awareness that there is a life of far, far more importance and beauty than this physical one. She has lived unselfishly, absorbed in helping her familly and friends. By its unselfinshness her life becomes infinite, embracing the past by memory and influencing the future of her dear ones by that memory. When a life is devoted to the service of goodness and usefulness it is connected with a realm that has nothing to do with the passing of the years. Thus, amid all the physical and finite things that fail us we appreciate a life that has a lasting, timeless quality.

Mother's hands were weary.
Fold them on her breast;
They have been so busy,
Let, oh, let them rest;
Worn and thin and wrinkled.
Scarred with toil and care,
Yet to al lthey've aided,
Beauty full and fair

Think how they have guided
Tiny, pattering feet,
Smoothed away all sorrow
With their touch so sweet;
Banished pain and sorrow,
Closed at last the eyes
Of the loved ones who'll greet her,
In mansions in the skies.

But, oh, beyond shadow-land
Where all is bright and fair,
We know full well those dear old hands
Will palms of victory bear
Where cyrstal streams through enless years
Flow over golden sand
And where the old gro young again
We'll clasp our mother's hands.

Card of Thanks

The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the neighbors and friends for their kindness and helpfulness during the illness and death of their mother, to the undertaker, to Rev. Groh for his consoling words and to the choir for their faith-inspiring songs.