Margaret R Poor
Cincinnati Enquirer, 23 Aug 1882, page 4
The funeral of Mrs. Margaret R Poor, who died last Saturday at
Newport RI, took place yesterday afternoon from the residence of her niece, Mrs.
James T Williamson, on Front street, Newport Ky. The remains arrived Monday
evening from Newport, on the Pennsylvania Railroad and were accompanied by the
Rev A Barr, brother of the deceased and his sister Miss Nellie Barr. Long before
the hour announced for the obsequies the palatial residence was crowded with
relatives and friends of the deceased who had assembled to pay the last
sad tribute due the departed.
The elegant rosewood casket containing the
remains was strewn with floral offerings of various designs and composed of the
choicest and purest selections, sent by friends of the deceased as memorial
tokens of their esteem of this immaculate lade. Among the floral designs
there was an anchor composed of immortelles, lilies of the valley; a cross,
pillow, sickle, sheaf of wheat, two palms and several bouquets of cut flowers.
On the lid of the casket was the following inscription on a massive plate:
Mrs. Margaret Poor Died 18 August 1882
The services at the residence were of the most solemn and impressive nature, and were conducted by Rev Mr. Richte, of this city. The burial service at the grave was read by Rev William A Barr of Aurora NY, nephew of the deceased.
The gentlemen who acted as pall bearers were Colonel James W Abert, of Newport; Messrs. Wm F Williamson, Wm W Symmes, John O'Shaughnessy, Dr. George B Orr and George W Pritchard. The remains were taken to Evergreen Cemetery, where they were interred in the family lot. A large course of relatives and sympathizing friends accompanied the remains to the cemetery.
Among those from a distance who attended the obsequies in addition to the large number of prominent people of this city were Mr. James Shiras, of Indianapolis; William B Fenly of Kansas; Mrs. Shiras of Ottawa Kansas; Miss Nellie P Barr of Newport, RI; Colonel W E Merrill and others.
The deceased was a most worthy and estimable lady, born on the corner of Pearl and Main streets in the year 1806 and was a daughter of Major William Barr. Her father erected a residence on the corner of Mound and Barr streets which was portion of the city was then a farm. Her first husband was William J Van Horn, a partner of her father in the dry goods business. The union resulted in three children, all of whom died when quite young. her first husband died after five years of married life and she was married a few years after to Mr. Llewellyn A Gwyne, then a prominent lawyer of this city in the year 1851. her second husband died in the year of 1862, and she was married the third time to John A Poor, who only lived five years after the nuptials. Her third husband was a merchant of Portland Maine, and the projector of the Grand Trunk Railroad.
Soon after Mr. Poor's death Mrs. Poor removed to this city and resided on the corner of Third and Pike Streets. She remained here for a few years and then visited California to recuperate failing health. The climate however, did not agree with her and she returned and went to New York, where she spent the winter months and summer at Long Branch. She visited Europe and all the principal places across the ocean several times to regain her health, but to no avail.
Upon the death of her father she came into possession of a large fortune and purchased a cottage at Newport, to which she removed last April and was residing there at the time of her death. She leaves no children and but one brother, Mr. David Barr.