Cook Family - Ourfolk

Joel Russ;;; (indexed incorrectly as 'Rugh']
Mary Russ;26; born NY;Mary is the sister of Caroline Cook
Caroline Bibbins; 21; born NY;

(The following obituary of Mrs Caroline Bibbins was printed in a
1904 edition of the report of the Detroit Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. I have copies of several other
obits from these publications including that of Rev Elijah and his
father Rev Samuel. - Charlie Bibbins)

'Caroline Cook was born in Cattaraugus County, NY April 26, 1829
and died in Ypsilanti, Mich, Oct 9, 1904. Left an orphan at an early
age, her young girlhood was spent with several families of [this word
and a few others are unclear on my copy]. In 1849 she came to
Lenawee County in this state to live with an older sister. During the
next year she was blessedly converted and in 1851 was happily united
in marriage with the Rev. Elisha Bibbins under whose ministry she had
been led into christian and life. Twenty four years of arduous
service in the ministry followed, sixteen years in the Wesleyan Methodist
and eight in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Sister Bibbins was a faithful servant of God. Domestic duties had not
permitted to absorb her entire time. She delighted to engage in the work
of the church and many souls were led into the religion or encouraged in
the conflict of life by her sweet sympathy and unselfish devotion to their
welfare. She diligently studied the work and read it through by course
seven times.

Being persuaded through the Bible of her high privileges in she
trusted in God for entire sanctification and became a shining witness
of the fullness of grace. About the end of August, last year Sister Bibbins
suffered a stroke of paralysis. In her afflictions she exhibited much
patience and was richly sustained by faith and [ } into rest. Funeral
services were held at the home of her son Wednesday morning Oct 12,
1904 and the remains were taken to Romulus, Mich, and interred by the
side of her husband, Rev Geo of Milan, officiating.'

(I also found her listed as Caroline Bibbins in the 1850 Cambridge MI
census. I don't know how to reconcile this with the obituary although it is
plausible that she and Elijah were engaged at that time and she was so
excited about the upcoming marriage that she gave her future surname to
the census taker. Elijah's obit in this publication did not mention her much
less their marriage date.)