Daughter of Sarah A. Sprague and Benjamin Franklin Doane(7), Nathan(6), David(5), David(4), David(3), John(2), Deacon John Doane(1). Married 24 Jun 1882 in Lawrence, Douglas Co, KS to Martin Willis Lansdown. Two children.

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The Atchison Daily Champion (Atchison, Kansas), 09 Dec 1899

TO "PURIFY" HERSELF OF SIN

Kansas City, Mo, Dec. 7.--Mrs. Sarah A. Lansdown died of starvation at the home of her stepmother, Mrs. Helen C. Doane, 1020 East Ninth street, this morning. She lived in Stanberry, Mo., where she became insane over religion and refused food or drink for two weeks. She imagined she had committed some great sin and must purify herself by fasting.

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The Kansas City Journal (Kansas City, Missouri 08 Dec 1899, First Edition

DEAD OF STARVATION

Mrs. Sarah A. Lansdown, Who Was Partially Demented, Refused to Take Any Food.

Mrs. Sarah A. Lansdown, aged 44 years, died at the home of her step-mother, Mrs. Dr. Helen C. Doane, 1020 East Ninth street. She had consistently refused to take any nourishment whatever for the last two weeks, and it was only by forcing down her throat a little liquid food that she was kept alive as long as she was. For the last six months she has been an invalid and almost unable to leave her chair, and then only to walk about the yard at the hotel in Stanberry, Mo., where she had been boarding. About six weeks ago she lost her mind on account of an operation she had performed, and the refusal to take any food is the form her insanity took. Her husband, Mr. Martin W. Lansdown, is here with here, and had done all he could to get her to take food. The body will be taken to Lawrence, Kas., for burial. Religious mania did not enter into the case.

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The Lawrence Daily World (Lawrence, Kansas), 08 Dec 1899, Friday

SHE FASTED UNTO DEATH

Mrs. Sarah A. Lansdown died of starvation at the home of her stepmother Mrs. D. Helen C. Doane, 1020 East Ninth Street, Kansas City, yesterday morning. She lived in Stansbury, Mo., where she became insane over religion and refused food or drink for two weeks. Her husband Martin W. Lansdown, says she did not swallow a mouthful of food or drink a drop of water in fourteen days. Last Friday she was sent to her stepmother's home where she died. A little nourishment was forced down her throat but not enough to keep her alive. She imagined she had committed some great sin and must purify her body by fasting.

Mrs. Lansdown was kept alive much longer than seemed possible by a hallucination that she must baptise herself. She was almost constantly pouring water over her head and drenching herself. The water soaking into her skin partially took the place of nourishment. Her mouth and throat became so dry that she lost the power of speech and when questioned she wrote her answers. She took oil baths at times and rubbed her body with goose oil. She was conscious till the hour of her death. Mrs. Lansdown lost her mind through attending a series of religious meetings in her hometown. Her step-mother, Mrs. Doane, says her mind was naturally excitable and a frenzy finally took possession of her.

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The Pittsburg Daily Headlight (Pittsburg, Kansas), 08 Dec 1899, Friday

RELIGIOUS MANIA CAUSES MRS. SARAH LANSDOWN TO STARVE HER LIFE AWAY

Mrs. Sarah A. Lansdown died of starvation at the home of her stepmother, Mrs. D. Helen C. Doane, 1020 East Ninth Street, early this morning. She lived in Stanbury, Mo., where she became insane over religion and refused food or drink for two weeks. Her husband, Martin W. Lansdown, says she did not swallow a mouthful of food or drink a drop of water in fourteen days. Last Friday she was sent to her step-mother's home, where she died. A little nourishment was forced down her throat, but not enough to keep her alive. She imagined she had committed some great sin and must purify herself by fasting.

Mrs. Lansdown was kept alive much longer than seems possible by a hallucination that she must baptize herself. She was almost constantly pouring water over her head and drenching herself. The water soaking into her skin partially took the place of nourishment. Her mouth and throat became so dry that she lost the power of speech and when questioned she would write the answers. She took oil baths at times and rubbed her body with goose oil. She was conscious until the hour of her death. Mrs. Lansdown lost her mind through attending a series of religious meetings in her own home town. Her step-mother, Mrs. Doane, says her mind was naturally excitable and a frenzy finally took possession of her.

The body will be shipped to Lawrence, Kans., where Mrs. Doane's son is buried.--The Kansas City Star

The unfortunate woman was a second cousin of Constable Lansdown, of this city, and a sister-in-law of W. A. Lansdown, firemen at the Nesch Brick Works. Her husband, Martin W. Lansdown, is an engineer on the Pittsburg & Gulf railroad and ran an engine out of this city at one time, but is now on the division between Kansas City and Pattonsburg. Mrs. Lansdown did not live here when he was here but at their home in Stanbury, Missouri. "She has been an invalid for several years," said Constable Lansdown today, "and was an exceptionally good woman whom everybody liked."

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The Lawrence Daily World (Lawrence, Kansas), 08 Dec 1899, Friday

The funeral of Mrs. Sarah Lansdown was held this afternoon. The sad features of her last illness are told in another column.