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bers.Obituary.Mrs. Eliza Frances Mitchell died ut her residence, in Chariton, on the 28th day of November, in her 78th year.“Grandmother” Mitchell, as she was familiarly called by her numerous friends, was one of the oldest and best known residents in Lucas county. For years she has been looked upon as one of the few remaining monuments, representative of that hardy and noble class of persons who first settled this part of Iowa, and bravely endured all the hardships and privations incident to a pioneer life in those days.Her maiden name was Henderson. She was born, raised and married in Jessamine county, Kentucky, and was closely connected with some of the oldest and best families of that eommonwealth—notably the Prices, Crocketts and Gaines’. She was married in 1826, and immediately with her husband went to Indiana and settled in the deep, dense and wild forests of Monroe county. There she and her husband cleared out a farm and accumulated an abundance and enjoyed it until 1852. In that year they Bold the Indiana farm and moved to Lucas county, Iowa, where she has ever since lived. When she came to Lucas county, all this part of Iowa was wild and new. Where we now have fine houses, barns, orchards, meadows, corn fields and pastures, then the wild deer grazed in herds undisturbed; and almost where our court house stands—now old and dilapidated as it is—the she wolf still suckled her young, and made the night hideous with her howls. Then the wild mononot-ony of Iowa in her virgin condition, showed no signs of civilization, except here and there, atlong intervals.of distance, could be seen the•pioneer’s cabin rising feebly above the tall surrounding prairie giass and weeds. Then the most enthusiastic optimists never dreamed of living to hear the locomotives whistle* * .on Iowa prairie.But she and her. husband wanted lands for their numerous. children. Their means were not equal to such desires in Indiana, where civilization had rendered lands high. For the good of their children, they left their ease, comfort and competency in Indiana, and boldly faced the adversities, privations and terrors that surrounded the Iowa pioneer* None but brave souls would voluntarily and unnecessarily assume such conditions. 'She was the mother of thirteen children. Three of them died in infancy, and one in early childhood, in Indiana, while all the others li ved to reach manhood and womanhood - and came with her to Iowa. Between 1858 and 1883, her husband and five of her grown children died—two of her sons dying in the Union army. In 1874, her daughter Susan died. With the exception of Day id, they are all buried in the family lot in the Charlton eemetry. Her husband died in November, 1861, and although three, of her children died later, yet; by her instructions, a place was left by bis side for her grave; where sjse was laid away last Sunday by her kind and loving friends.:She met many serious reverses * in fortune; The pre-eminent characteristic of her nature was patience., Under all her adversities, reverses, privations, afflictions and sorrows^ she was never heard to complain, and never, in the least, became soured oir unpleasant. Death had no terrors for her; she has ’ for many long y ears been ready to die, and would so metimes express a desire to soon die, that she might meet on the other--shore the numerous members of her ;faniBy that had 'gqiie before. Fefc shewould{hex* remarks with, “the Lord’s will be done.”::^£ Her patience resulted from her’deep ;and'•profoundreligioris conviction;a member of thd Cliufch 5 frogWhooi;;Wring; alliier: ltfe, her faith in Christ; in Heaveh^her faith in a fiiture andetereal condition of happiness in Heaven; surround^ by her family arid friends, was' abso-Juteiy unwayeripg at all;times and under all circuinsta^ coriimrined.witrithe.time;;*In hcrreligiori she ‘wasalwareuriiet'and prefound-rrieverjexcitedfor given to i;dis^,stiengthp£mirid;anduninexhaustlble;8upplyc..of vcomraon .senses She had read very sexten-siyelypiireligiqnandpohtic^vandonthose subMaiccmldfttalklfi ue ntiy Kan d :*v itta greats—ente Her fondness for music^«8Q‘l?08ta:pa88ion,aiid;wheneverbowed!dowcwlthsorrowand?affiiction,orBuffering-from^aln and 4ireaae, notblngr could • re herjOD^ci^loe Tudej jnoMcouWli^ wick©3lt;^ and file most arrant infide Uty could only stand arid{P«
Newspaper Details
Chariton Democrat Leader
Chariton, Iowa, US
Wed, Dec 03, 1884
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
IA, 24 Nov 2021
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