MARY Louise Martin Girard

GIRARD, MARTIN, NELSON, MUSMAKER, SWIFT

Posted By: Marie O'Brien Schertz (email)
Date: 9/30/2005 at 19:02:08

Mrs. Mary Louise Girard, 85 years of age, one of the pioneer residents of Adair County, died at her home in Greenfield Monday afternoon, October 25, 1926 at 3:25 o'clock. Death came after a serious illness of several weeks duration and due to arterial sclerosis. Mrs. Girard has been a resident of Adair county for the past half century.

Mary Louise Martin was born in Holmes County, Ohio, April 6, 1841. She was married to Theophilus J. Girard, February 6, 1866. They came to Adair County 50 years ago and made their home on a farm in Grand River township.

Mr. and Mrs. Girard were blessed with a family of eight children, seven of whom are living. They are: Emma Nelson, Iowa City; Alice Musmaker, Greenfield; Albert Girard, Creston; Lucy Girard, Greenfield; Jennie Swift, Orient; Esther Swift, Greenfield; and Clara Lovely, Stuart. Joseph Girard died in Roswell, New Mexico March 18, 1923.

Mr. and Mrs. Girard made their home in Grand River township until December 3, 1906, when they moved to Greenfield. Mrs. Girard was a great grandmother and grandmother to 38 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

She was a member of St. John's Catholic Church of Greenfield and was devout in her religious convictions.

Mrs. Girard was a woman of fine ideals, whose faith and courage met the trials of the pioneer days without leaving a stain of bitterness in her nature. Life to her was something to be worked out in good deeds and service to others instead of selfish pleasure for herself. The spirit of her life lives on although she herself has passed from among us.

It was no easy task to come to a new part of the country and establish a home in those early days. It was in this house that the pioneer mother wove into the lives of her children the principles of fine character that she herself portrayed. Her family now surviving her stand as her contribution to the world and her life stretches out into the yesterdays, a record of consistent, useful living.

Funeral services were held Wednesday morning at St. John's Catholic Church at 9:30 o'clock. It was in this church that Mrs. Girard received her strength and renewed her faith in the goodness of God as life reached its sunset hour. The Reverend Father Danahey had charge of the Requiem High Mass. Interment took place in the Greenfield cemetery.

from Adair County Freepress 1926