Orintha Elizabeth Crane Booe

BOOE, CRANE, COONEY, KELLY

Posted By: Marlene Skalberg (email)
Date: 10/27/2014 at 21:26:51

The passing of Mrs. Orintha Booe takes from Adams County a pioneer who has lived her entire life, 81 years lacking a few months in Adams County, and who lived and died on the farm where her grandfather broke and eighty-one years ago , a record probably unparalleled in this county. The deceased, who has managed her farm until nearly the end of her life, was taken ill a few days before Christmas, and because of age and complications was unable to throw off the illness to which she succumbed January 25th, 1937. Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at the home at 2:00 o'clock, Rev. William Tiffin of Villisca in charge. Burial was made in the Nodaway Cemetery.
Orintha Elizabeth Crane was born October 28, 1955 in Fountain County, Indiana and passed away January 26th, 1937 at her home three miles northwest of Nodaway, aged 81 years, 2 months, and 28 days. She was the eldest daughter of Sylvester and Mary Crane. She came to Adams County in 1856, making the trip at the age of 9 months with her parents in a covered wagon. In 1855 her father came to Adams County, Iowa, making the trip on horseback and homesteaded on the land which is now a part of Mrs. Booe's home place. He returned to Indiana the next year in 1856 and came back to Iowa and settled on the land which was his home until his death in 1891, when he was 86 years old. There were three children born to this pioneer couple, Orintha (Mrs. Booe), a brother, William who died in 1864, and her only sister, Mrs. Thomas Cooney, who lives in Villisca.
Orintha was united in marriage to Thomas LeRoy Booe on December 20, 1871 by the Rev. Joseph Peregrine at his home south of Brooks. To this union seven children were born, two dying in infancy, Marie, at the age of 1 year, 11 months, and Fred at the age of 39. Her husband passed away April 16, 1917, aged 73 years.
The children who are left to mourn her departure are Roy, who lives on the home place, Mrs. George McElroy, east of Nodaway; and Mrs. Joe Cummings of Corning. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, John Cummings of Chicago, Leighton Cummings of Ft. Morgan, Colorado; Mrs. William Kelly of Corning; Elizabeth and Ruth McElroy of Nodaway; Fred McElroy of Indianola, and Mary McElroy Frazier of Sacramento, California. William Brown, who has been a member of the household since the death of his mother 27 years ago, also grieves for her as a second mother. She was preceded in death by two half brothers, John and Theodore. The later enlisted in the Civil War at Quincy and died in service at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis. A half-sister, Huldah, was killed by lightning many years ago.
With the exception of the first year, she has spent her entire life on a part of the land which was taken as a homestead by her father. At an early day she united with the Advent Christian Church at Highland and has lived in that faith since. She was a charter member of the woman's Relief Corps of Nodaway, which was organized in 1890, and was still a member at the time of her death, usually being one of the officers until a few years ago when failing health prevented her regular attendance. She was also an honorary member of the the Happy Hollow club.
Mrs. Booe will be sadly missed by many friends and relatives. As a mother, her first thoughts were always with her loved ones. She was a tireless worker and no task at home, among friends, or for the needy, was too great for her, and she was always ready to extend kind words and a helping hand to all about her. She was in failing health for years, but always was able to enjoy the pleasures and duties of life with others. She was a great lover of flowers and music. Things seemed to grow and bloom under her magic touch.
All who knew Mrs. Booe can truthfully say that a wonderful personality has gone, that a bit of Adams county history has been written in a life well and fully lived.
Adams County Free Press, February 4, 1937, page 1 and 20