Roberts, Maria Ortentia (Easton) 1846 - 1923

EASTON, ROBERTS, BABCOCK, RIPLEY, BLESSIN, TEMPLETON

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 7/16/2013 at 15:49:39

Postville Herald, Thur., 9 August 1923.

Maria Ortentia Easton was born January 25, 1846, at Martinsburg, New York, and died July 31, 1923, at Long Beach, California, aged 77 years, six months and six days.

Her mother died when she was a girl of twelve and shortly afterward her father, Harvey Easton, moved to Postville, Iowa, settling on what is known as the Frank Sebastian farm, west of town. After moving to Iowa, Mr. Easton married Mrs. Lucy Babcock, widow of a New York neighbor. Thereafter the two families, Eastons and Babcocks, were as brothers and sisters. Mrs. Ripley, the surviving member of the Babcock family, was with Mrs. Roberts, the surviving member of the Easton family, at Long Beach at the time of her death.

Maria Easton as a girl had a great desire for an education. She attended school at Waukon and later taught school at Henderson Prairie and the Postville town school. About this time Hall Roberts came from the east and started in business. When he was twenty-two and Maria twenty, they were married and started the home which was to continue in Postville for fifty years, until the death of Mr. Roberts in 1916.

Four children were born into the Roberts home, Rollie, who died in infancy; H. E. Roberts, who resides in Postville; Mrs. Bessie Blessin, who has cared for her mother in Long Beach for the past three years; and Ruth, the wife of Herbert A. Templeton of Great Falls, Montana. There are also five grandchildren, Ruth Blessin and the four Templeton children, Bessie, Robert, Hall and Jane.

Mrs. Roberts was first of all a mother, of strong character and convictions. Her intense love for her children expressed itself in training them in the paths of duty, and now they rise up and call her blessed because of the authority she exercised in their younger days. She was the inspiration and guide of her husband. Always an earnest Christian she had the joy of seeing him, early in their married life, accept Christ, at which time was erected the family alter which was continued until the home was broken up. Mr. Roberts was superintendent of the Congregational Sunday School for thirty-eight years and the interests of the church were always identical with those of the home and in the life of Mrs. Roberts.

Three years ago Mrs. Roberts and her daughter, Mrs. Blessin, decided to move to Long Beach, California. There, in the land of flowers and sunshine, surrounded by many friends, old and new, she began to improve in health. This summer she seemed to have regained a great deal of her accustomed activity. She had of late, however, lived in the constant shadow of the ailment which threatened her and which had taken her sister and brother before. She was prepared for the ending which came so suddenly and met it calmly and bravely.

The body arrived in Postville on Monday evening of this week and was at once conveyed to her former home, where on Tuesday afternoon at 1:30, despite the lowering clouds and rain, a large gathering of old friends and neighbors assembled to pay a last tribute of respect to the memory of this kindly Christian woman, whose useful and helpful life among them for so long a span of years had endeared her to an ever-widening circle of friends. Rev. J. A. Saathoff, Pastor of the Community Presbyterian church, officiated. Interment in the family plot in Postville cemetery.

The floral offerings were profuse and beautiful, the fragrance and beauty of the flowers from far off California blending with those of the old home state and town in mute expression of sorrow and sympathy.

Those from out of town in attendance at the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Holahan, Mrs. Addie Easton and L. S. Easton, of Mason City; A. C. Ripley, Long Beach, Calif.; Chester H. Easton, Garner, Iowa; Curtis Cassil, Long Beach, Calif.; W. L. Easton, Decorah; Mrs. Gertrude Widman, McGregor; Albert Baker, Decorah; Mrs. M. W. Daubney, Long Beach, Calif.; Mrs. Bessie Blessin and Miss Ruth Blessin, Long Beach, Calif.; Mrs. H. A. Templeton, Great Falls, Montana.

Previous to the shipment of the body here funeral services were held at the funeral parlor at Long Beach, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Booth, Mrs. Robert's pastor there.

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Submitter is not related.

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