Pearson, Julia Marcilia (Hunt) 1850-1941

PEARSON, HUNT, BAILEY, SAWDEY, ERNST, DUNNING, EVANS, REINCKE, CHURCH, COLLINS

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 3/29/2005 at 20:19:33

Postville's oldest citizen, Mrs. Julia Pearson, 91, passed away Monday morning following an illness of several years. Funeral services are being held this afternoon at two o'clock in the Schutte Funeral Home and at 2:30 o'clock at the Community Presbyterian church with the Rev. J. Ian Fraser officiating. Burial will be in Grand Meadow cemetery at Ridley.

As Julia Marcelia Hunt she was born in Rodman, New York, May 23, 1850, the daughter of Horace and Harriett Bailey Hunt. She was one of a family of ten children and when she was six years old her mother passed on and she lived with an aunt until she left the east to come to Iowa in 1864.

With the exception of occasional visits to other parts of the United States, she has lived in the vicinity of Postville for the past 77 years. Of late Mrs. Pearson has been making her home with Mrs. Sam Hofer in the late Maggie Mitchell home.

After attending the schools of Postville and Monona she taught school at Ion for a year. Then in 1867 she was married to George Pearson and to them were born five daughters and one son. Those who survive are Mrs. Georgia Sawdey of Portland, Oregon; Mrs. Jessie Ernst of Postville; Mrs. Mattie Dunning of Alva, Okla.; Mrs. Katherine Evans of Pueblo, Colo.; and Chester A. Pearson of Postville.

A daughter, Mrs. Bertha Reincke, passed away in 1921. Three step-children also preceded her, namely Victor Pearson, Libbie Church and Fannie Collins.

Mrs. Pearson is also survived by 28 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, also a brother, Harry Hunt, in Long Beach, California.

Mrs. Pearson was connected with the Postville Methodist church and when that church became party to the organization of the Community Presbyterian church, she became a charter member of the new church and was a member until her passing.

Mrs. Pearson wrote a great deal of poetry, all of it expressing her strong Christian faith. Several will be read in the service this afternoon. One in particular, written to the meter of a familiar hymn tune, was marked, "To be sung at my funeral." Accordingly, in its intended musical setting, it will become a part of the service also. All of her daughters were here to visit her this summer, but as far as is known only Mrs. Dunning will be able to come for the funeral rites.

~note: she died August 18, 1941
~source: Postville Herald, undated clipping
~contributed by Sharyl Ferrall,gg-granddaughter
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another obituary, containing additional information:

Pioneer Dies at Postville
Postville - Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Community Presbyterian church here for Mrs. Julia Pearson, 91, Postville's oldest resident, who died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Fred Bruhn here, followin an illness of several years. The Rev. J. Ian Fraser, pastor, will officiate and burial will be in the Grand Meadow cemetery. Pallbearers will be Ezra McGee, M.E. Smith, C.R. Reincke, Horace Gordanier, Perry Perkins and Porter Jones.

Mrs. Pearson was born in Rodman, N.Y., May 23, 1850, and came to the Postville vicinity with her parents in 1864, making the last stage of the trip by stage coach.

She was a member of the Presbyterian church for 81 years, was known in her earlier years for writing poems that were accepted in national magazines. Her great grandfather fought in the French and Indian war, her grandfather in the Revolutionary war, her four brothers were in the Union army during the Civil war. She had a nephew in the Spanish-American war and a grandson in the World war. As a girl in New York state she worked through the Civil war with other women in Rodman making bandages and dressings for wounded Union soldiers.

She is survived by a son, Chet, of Postville and four daughters, Mrs. Georgia Saudey of Portland, Ore.; Mrs. Albert Evans of Pueblo, Colo.; Mrs. Mattie Dunning of Alva [OK]; and Mrs. Jesse Ernest of Postville; 17 grandchildren, 17 greatgrandchildren and three great great grandchildren.

~source: Mason City Globe Gazette, August 19, 1941
~contributed by Sharyl Ferrall, gg-granddaughter