FELLOWS, Mary Sophronia (Reed) 1839-1922

REED, FELLOWS, SAAM, CROWDER, BEEMAN, PRESOTT

Posted By: Janet Koozer (email)
Date: 1/21/2007 at 12:19:50

Funeral of Mrs. Fellows

The remains of Mrs. L. E. Fellows arrived from Chicago, Thursday morning, where, after a brief illness, she sank into everlasting sleep at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C.A. Beeman, where she went after selling the old homestead here last year. Friends having heard that it was her request to be buried from the Methodist church, which had been dismantled ever a year ago when the Federated church was established, and where she was wont to worship for sixty years, went to work with a will and soon had the old edifice practically as she knew it so long in life, and from there the funeral obsequies were held.

Mary Sophronia Reed, wife of the late Judge L.E Fellows, was born in Cortland, New York, June 23, 1839, and passed to her reward January 31, at the home of her daughter Mrs. C.A. Beeman of Chicago, Ill.

She was the first child born to John and Hannah Reed and came to Lansing ridge with her parents when 16 years of age.

She was married to Liberty Eaton Fellows on July 4, 1861. To this union were born eleven children, seven of whom survive the parents.

Two children passed away in infancy. Miss Ella S. Fellows passed away on Jan. 28th, 1901, and Mrs. Grace C. Saam on Aug. 26th, 1913.

The surviving children are Wilson R. Fellows, Stillwater, Okla,; Albert M. Fellows, Lansing, IA; Lurs F. Crowder, Hampton, Ia.; Mary F. Beeman, Chicago, Ill,; Roger L. Fellows, LaGrange, Ill.; Jennie Prescott, Kamiah, Idaho; Libery E. Fellows Jr., Miles Ciy, Montana. Also 23 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

At the time of her marriage she came to Lansing to live and has made this her home until a few months ago when she moved to Chicago to be with her daughter.

In the records of this days history the historian will note the passing of another of the few remaining pioneers of this region. Pioneers! What a word to attract attention and create interest in the minds of those of a later date. We have heard her tell of the log cabin, the ox cart, and the spinning wheel, the fine neighbors, and fine times they had together. Never a sigh of complaint or murmer of regret. With her those were "Splendid days."

What a fine old word "nieghbor" is! For more than fifty years she lived in this neighborhood and what a neighbor she was! No friend or stranger ever came to her door but what they were greeted with most gracious hospitality. From her earliest childhood she was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Her toils and labors in its in its interest were many and no minister who ever served as her pastor will ever forget her loyaltoy to the cause. A womans crowning glory is in her home and motherhood. And her gentleness and affection were the dominant notes of her life.

In the language of one on whose life the shadows had fallen we say to the sorrowing friends and bereaved family "She is living still." They ask, many of them, what are we going to do now, that she who was the inspiration of it all, is gone. But she is not gone. If in my soul I believed that, I should be desolate indeed. It is only the river separates us once more as when we were children. I know as well as I knew then that she is in the garden just beyond, where all her summers are beautiful now, and that she is waiting there for us. So I shall seek the path to the garden till I find it. Iam once more where I dreamed as a boy, and I know I shall wake, as I did then and find the truth unspeakably fairer than my dream. Nor do I fear to miss the way, for our Lord has chartered it, so I cannot go wrong. " I am the way, "He said. She went trustfully across the river with him and was not afraid, So why should I be?

I shall be lonesome. Yes, God knows how lonesome.. But I have the sweet memory of the years we walked together here, and what are a few years of loneliness to the eternity of joy ahead, where hearts are never wrung with partings. And I shall not be idle, I shall be doing what she would have me do, and in it all, as you see, she will yet be the inspiration7, as she was for all the years that are gone."

She will rest in peace at the foot of the lofty hills. Sheltered by the oaks and whispering pines, and covered with a mantle of snow emblematic of the life that has slipped away. No words that we could utter in closing would express a more fitting tribute to her memory than to say she was pure, gentle and affectionate. The funeral services were held in Lansing on Thursday, Feb. 2, at the Methodist church, conducted by the Rev. N.A. Mershon D.D., of Fayette, Iowa, assisted by the Rev. Krebs of Lansing,. A large number of friends from far and from near were present. Interment in Oak Hill cemetery.

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