Mrs. EVAN (Eliza McWilliams) SWENSON 1856-1942

MCWILLIAMS, SWENSON, SMITH, VANALLEN, DAVENPORT, NICOLAY, WALLACE, HARRIS, LAWSON

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 2/11/2005 at 12:57:54

Eliza McWilliams Swenson passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Ira Smith, in Postville, Iowa, October 23, 1942, at 8:00 A.M., after a brief illness. On December 5, 1942, she would have reached the age of eighty-six years. Funeral services were conducted on Wednesday afternoon, October 28, 1942, at 2:30 P.M., at the Community Presbyterian Church and interment was in the Postville cemetery by the side of her husband, Evan Swenson, who preceded her in death August 5, 1932.

As Eliza McWilliams, daughter of Nathaneal and Isabel McWilliams, she was born on December 5, 1856, near Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. She came to this country when she was ten years of age and on February 6, 1875 was married to Evan Swenson at Postville. To this union was born twelve children, six boys and six girls, all of whom survive, namely: Arthur W. of Postville, Maria (Mrs. Ira Smith) of Postville, John F. of Minneapolis, Minn., Harry S. of Minneapolis, Minn., Mrs. Kate E. Van Allen of Chicago, Ill., Amy (Mrs. Chester B. Davenport) of Waukegan, Ill., Frank L. of Seattle, Wash., Alma (Mrs. Joseph J. Nicolay) of Edmonds, Wash., Hall L. of Cincinnati, Ohio, Allison E. of Cincinnati, Ohio, Ethyle (Mrs. Walter G. Wallace) of Minneapolis, Minn., and Lillian (Mrs. J. Charles Harris) of Seattle, Wash. Also surviving her are twenty-eight grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren; a half sister, Mrs. Henry Lawson of Postville, and a half brother, Alex McWilliams of Minneapolis, Minn. Three sisters and one brother have preceded her in death, also four half sisters and two half brothers. She joined the United Brethren Church at Bethel approximately fifty years ago and was a charter member of the Community Presbyterian Church at Postville.

The reason firm, the temperate will
Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill,

These characteristics were embodied in Eliza McWilliams Swenson. Living through pioneer days when the necessity of strictest economy was the first consideration, she managed to create a real home for husband and children, one that they recall now with tenderest understanding of her presonal sacrifices for their welfare. She is best known by friends and family as a mother in the noblest sense of that word. She laughed with her children in their joys, met their confidences with tact and understanding, and sympathized with them in their grief and pain. her sense of the rightness of things compelled her to remonstrate firmly when she encountered deviations from the ideals she had set for her family to follow and her sage counsel will live always in the hearts of those who knew her well. Although one who never found time to take a public part in the life of her community, she made of her home a mecca where all might come and find a kindly welcome, rest, comfort and inspiration. In later years when she was no longer able to do all her own work, she still maintained a careful supervision of all the activities in her home. Always forward looking, she constantly planned for the future and kept her heart and mind young in the interests of her children and the community. In the morning after work was done, she usually could be found seated in her favorite chair in the dining room, quietly reading her Bible and meditating on the inspirational thoughts found there. Her religious faith was never ostentatious but was an abiding part of her daily living. Many hours of the day and night were spent reviewing the lives of her children and other loved ones and praying that heir happiness might be as great and their faith as abiding and keen as hers.

A perfect woman, nobly planned
To warn, to comfort, and command.

Funeral Services at the Community Presbyterian Church, Postville, Iowa. Wednesday, October 28, 1942; at 2:30 o'clock P.M. Rev. L. H. Newhouse, Pastor. Casket Bearers: Arthur W. Swenson, John F. Swenson, Harry S. Swenson, Frank L. Swenson, Hall L. Swenson & Allison E. Swenson. Interment in the Postville Cemetery, Postville, Iowa.

- source: funeral service memorial
- submitted by Sharyl Ferrall