Phelps, Mary Jane (Bealer) Wells (1855-1930)

BEALER, WELLS, PHELPS, WHITTIER, RUST, PARROTT, MARDESEN, DUNFEE, HUMBERT, ANKERMAN

Posted By: Ken Akers (email)
Date: 9/16/2012 at 22:12:22

Audubon County Journal (IA)
Dec. 12, 1929, pg. 6

LOCAL HAPPENINGS

Mrs. Hiram Phelps is quite ill at
her home. Her condition the past day
or so has been reported as some better.

Mr. and Mrs. George Wells of Dex-
ter, Charlie Wells of Guthrie Center,
Lutie Wells of Massena and Leonard
Wells of Corning were here the first
of the week to see their mother, Mrs.
Hiram Phelps, who is critically ill.

Audubon County Journal (IA)
Jan. 23, 1930, pg. 1

--------
Long Time Exira
Resident Dies

--------
Mrs. Mary Phelps Died Follow-
ing Long Illness. Had Liv-
ed Here Many Years.

-------

The funeral services for Mrs. Mary
Phelps, who died at her home on Sat-
urday, January 18th, 1930, were held
at the Exira Church of Christ on Mon-
day afternoon, January 20th, 1930 at
one-thirty o'clock. Burial was made
at the Exira Cemetery. Rev. A. G.
Whittier, pastor of the church of-
ficiated at the services, and was as-
sisted by Rev. Rust, pastor of the
Baptist Church at Guthrie Center.
The immediate cause of death was
pronounced to be Vertriculi-Carsimo-
tosis.

Mary Jane Bealer was born in
Marion, Ohio January 30, 1855, and
passed away at her home in Exira,
on January 18th, 1930 at the adavanced
age of 74 years, 11 months, and 18
days.

Early in life, the deceased moved
from her birthplace to Rock Island,
Illinois; where she lived until 1882,
at thich time she moved to Audubon
Cou(n)ty, Iowa. She has since lived in
this county, moving to Exira in March
of 1909.

On the 8th day of March, 1872, she
was united in marriage to Henry C.
Wells, who preceded her in death on
June 19, 1909. From this union there
were 11 children, two of whom, Mrs.
H. A. Parrott and a son four years of
age, passed away before their mother.
The 9 surviving children are Charles
of Guthrie Center, Andrew of Exira,
Leonard of Corning, George of Dex-
ter, Mrs. Tom Mardesen of Exira,
Lucius of Massena, Mrs. Eunice
Phelps of Exira, Mrs. Flora Dunfee of
Youngstown, Ohio; and Royal of
Exira.

Mrs. Wells was again married to
Hiram R. Phelps on the 24th day of
January, 1912.

In October of 1921, Mrs. Phelps
confessed her faith in her Savior, and
was baptized into the Church of Christ
by Rev. Dale Humbert.

Surviving this fine Christian wife
and mother, besides the children and
husband mentioned above, are 46
grand-children, a number of nephews
and nieces and a great host of friends.

Mrs. Phelps had been ailing for
some time past, being bedfast for the
last 14 weeks. She was exception-
ally cheerful and patient, having a
smile and a kindly word for all, even
during her last sickness. Finally, at
12:15 on the afternoon of Saturday,
January 18th, 1930, she quietly and
painlessly slipped into that eternal
sleep which knows no physical awak-
ening; after having said that "it was
all right for her" for "she loved
Jesus."
"I will sing you a song of that
Beautiful Land,
The far-away home of the soul
Where no storms ever beat on that
glittering shore
While the years of eternity roll."

The following poem was composed
by Mrs. Earl Dunfee a daughter of
Mrs. Mary Phelps.
"Oh! Dear Mother, how we miss
you!
How we miss that Mother's love!
But we know that you have gone
To be with our God above.
And, we know some day we'll meet
you
On that Bright Eternal Shore;
Where we'll all be with our Savior,
To live forever more."
"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath
taken away; blessed be the name of
the Lord." (Job 1:21).

Audubon County Journal (IA)
Jan. 30, 1930, pg. 8

--------

CARD OF THANKS

To those who so kindly assisted us
during the illness and at the time of
the death of our loving wife and moth-
er we wish to extend our heartfelt
thanks. Also for the beautiful flow-
ers.
Hiram Phelps
and The Children

Note: Parents were Christopher Bealer and Susan Ankerman.

Additional Source: Exira, Iowa Sesqui History Book (1857-2007), page 140