Eckles-Hensley, Maria A. (Richter) (1833-1909)

HENSLEY, ECKLES, DEATON, WATERMAN, BABER, BISHOP

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 9/4/2018 at 09:27:02

Audubon County Journal, Thursday, Mar 18, 1909, Exira, IA, Page: 9

GRANDMA HENSLEY

Mother of Mrs. John Bishop
Passes Away at Her Home Sunday
After a Long Illness

Maria A. Richter, was born July 24, 1833, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Bishop in Exira, March 14, 1909, being 75 years, 7 mo. and 20 days old at death. She was married to William Eckles in the state of Indiana June 12, 1849. Five children to born to this union of lives. Her husband died April 25, 1865. March 24, 1870, she was again married to J. J. Hensley who preceded her to his long home Dec. 6, 1892. To this union were born two children both of whom died in childhood. She and her husband moved from Indiana to Adel, Iowa, in 1852 where Mr. Eckles died April 25, 1865. The two children of Mrs. Hensley are Mrs. Jennie Deaton of Avon, Iowa, Mrs. Maggie Waterman of Hay Springs, Nebraska
, Mrs. Anna Baber who died at Exira, Mrs. Emma Bishop of Exira and Mr. William Eckles of Atlantic, Iowa, all the children being present except Mrs. Waterman. Besides the children are there are four living step-children, J. I. Hensley of Exira, Morgan Hensley of Iowa Falls, Frank Hensley of Seattle, Washington and Charles Hensley of Burlington, Wyoming, all of whom hold their step-mother in reverence for her noble, true, Christ like motherly spirit.

Early in her girlhood days she linked her life to the invisible Spirit without which are lives cannot but fail and which accounts for the noble life of sacrifice she lived for the sake of others which endeared her to the hearts of all, which affection is expressed in a measure in the floral tributes seen at the funeral and the large crowd who attended the funeral.

Her husband was a preacher in the United Brethren Church and with her husband she shared the duties and the privations of the life of the early traveling preacher for the sake of their Lord and ours and the spiritual needs of those whom they served. Rev. William Eckles was made presiding elder by his church in all of which duties this noble woman was a helper, sharing in the burdens and sacrifices the life of a minister brings. She left a bright testimony of her assurance of a readiness to go and meet the accounts of her life work and her Savior and loved ones who have gone before, where she awaits out coming. Let us live to meet her there. She died in the faith, full of ears of usefulness to the world and God’s kingdom on earth. The funeral was held at the M. E. Church at 2 p.m., the six grandson being pallbearers, Rev. Bates of Brooks, Iowa officiating as the pastor. W. E. Harvey, had another funeral calling him away.