SHINER, Mariah J. Tobin (Davenport) 1839-1907

SHINER, DAVENPORT, TOBIN, HEWLETT, PRATT

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 2/4/2014 at 23:25:17

Mrs. Mariah J. Tobin Dies Tuesday After Long Illness

After suffering for many mouths from cancer, Mrs. Mariah J. Tobin, past the age of three score years and ten and for more than half a century a resident of Waterloo, died Tuesday evening a few minutes past 6 o'clock at her home, 221 West Seventh Street.

Mrs. Tobin has always been prominently identified with the growth and progress of Waterloo and during her long residence in the city she was actively identified with the social, moral and educational advancement of the people around her. She was a member of the Congregational church and her life had been devoted to the principles taught by true religion.

The maiden name of the deceased was Mariah J. Davenport and she was born in the state of Ohio in 1830. She later came to Indiana with her parents and she was married in that state to Stewart B. Shiner. This marriage occurred June 3, 1849. The young couple soon removed to Illinois, in which state they made their home until 1835, when they came to Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. Shiner first located, on a farm near what is now Traer, their farm afterwards becoming the site of Buckingham. The family came to Waterloo in 1862 and Mr. Shiner died in this city in 1865. Of the seven children of this union but one survives - Clayton P. Shiner, who is a resident of this city. One of the sons - James - was a printer by trade and he learned to set type under the direction of W. H. Hartman, founder of the Courier. There are six grandchildren surviving as follows: Joe M. Shiner, Frank S. Shiner, Mrs. Bessie Freeman and Harry Shiner, children of James Shiner, and all residents of California; E. C. Shiner of Topeka, Kan.; and E. S. Shiner of Somerset, Pa.

On March 1, 1885, Mrs. Shiner was united in marriage to Thomas Tobin, the ceremony being performed at Vinton. The year before this marriage Mr. Tobin had established the Waterloo College, the institution which is now known as the Waterloo Business College. Mrs. Tobin took an active interest in the work of the college and after the school was sold to the present owners, she and her husband established Ellsworth College at Iowa City* and later the Tobin College at Fort Dodge. All of these institutions are in a flourishing condition at the present time and Mrs. Tobin took an active interest in their welfare so long as her health would permit.

Mr. Tobin died may 27, 1900. The following step-children survive Mrs. Tobin: R. J. Tobin, who is engaged in newspaper work in Chicago; Mrs. Mary H. Hewlett of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Mrs. H. M. Pratt of Fort Dodge, who was present with the son, Clayton P. Shiner, when death touched the wasted frame.

Funeral services were conducted this afternoon at the home, the Rev. W. H. Rillins, pastor of the Congregational Church, in charge. Interment was in Elmwood Cemetery.

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* Ellsworth College is at Iowa Falls, not Iowa City.

[Iowa Colleges That Have Closed, Merged, Changed Names, westminster-mo.edu]

Ellwsorth College - Iowa Falls, Iowa 1890 - founded by Thomas Tobin who previously founded Tilford Academy at Vinton, IA in 1870 and Waterloo College in 1885; in 1892 he founded Tobin College in Fort Dodge; Ellsworth College is considered as predecessor for Ellsworth Community College that is now part of Iowa Valley Community College.