MESSINGER, Pheobe (Tibbetts) 1835-1905

MESSINGER, TIBBETTS, REYNOLDS, CALEASE, DUNHAM, MASON, RICHARDS, SHERMAN

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 4/21/2015 at 23:55:49

[Waterloo Daily Reporter, Wednesday, October 4, 1905, Waterloo, Iowa]

A PIONEER LADY PASSES AWAY

MRS. JOHN F. MESSINGER DIED OF APPENDICITIS

WAS ILL BUT THREE DAYS

SPENT PAST TWO YEARS AND A HALF IN TACOMA, WASH

Mr. and Mrs. Messinger Intended Returning to Waterloo When She Was Taken Seriously Ill

Mrs. John F. Messinger died at Mineral Lake, Wash., Tuesday afternoon of appendicitis. Mr. and Mrs, Messinger have been making their home with their daughters in Tacoma, Washington, the past two and a half years, and had but recently went to Mineral Lake for the benefit of Mr. Messinger's health, he having been sufferer with asthma. They went there in the hope that the change of climate and water would prove beneficial to him, were pleased with the results and were making all arrangements to continue their journey to this city when decedent was taken suddenly ill with appendicitis. A telogram was at once sent to the children in Tacoma and they reached their mother's bedside within a few hours after learning of her illness. Soon after they arrived in Mineral Lake a telegram was sent to the daughters in this city apprising them of their mother's- illness, and last night the second telegram arrived telling of her death after but three days illness. The news came to the children with crushing force and the truth could scarcely be realized.

Decedent's maiden name was Phoebe Tibbetts, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. Tibbetts, and she was born August 6, 1833. The place where she was born was upon her father's farm which has since become the location of the city of Indianapolis, Ind. In the year 1848 the family moved to Bremer County, where they resided for many years. On October 26, 1851 she was united in marriage to J. F. Messinger. During the year 1866 they moved to Blackhawk County, settling on a farm in Mount Vernon, and later they moved to a farm three miles north of this city, where they continued to reside for many years. To this union nine children were born, six of whom now survive. They are: Mrs. E. C. Richards, Tacoma, Wash.; Mrs. C. M. Sherman, Tacoma, Wash.; John M. Messinger, Redlands, Cal.; Mrs. John H. Mason and Mrs. Henry Dunham of this city; Mrs. John Calease, Clarksville.

At the age of 14 years Mrs. Messinger united with the Methodist church in Indiana, to which she belonged until her dying day. She was one of the best and kindest of mothers, a friend, to everybody, continually doing something which would brighten the lives of others and make them happy. Her life,for over a half century, has been spent in worshipping God and in following His teachings as faithfully and as fully as was within her power to do so.

Mr. and Mrs. Messinger have the unique distinction of being the first couple married in Bremer County, which wedding occurred on October 26, 1851. They celebrated their golden wedding four years ago surrounded by their children and grandchildren.

The remains of Mrs. Messinger were taken to Tacoma and the funeral services will be neld there Friday afternoon. None of the children from here will be able to attend on account of the great distance of travel. Interment will be in a Tacoma Cemetery*.

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*She is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Waterloo with her husband John who returned to Waterloo after she died and he died the following year.

Her name is spelled Phebe on her gravestone but Pheobe in this obituary as well as in her husband's obituary.

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