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VIRDEN, Martha (Williamson) 1793-1886

VIRDEN, WILLIAMSON, MULLEN, BUNTING

Posted By: Mary L. Mys, Black Hawk Volunteer
Date: 8/2/2016 at 09:33:05

MARTHA WILLIAMSON VIRDEN

Born: 29 JAN 1793 in Huntington Co., NJ
Married: 20 APR 1815 in Lexington, Kentucky, to William Virden

Died: Thursday, 11 FEB 1886, Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. A. Mullan

Obituary.

Last Thursday morning, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. A. Mullen, in this city, Mrs. Martha Virden departed this life at the advanced age of 93 years. Her illness was only for a few days and was the outgrowth of a severe cold followed by lung difficulty.

Deceased, whose maiden name was Martha Williamson, was born in Huntington Co., New Jersey, Jan. 29, 1793, and at the time of her demise, was probably the oldest person in this county. At the age of fifteen she removed with her parents to Lexington, KY., where, April 20, 1815, at the close of the war of 1812, she married WILLIAM VIRDEN, who had served in the American army during the entire war. Mr. and Mrs. Virden resided at Lexington until 1825, when they moved to Wayne county, Ill., and, in 1851 they removed to this county, and occupied the second house built within the platted portion of the present city of Waterloo. Here her HUSBAND DIED MARCH 27, 1855.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Virden united with the Methodist church in 1829, and she continued her membership until her demise and passed away gladdened by the hope of a joyous future. She was one of the pioneers of early Methodism and at her home the itinerant ministers of those times always found a cordial welcome while, prior to the time of church building in this section, her house was always open for divine services.

To Mrs. Virden there were born twelve children, nine of whom are now living, Mrs. A Mullan, Oscar and Jas. Virden residing in this county, Mrs. Elizabeth Fancher at Mt. Vernon, Iowa, John, Daniel, Thomas and Francis Virden in Colorado, and Mrs. Martha Bunting in Edwards Co., Ill.

One daughter died in girlhood, and two sons, Isaac and William, died while in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion. Surviving her in successive generations she leaves, besides the sons and daughters above mentioned, 59 grand-children, 61 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grand-children.

In a remarkable degree, she retained her facilities up to the time of her decease and her recollection of events as far back as the beginning of the present century, was clear and distinct. Her last illness was brief and painless and, having lived to see the development of nearly all the great factors of the present material advancement of the world, she closed her eyes and fell asleep, having lived out the full measure of her time. Her last words were the comforting text: "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building of God, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

The funeral services were held from the residence of Mrs. Mullan, on Saturday, Rev. J. G. VanNess officiating, assisted by Revs. Dr. Rhea and Barrett, and a large number of our people being present to pay a last tribute of loving respect to her memory.

OBITUARY Source: "The Waterloo Courier," Waterloo, IA: Wednesday, Feb 17, 1886


 

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