Elizabeth Balls Wilson

BALLS, WILSON, MITCHELL, LINN, OWEN, SHOWERS

Posted By: Tim Lindgren (email)
Date: 5/31/2002 at 09:29:29

Pilot Mound Monitor: Like a sheaf of grain ready for the harvest Kind Providence has gathered from our midst one of our well known citizens.

Elizabeth Balls was born in Laxfield, Suffolk County England, May 14, 1822, and died January 29, 1905, aged 82 years, 8 months and 15 days.

In 1840 she was married to Simon Wilson with whom she lived happily until October 6, 1865, when he obeyed the inexorable summons. In 1854 she with her husband and family emigrated to Iowa, being six weeks in crossing the ocean and encountering two severe storms on the way.

After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Wilson lived a widow for several years when she married William Mitchell, with whom she lived until June, 1887, when he died. Mrs. Mitchell was a resident of Dodge township for a number of years and lived eight miles northeast of Boone for several years on what is now a part of the S. J. Wheeler farm. She was converted in her nineteenth year and was one of the first members of the Baptist Church at Mineral Ridge and has been a devoted member of that church ever since.
About twelve years ago Mrs. Mitchell came to live with her daughters, living for a few years with Mrs. Wm. P. Linn, and for the past five years with Mrs. George Owen where she has been cared for with the kindest and most tender affections.

She left six children to mourn her departure: William Wilson of Boone, Samuel Wilson, residence unknown, Simon Wilson, Dodge Township: Alice Showers, Fraser; Susie Owen and Florence Linn of Pilot Mound township.

During her eventful life Mrs Mitchell has had many trials; her second husband was a helpless paralytic for many years; she also cared with a mother's devotion for a daughter who was an invalid for several years.

Perhaps her most prominent characteristic aside from her quiet modesty was her life long habit of looking on the bright side of everything. For several years she cared for a homeless grandson whom she reared as her own child.

Funeral services were held Tuesday from the Baptist Church at Mineral Ridge, conducted by Rev. Wright and interment made in the Mineral Ridge cemetery.