Martha J. Miller Gallagher

MILLER, GALLAGHER

Posted By: Linda Holm (email)
Date: 1/23/2012 at 15:34:21

*NOTE* Additional [Names] provided by L B Holm

Source: Waverly Newspaper

With the passing of Mrs. Martha J. Gallagher of Plainfield last Thursday morning, Bremer county loses another of her early settlers. Coming to the county when a young woman, fifty-six years ago, she saw Bremer country brought from its wild prairie state to its present high state of development, and our towns and cities to their present proportions. How much of this has been due her efforts and high Christian character, and the splendid influence she had with her neighbors and acquintances can only be calculted by the large circle of true frinds she has left behind to mourn her departure. The best monument that can be reared to her memory is the esteem and love of the community in which she has lived for more than a half century. Martha J. Miller was born in Yates county, New York August 27, 1844, and died at her home in Plainfield, Iowa Thursday morning, April 14, 1921, aged 76 years, 6 months and 21 days. When a very young girl she came with her parents from New York to Illinois. September 15, 1860, she was united in marriage to W. A. [William A.] Gallagher, at Beloit Wis. To this union were born seven children four boys and three girls. Mr. and Mrs. Gallagher came to Bremer county in 1865, and this continued to be her home till the day of her death. She is survived by three sons, William J., residence unknown; Fred G., Plainfield; Dick A., Horton; and two daughters, Mrs. Edna Coffin, Laurens Iowa, and Mrs. Eva J. Sutherland, Waverly. Two children, Eugene R. and Mrs. Leona Williams, preceded their mother in death, as did also her husband. She leaves one brother and one sister, Richard [James Richard] Miller, Chicago, and Mrs. Sarah Woodruff, Waverly; also nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren, besides numerous other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at her late home in Plainfield on Sunday afternoon at one o'clock conducted by Rev. O.J. Felter pastor of the Methodist church. The remains were brought to Waverly and laid to rest by the side of her husband in Harlington cemetery. Those from a distance who attended the funeral were Mrs. Roy Coffin and daughter, Carol, Laurens, Iowa; Clarence Williams Elkhart, Kan.; Howard Williams, Elk River, Minn.; Miss Ada Goodnecht, Parkersburg, Iowa, and Hubert Williams, Waterloo.