Clarissa Priestley 1838-1915

PRIESTLEY, LEAKE, WILDER

Posted By: Suzanne Torkelson (email)
Date: 8/16/2003 at 16:07:39

From the Clarksville Star, 16 Dec 1915
“Pioneer Lady Dies” (Headline)
“Death came to Mrs. Clarissa Leake Priestley at the home of her daughter Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Wilder in Jackson township on Friday morning, December 10, 1915. Mrs. Priestley was one of the early pioneers of Butler county, coming with her husband from Lee county, Illinois in 1869. They settled on a farm five miles west of Clarksville where they lived for many years and where by hard labor prosperity abundantly supplied them. Many years ago they retired and came to Clarksville to live and where 26 years ago the husband died. Mrs. Priestley continued to live here until two years ago when she went to live with her daughter that she might be better cared for in her declining years. She had arrived at the age of 77 years, 3 months, and 22 days.
Mrs. Priestley enjoyed a large acquaintance … She is survived by Mrs. E. E. Wilder, the daughter, five grandchildren and two great-granchildren and one brother J. H. Leake of Dixon, Illinois, who recently made her a visit.
Funeral services were held at the Methodist church in Clarksville Sunday afternoon December 12, conducted by Rev. America Sea Holzschuh. Interment was in the family plot in Lynwood.”

From Allison News, Iowa Recorder 15 Dec 1915
“The funeral of the late Mrs. Clarissa Priestley, whose death occurred last Friday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. E. E. Wilder, was held Sunday afternoon at Clarksville. Burial was in Lynwood cemetery at that place.” (a later entry) “Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Shepard attended the funeral of Mrs. Clarissa Priestley at Clarksville last Sunday.”