Mary Hastings 1851-1931

HASTINGS, WERTZBAUGHER, FISHER, HOFFMAN, ADAMS, SHIRCLIFF, DRURY, BECK, GARDNER, LYNCH

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 6/11/2018 at 08:11:42

9 July 1931 - West Branch Times

Mrs. Mary Hastings, who has for many years been a sufferer with rheumatism, and who has been confined to her bed the past few months, in the home of her daughter, Mrs. John W. Wertzbaugher, passed away about nine o'clock Wednesday morning.

Mrs. Hastings was born August 22, 1851, being nearly eighty years old at the time of her death.

She was born the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Henry Fisher, and was born at Muscatine. Her mother was Sara Salome Hoffman, a native of Westhover, Alsace, France.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the Wertzbaugher home, conducted by the Rev. W. A. Montgomery of Cedar Rapids, a former pastor of the Presbyterian church here, of which Mrs. Hastings was long an active member.

16 July 1931 - West Branch Times

Mary Elizabeth Fisher was born August 22, 1851, at Muscatine, Iowa. She was the eldest of ten children born to James Henry Fisher and Sarah Salome (Hoffman) Fisher.

Soon after her birth, she and her parents moved to Illinois City, Ill., and later to Solon, Iowa, where she spent her girlhood days. She was educated at the Academy at Iowa City, Iowa, and then was a school teacher for about six years.

She was married September 21, 1873, at Solon, Iowa, to William Harrison Hastings. They lived for several years on their farm five miles northeast of West Branch, Iowa; then moved into West Branch, where he was established in busienss for many years, except for two spent in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Mr. Hastings was a soldier during the last three years of the Civil War. He died September 20, 1897, at West Branch.

Mr. and Mrs. Hastings had one daughter, Viola May, now Mrs. J. W. Wertzbaugher, Jr. In December, 1898, a niece Mary Elizabeth Fisher, now Mrs. M. F. Lynch, came to live with her and to her she gave a mother's love and care. These two, together with three grandchildren, Margaret, William Esley and Mary Elizabeth Wertzbaugher, and three brothers and three sisters, Chas. Fisher of San Pedro, Calif.; Lewis Fisher in Montana; Ernest Fisher of Morse, Iowa; Mrs. Ida Drury of Alhambra, Calif.; Mrs. Bertha Beck of Chicago; and Mrs. Lide Shircliff of Solon, are left to mourn for her.

At an early age Mrs. Hastings united with the Presbyterian church, for which she was an earnest, faithful worker as long as her health permitted. The later years of her life were spent in the home of her daughter. She had been ill for some time and had suffered greatly. Mrs. Hastings died July 8, 1931, at the age of 79 years, 10 months and 17 days. Her entire life was an example of cheerful, Christian living, her thought being all for others instead of for herself.

Funeral services were held at the Wertzbaugher home at 2:00 o'clock Saturday afternoon, conducted by the Rev. W. A. Montgomery of Cedar Rapids, with burial at West Branch.

Relatives who came from a distance to attend the funeral of Mrs. Mary Hastings were a niece, Mrs. Elmer Gardner and husband of Platte, S. Dak.; her sister and husband, Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Beck of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. L. T. Beck and daughter Myrtle Louise, Chicago; Mrs. Cornelia Fisher of Iowa City; Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Yetter and children of Anamosa; Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Furst and children of Olin; Mrs. Louisa Hastings and brother, Neil Arnold, of Cedar Rapids; Mrs. Debbie Haines; a sister, Mrs. Eliza Shircliff of Solon; her neice, Mrs. Richard Adams and husband of Solon; a brother, Ernest Fisher, and wife of Morse; Mrs. M. F. Lynch of Kansas City, Mo.; and Mr. and Mrs. George Vanatta of West Branch.