Elma Mather 1851-1922

MATHER, NEGUS, FOGG, ELLYSON, ROOD, JONES

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 7/7/2018 at 08:28:50

7 December 1922 - West Branch Times

Elma N. Mather, daughter of Elisha and Elvira Negus, was born near Springdale, Cedar county, Iowa, March 23, 1851, and died at her home in Tipton Nov. 26, 1922, aged 71 years, 8 months and 3 days.

She was the eldest child in the family and is the first to go, her three sisters, Rachel Fogg and Esther Ellyson of West Liberty, Ia.; Mary Rood of Pasadena, Calif., and her brother, Henry Negus of Iowa City, Ia., surviving her.

She was married to William Mather Jan. 14, 1871, and in 1921 they were among the favored few who are privileged to celebrate their golden wedding.

The first few years of their married life were spent on their farm near Springdale, Ia., but in 1880 they moved to Tipton to be near their son.

She was a birthright member in the Society of Friends and was always an earnest worker in the different activities of this church until they moved to Tipton, where she became an active worker in the Presbyterian church, though retaining her membership in the church of her younger years.

She always found pleasure in doing good and helping others, especially the children and the young people, to build and maintain high ideals in life. With this in view she taught a Sunday school class faithfully all of her adult life and gave many young lives pure, noble Christian ideals.

She is survived by her husband, William Mather, and two children, May M. Jones of Richmond, Ind., and Carl H. Mather of Tipton, and five grandchildren, Robert C., Wilfred V., May M. Jones of Richmond, Ind., and Maurine Elma and Bethany Mather of Tipton.

Mrs. Jones, who spent several months with her mother this summer, was not able to be with her in her last hours or at the funeral on account of being in the hospital.

Mrs. Mather was not of an assertive disposition, but sought either by pleasant suggestions and noble example to lead rather than drive others to simple Christian living. She was a dutiful daughter, a loving wife and a wonderful mother, and their home has always been open to all who were doing anything in the community for maintaining and raising the moral or educational standard of the state and nation.

While her home was more dear than anything else to her she enjoyed her trip to Cuba in 1903 and her trip to the western coast and mountains in 1916. In mountain and plain, forest and waterfall and in the simplest flower that grows she saw the hand of her Creator and loved to ponder on His wonders and His love.

Always quiet and unassuming, her kindly, sincere nature made her loved by all who came within the circle of her acquaintance.