Rebecca Smith 1837-1924

SMITH, MARIS, JOHNSON

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 8/9/2018 at 07:33:36

27 March 1924 - West Branch Times

Rebecca H. Maris, daughter of Owen and Rachel Maris, was born at Chester Hill, Morgan county, Ohio, May 6, 1837.

She was the youngest of a large family of children, of whom four brothers and three sisters lived to mature manhood and womanhood.

When Rebecca was but three years of age her mother died, leaving her to the care of an older sister, Sarah, till the time of her father's re-marriage. After the birth of three half-brothers and one half-sister, the step mother passed away, and Rebecca, now having grown older, in turn helped to care for these younger children.

After she had grown to womanhood she came to Iowa and in about 1867 she was married to Nathan E. Smith of Springdale, Iowa.

On July 7, 1877, Nathan Smith was drowned in the Cedar river at Rochester, leaving to Mrs. Smith's care their only children, two boys, aged one and six years.

After the younger son, Nathan Edwin, had grown to manhood and married, his wife was suddenly taken from him and Rebecca Smith again extended a mother's care to the little motherless grandson.

After a number of years' residence in Springdale Mrs. Smith removed with her family to California, and in 1889 she returned to West Branch, Iowa, where she lived till about eight years ago. Since then she has lived with her son George and wife at Brownsville, Texas.

She was a birthright member of the Friends church, living always a devoted Christian life.

About two years ago she fell and sustained a broken hip which left her bed-fast till the time of her death which resulted from an attack of la grippe. She died in the home of her son at Brownsville, Texas, March 20, 1924.

She leaves to mourn her loss, one half-brother, T. E. Maris of Garden City, Kans.; one half-sister, Mrs. P. S. Johnson, of Guthrie Center, Iowa; also her two sons, George M., of Brownsville, Texas, and N. Edwin, of Wichita, Kans., and one grandson, Clarence M. Smith, of Wichita, Kans.

The body was brought to West Branch that she may rest forever among the friends of many years. The funeral service was held in her home church, Monday, March 24, in care of the pastor, Rev. W. H. Wilson, assisted by Rev. Pittinger.

Interment was made in the cemetery at Springdale.

3 April 1924 - West Branch Times

The body of Mrs. Rebecca Smith was brought to Springdale on Monday for burial by the side of her husband, Nathan Smith, who preceded her in death many years ago. It will be remembered he lost his life by drowning in the Cedar river while helping to recover the bodies of two boys who had been drowned. Mrs. Smith has resided the last few years at Brownsville, Texas, with her son and wife, Mr. and Mrs. George Smith, and it was there that she passed away. The body was accompanied by her son Ned from Wichita, Kansas, and her daughter-in-law, Mrs. George Smith.