Isabella Ellerman 1825-1895

ELLERMAN, TRUDGEON, SKALINDER

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 8/16/2018 at 06:48:18

21 February 1895 - West Branch Times

Died, at her home in Piedmont, S. Dakota, Feb. 4th, 1895, Isabella R. Ellerman, wife of Frederick M. Ellerman. The deceased was born near Agusta, O. Dec. 30th 1825. She united in marriage to Frederick M. Ellerman at Chesterfield O. Jan. 28 1847. Removed to Salem Iowa, the following year where she united with the Friends' church. Removed to Cedar Co. Ia. in 1852 where most of the years of her life where spent. In 1884 a new home was made in the Black Hills, S. Dak. Converted in early womanhood, her Christian character grew and strengthened with her years. After coming to Dakota, as there was no church of her own denomination there, she united with the M.E. church, of which she was a faithful and efficient member until her death. The deceased was one who had ever prised the advantages of education. After her marriage she attended school for a short time also took several courses of lectures and lessons in art.

She was much interested in many branches of science and while in Iowa made one of the finest entomological collections in the state. The Black Hills being a peculiarly rich field for the geologist, she made a large collection of specimens and fossils. Among the latter were the petrified bones of some huge sea monster that none of the scientists of the Hills could classify. Prof March of the Smithsonian Institute came and pronounced them the remains of an Atlantasauris, the second of the kind that had ever been found. Her discoveries made it necessary for the members of the Government Geological Survey to recall and rewrite their report of that section of the country, which had been prepared for the Geological History of the United States.

During the last four years of life her health had been somewhat impaired, still she was not so infirm but that she enjoyed the quiet waiting time until she should be called from labor to reward. During her last illness her son and two of the remaining daughters, Mrs. Skalinder and Mrs. Trudgeon of California, attended her and all that loving hands could do to smooth the way to the rivers brink. The husband and four children mourn the loss of a faithful wife and mother, and the church and community a trusted counselor and friend.