Anna Simonds 1838-1919

SIMONDS, MATHER, MARCUE

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 12/26/2018 at 09:50:10

11 September 1919 - West Branch Times

The death of Anna Simonds occurred early this morning at her home north of town after an illness of eight months duration.

The funeral services will be held at the Friends church, Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.

18 September 1919 - West Branch Times

Anna Mather was born near Salem, Ohio, February 13, 1838. As a girl of twelve years she came to Iowa with her parents, Samuel and Lydia E. Mather, four sisters and six brothers in 1851; settling on the old homestead 1 1/2 miles east of Springdale, and Cedar county has been her home since that time.

She attended the Nestlerode school in Tipton before there was any public schools in the new country. Later she was a teacher for some years.

In 1863 she was married to Wm. A. G. Simonds of Leeds, Yorkshire, England. In 1870 Wm. Simonds died and the young widow had a hard struggle to support and train the three children left to her care.

Anna M. Simonds was of a cheerful disposition and year in and year out she sought some one more needy than herself to whom she might lend a helping hand. For many years the little basket of bibles belonging to the American Bible Society was in her possession and many a child received from her hand its first bible as a birthday present.

She was a member of the Society of Friends for more than sixty years and especially enjoyed attending the annual sessions of Iowa Yearly Meeting, having been present at its establishment fifty-seven years ago and attending the last time when in her eightieth year. She was much interested in Friends reconstruction work and her busy knitting needles completed many an article for the destitute across the seas.

She is survived by her three children, Mrs. Lydia S. Marcue of Lamars, Iowa, Flora E. and Wm. A. G. Simonds of West Branch, Iowa; three grandchildren and three brothers, William and Samuel Mather of this county and Daniel Mather of Indianapolis, Ind. and a half-brother, Perry Mather, of Ottawa, Kansas, also numerous nieces and nephews.

Her last illness began with a paralytic stroke last Jan. 9th, and the time since then she has borne with great cheerfulness, inquiring often for the welfare of her friends and especially their children. The death messenger came for her at 3:20 a.m., ninth month, eleventh, 1919, her age being 81 years, 7 months and 28 days.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 from the Friends church by Rev. Walter H. Wilson. Interment in West Branch cemetery.