WELKER, Lovina (Lantz) (DOD: Jan 1901)

WELKER, LANTZ, PHIPPS, NICHOLSON, LITTLE, HOLLY

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 6/21/2025 at 19:54:27

Funeral services over the remains of Mrs. Lovina Welker were conducted in the Methodist Episcopal church at 2:30 o’clock on Sunday afternoon. The church was crowded with people who had known and loved the deceased in life, and who had gathered to express their grief and sympathy and to give a farewell glance at the face of their departed friend. A very touching and eloquent funeral sermon was preached.

The casket was buried beneath a bank of beautiful flowers, placed upon it by loving friends. Amond the tributes was an anchor from her neighbors; emblem pieces from the ladies of the Maccabees and the Degree of Honor, and a pillow from her brothers and sister. There were many other tributes of roses, carnations and lilies from individual friends. The remains were laid to rest in Oak Hill cemetery. The pallbearers were Messrs. A. B. Ross, J. V. Bird, L. D. Nelson, John Phipps, Henry Phipps, J. N. Snidecor.

Mrs. Lovina Welker was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Nov. 5, 1835, and was of old Pennsylvania Dutch stock. Her maiden name was Lantz. While she was still a small child her parents removed to Richmond County, Ohio. In 1853 she was married to Solomon Welker of the same county. Five children blessed their union and these children were all gathered at her bedside when death came, as were her two brothers, Reuben Lantz of Garret, Ind., and John Lantz of Greenville, Ohio. Her sister, Mrs. W. D. F. Holly of this city was also present.

Her husband was a union soldier in the war of the rebellion, serving in the 178th Ohio volunteers. He died in May 1867, from the effects of exposures suffered while in the army. Left a widow at an early age, the deceased devoted her entire energy to the rearing of her children, all of whom were quite small. It may be said that no woman was more devoted to her children than was Mrs. Welker, and it can also be truly said that no woman was ever blessed with a greater degree of filial affection and veneration that she was. In childhood manhood and womanhood, her children fairly worshiped her.

In 1872, with her brood of little ones she came to Cherokee county, settling on a farm just north of the city. Here she lived for many years and watched her brood grow to men and women, marry and prosper. When all her children had flown from the home nest she moved to this city. purchased a home and devoted her time to the care of her grandchildren and to doing good in many ways. She was endowed with a generous and kindly nature and her gentle and loving heart won for her the respect and esteem of everyone with whom she came in contact. Although not rich, her purse was always open to those in distress. She was of the United Brethren faith, and she religiously and faithfully carried out the Christian precepts of the church of her choice.

Besides those bound to her by ties of kinship, her death will be mourned by a host of our people who knew her and loved her. Her children are Freeman Welker of Cedar Rapids, Mrs. T. G. Nicholson of St. James, Minn., and Frank Welker, Mrs. Frank Phipps and Mrs. James Little, all of Cherokee.

Those from abroad who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Welker and daughter Grace and son McKinley of Cedar Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. T. G. Nicholson of St. James, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Homer Rhodes of Fort Dodge; Mr. Reuben Lantz of Garrett, Ind.; and Mr. John Lantz of Greenville, Ohio. (Source: The Cherokee Democrat Semi-Weekly, Tues, Jan 22, 1901, pg. 1)