Anna Karr (1851-1939)

KARR, WONNER, TOMLINSON, PRATT

Posted By: Barry Mateer (email)
Date: 12/3/2018 at 08:18:04

Osceola Tribune, Osceola, Iowa
April 18, 1939, page 7

Mrs. Anna W. Karr, one of Osceola’s pioneer residents, died at the home of her sister in Kearney, Nebraska, last Sunday, April 9 at 8:00 p.m.

Ever since she suffered a paralytic stroke July 14, 1936, she has borne her affliction with cheerfulness and patience. She had been tenderly cared for all those months by her two sisters, Mrs. Tomlinson and Mrs. Pratt.

She united with the First Presbyterian church built in Osceola in 1869, worked as a teacher in the Sunday school and as an active member of all its auxiliaries.

She was an active leader of Osceola’s early civic improvements – it was through her earnest efforts that the first traveling library was introduced, then later the Carnegie library of which she was the first librarian. She also served for many years as a member of the library board. She also assisted in the formation of the Cemetery Association which still continues to beautify the “Silent City.” She was influential in founding the Osceola Post of the Woman’s Relief Corps and as one of the charter members of the Chautauqua Circle which has functioned here for fifty years. Mrs. Karr was an active member of the P.E.O. sisterhood and the Eastern Star.

She had a keen, alert mind and could recall persons and associations and memories of the time when Osceola was but a mere hamlet on the Iowa prairies. She often related she reached Osceola on the great C.B. & Q railroad which ended here at that time in the spring of 1869. Here she located and the railroad built on to Council Bluffs in the fall of that year.

Anna W. Karr was born in Little Falls, New York, October 12, 1851, the daughter of Frederick and Christine Wonner. In early youth she with her parents moved to Galesburg, Illinois, where as a small girl she heard one of the Lincoln-Douglass debates. Later she with her parents came to Osceola.

On June 28, 1871, this young pioneer girl was united in marriage with Hamilton L. Karr a young soldier and lawyer who had come from Ohio to establish a home in the west. To this union two sons were born, F. W. who preceded her in death in 1919 and H.L. Karr, Jr. who still resides in Osceola. Her husband, Major Karr passed away a number of years ago and since that time Mrs. Karr has spent her winters with her two sisters in Florida and Nebraska. Her summers were spent at her own home in Osceola.

She is survived by her son, H. L. Karr of Osceola, two sisters, Mrs. Warren Pratt of Kearney, Nebraska, Mrs. H. E. Tomlinson of St. Petersburg, Florida, several nephews and nieces and a host of friends.

Sunshine and happiness always radiated from her, the rays catching in the faces of her many friends both old and young.

The remains were brought to Osceola Tuesday night, accompanied by her sister, Mrs. Tomlinson. The other sister, Mrs. Pratt was unable to come on account of the critical illness of her husband.

Funeral services were held from the Presbyterian church, Wednesday at 2 p.m. Rev. Mclean conducted the service assisted by the Eastern Star and P.E.O. Interment in Maple Hill cemetery.