Fannie Spencer McAllister, 1869-1934

MCALLISTER, SPENCER, ROGERS

Posted By: S. Ferrall IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 8/18/2012 at 18:48:00

The following account appeared in the 'Alden Times' following the death of Mrs. Charles McAllister, 65, of Alden, who with her husband, the late Dr. McAllister, was a prominent resident of Spencer for a good number of years. The death story appeared in last week's News-Herald.

A second death within the circle of a pioneer family of this community occurred Sunday evening, when the quiet but forceful life of Fannie Spencer McAlister came to its close. Mrs. McAllister's demise followed five weeks to the hour that of her brother, Fred L. Spencer.

Her father, the late Joseph Allen Spencer was one of Hardin county's early settlers, and died here in 1918. Her mother was Fidelia Rogers Spencer. It was to help make life happy for these aging parents that Mrs. McAllister returned to her childhood home in 1913, after the death of her husband. Busying herself to this purpose through those declining years she found one of the deep joys of her lifetime. Courage and faith were always equal to the need in times of disappointment or grief.

The key to the greatest activities in Mrs. McAllister's life was her concern for others. These usually centered in the work of the Alden Congregational church, but often were of a wider scope. She was for many years the president of the Women's Missionary society. She was a life member of the Red Cross, for years a member of the County Social Service board, a director of the Woman's Work of the Webster City Association of Congregational churches, and a member of the board of the Congregational Women's Missionary society of Iowa. Her lifelong interest in missions and in education inspired an endowment for the Grinnell-in-China organization, which assured the perpetual support of a professorship in that important field.

Mrs. McAllister died in Alden, December 30 [1934], at the age of 65 years and seven days. She was born in Alden December 28, 1869. She received her early education in the Alden public schools. After teaching several terms of country school in the vicinity of Alden, she entered Grinnell college, from which institution she graduated in 1893. She taught in the high school of Spencer, Iowa, for three years and tutored for one year in Thomasville, Georgia.

She married Dr. Charles McAllister of Spencer, Iowa, December 28, 1898. The husband passed away July 30, 1913.

Surviving Mrs. McAllister are three brothers: Nat, of Kansas City; Allen, of Laurel, Mont. and Walter, of Chicago Heights, Ill., and three sisters: Ester, of California; Bertha of Des Moines; and Dora Spencer of Alden.

Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at the home, being conducted by Rev. Suckow, pastor of the Congregational church. Interment was in the Alden cemetery.

~Spencer News Herald, January 11, 1935
~note: Alden is in Hardin county, Iowa