Hansell, Nancy Jane ( Hunt) 1844 - 1921

HANSEL, HANSELL, HUNT

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:25

Elkader Register, Thur., 17 Feb. 1921. Elkport Personals and Fairview columns.

Mrs. Jane Hansel died at her home on Saturday at the age of 77 years. Just five months after her husband, John H. Hansel, she was buried at Bethel, on Monday. Rev. Riggs officiated.

Elkport Personals column.

Mrs. Jane Hansell, who has been quite ill the past months was relieved from her suffering on Friday evening, Feb. 11, when the death messenger called her. It lacked only a day of five months from the time when the same messenger entered her home taking from it her companion of over 56 years, John W. Hansell. Mr. and Mrs. Hansell were among the early settlers of Mallory township, coming here as children with their parents in the early 50s. Their long residence has seen many changes in the community. Although five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hansell his death last fall was the first time death had broken into the ranks of the family. Mrs. Hansell had been ill for some time with paralysis of the bowels and her death brought relief to great suffering. The funeral was held on Feb. 14 (five months to the day from Mr. Hansell's burial) at 11:00 a.m. from her home. Rev. Riggs conducted the service as he did that of the husband while the choir of the Fairview church sang the same beautiful hymns of the faith at each service. L. A. Zearly of Garber had charge of the remains and burial was at the Bethel cemetery beside her husband. The following obituary was read at the service:

Nancy Jane, the oldest child of William and Delila Hunt, was born in Virginia, September 20, 1844. She passed from this life at her home in Mallory township, Clayton county, Iowa, on February 11, 1921, aged 76 years, 4 months and 11 days. In 1850 her parents came from Virginia to Iowa settling on a farm near Osterdock. She has lived here ever since making a period of over 70 years passed in this community. We of this generation can hardly visualize the changes that she has seen in this country. Still less can we realize the hardships of those early days that she endured. Neither can we realize the lack of so many things that we today think are the necessities of life. She was married Feb. 28, 1864, to John W. Hansell and the year after their marriage the home was established on the farm where death claimed her. Over 56 years they lived together, the home being broken by the death of the husband just five months ago. But for that brief period was the separation of these two who had been made one by God. Now they are re-united on that other shore and are rejoicing in the presence of Him whom to know is life eternal. Five children were born to Mrs. Hansell, all of whom are living to miss the visible presence of mother in the old home. They are Will, Lyman, Ellen, Lettie, and Minnie. These as they went into homes of their own settled nearby and were present during the mother's illness to render all the help and comfort that loving hands could do and hearts inspire. Besides her children there are eight grandchildren and a great-grandchild. of her eight brothers and sisters, four, all of this community, survive her. They are Jim, David, Henry and Catherine. Besides these and other relatives there are many who thought of her affectionately as Aunt Jane. Some thirty years ago, in a revival service held at the old Updegraf church, under the preaching of Rev. Newville, Mrs. Hansell accepted the Christ as her personal Saviour. She united with the Methodist church at Updegraf but when that class was abandoned some years ago, she permitted the years to go by without uniting with any other church.

Fairview column.