Webster, Agnes (Motheral) 1865 - 1900

WEBSTER, MOTHERAL

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:23

Elkader Register, Thur., 25 Jan. 1900.

On Thursday last, Jan. 18, 1900, occurred the sudden passing away of Mrs. C. L. Webster at her home in this city. As she had been sick but a few hours, her death was a great shock to her family and friends, as also to the entire community. Mrs. Webster was better known among her friends of this county as Miss Agnes Motheral, of Pleasant Ridge, where most of her early life was spent. Agnes Motheral was born Oct. 3, 1865, at Montrose, Lee Co., Iowa. At the age of four years she removed with her father's family to this county, where she lived until about eighteen years of age, when she went to visit relatives in Dunn Co., Wis. There she spent several years teaching in the public schools of that county and endeared herself to all who knew her by her kind and gentle spirit. For some time she held the office of Supt. of the Scientific Temperance instruction in that county, appointed by the W.C.T.U. On Nov. 11, 1891, Miss Agnes Motheral was married at Menomonie, Wis., to Dr. C. L. Webster, of Dunn Co., Rev. Maxon, of the Unitarian church of Menomonie, officiating. Dr. and Mrs. Webster continued to reside in Wisconsin until Oct. 1897, when they removed to Clayton Co. being called here by the death of Mrs. Webster's father, Mr. John Motheral, of Pleasant Ridge. In about six months after the sad loss, a beloved and noble sister also departed this life. There now remains a mother, two brothers, and three sisters. Mrs. Webster leaves a devoted husband and two little boys in a sad and desolate home.

A very large audience assembled at the Congregational church on Sunday afternoon, at three o'clock, to pay their last tribute to Mrs. Webster. Rev. Josephine Baker, pastor of the Universalist church of West Union, Iowa, was called to officiate. Her remarks were most touching and consoling, being in harmony with the views often expressed by Mrs. Webster herself. Miss Baker effectually dispelled the usual gloom of such an occasion by her certain assurance of the larger and better life that the deceased had entered into and of the earnest conviction that the mother heart would still be able to guide her little ones and be perhaps more helpful to them than had she remained upon the earth.