Beyer, Mary 1816 - 1900

BEYER, POLLARD

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

Elkader Register, Thur., 26 July 1900. Garnavillo columns.

Mrs. Mary Beyer died at her home on Madison street at 12:05 Sunday morning. Grandma Beyer had been sick for the last two or three weeks and she was ready and waiting for the time to come when she would be at rest.

Mary Ramey was born in Huntington Co., Pa., Oct. 24, 1816. She was married to William Beyer of Blair county, Pa., May 3rd, 1838. To this union were born five children, Martha Ann, who died at three years of age, Jazeb D., John F., Esther E. and Henry F., all deceased except the younger who alone survives. She went to her Heavenly home at five minutes past twelve o'clock Sunday morning July 15th, 1900, aged 83 years, 8 months and 22 days. She leaves one son, eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She moved to Clayton county, Iowa, in October 1846, was left a widow in the fall of 1849 with four small children, the oldest but 9 years of age, whom she kept together and raised by putting her trust in God and using great industry and economy. After her husband's death she returned with the children to Pennsylvania and supported them for six years and kept taxes paid on the land entered by her husband in Iowa, by keeping boarders on the Pennsylvania railway while it was being built, until her oldest son was 15 years of age when she returned to the land in Iowa, and with the boys and daughter the aged 15, 11, 9 and 7 opened up a farm out of heavy timber, and managed to keep out of debt, support her family and save the land, 400 acres, for her children. She was converted when a young girl and lived in the Lutheran church till she was married and with her husband joined the M.E. church of which she has been a faithful member sixty-one years. She raised an orphan girl whom she loved dearly, and who is now the wife of W. K. Pollard. She was possessed of the most unselfish spirit always using great industry and economy, and giving freely of her means to the poor and the church. She was a widow fifty-one years, thirty years of which she kept up a very comfortable and happy home for her children, until they were all married when she had to give up her happy home at the farm and move to town, and has lived mostly alone since that time. Her home was always opened to the ministers of all Christian churches and it was many times used as a preaching place and in which to hold Sunday school. She took up the family alter when her husband died and maintained it during life in the most faithful manner. She passed through many hardships and privations in her early life in the west. Many nights she quaked with fear in the dark woods alone with her small children, when she could hear the rifles of the Indians and the howling of wolves but she always had implicit confidence in God's special care for his children and in his promise that he would never leave nor forsake those who trust in him, which promise he faithfully kept. She was a kind and loving mother and a friend to all mankind. Shortly before her death she said she had not the slightest ill feeling toward any human being and many times as she grew weak and came near the river's brink did her face light up with a radiant smile and she would try to clap her hands with holy rapture, so she passed triumphant through the gates, washed in the blood of the Lamb.