Smith, Nancy Agnes (VanAlstine) 1858 - 1929

SMITH, VANALSTINE, VAN ALSTINE, HANSON, DAVIS, BARTHOLOMEY, COMPTON, HENDRICKSON

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 12/4/2020 at 13:09:42

Clayton County Register, Thur., 29 Aug. 1929. Strawberry Point column.

Agnes VanAlstine was born on a farm east of Strawberry Point on March __, 1858, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. VanAlstine. She died Wednesday morning, August 2_, 1929, at 8:30 at her home in her seventy-second year; her whole life being spent in and around Strawberry Point.

Two daughters are left to mourn her passing: Mrs. E. B. Hanson, of Edgewood, and Mrs. Leslie D. Davis, of Strawberry Point; and one granddaughter, Helen Hanson. Mrs. Smith is also survived by three sisters, Mrs. Mary Bartholomey of U_land, California; Mrs. Luella Compton of Hollywood, Calif.; and Mrs. Julia Hendrickson of Lincoln, Nebraska.

She joined the church in her youth and was a faithful and consistent member all her days. For many years she was a devoted worshipper of the local Congregational church. She was also a member of the order of the Eastern Star.

During the Red Cross activities in connection with the World War she was an untiring worker, perhaps doing as much in that good cause as any one; yet it was characteristic of her that her big share of help was done entirely in the home and away from the public eye.

The appraisement of a friend's life and the setting down in a few sentences the truth about that life is not in every instance an easy task. In many instances it is far from easy and a task of extreme difficulty because of the inconsistency, selfishness and worldliness of the life that has come to its end.

In the case of Agnes VanAlstine Smith is it easy to recall those finer qualities of her character that shall still live in other lives made better by her presence and it is not at all difficult to think and say the highest and the best about her.

Beyond her church, its worship and work, her whole life centered in her home. She allowed no outside competitor to share the time, strength and care that she lavished there. Those who lived with her only know what a home-lover she was. In the years of her strength she was never absent from Divine worship without a good excuse, and her presence there had in it something of a Benediction. She was not given to saying much regarding the higher experiences of mind and heart - she was too good a woman for that - but when she did speak whether to pastor or friend, one always felt the sincerity and beauty of her words.

Mrs. Smith had her own share of trouble, but she never allowed it to make her critical, cynical or unkind in her thought of others and one could detect a mellowing tenderness as the years lengthened. The fine ________ of her face, the halo of silver that life threw around it, the _____ sympathetic voice; these will remain for many a day as leg____ to sweet memory.

Last month Mrs. Smith became seriously ill, but although confined to her bed and very weak, God mercifully spared her pain. The end came quietly and was literally as falling asleep - laying aside without a sigh the tasks of life in full assurance that God had better work for her to do.

The funeral was held at the home Friday afternoon at two o'clock. The pastor, Rev. S. L. Unger, read the obituary and Scripture, and Rev. W. W. Maxwell lead in prayer. A large company of friends were in attendance. Interment was made in the Strawberry Point cemetery. Pall bearers were: Otto Fuehr, M. F. Harwood, J. R. King, R. C. Norris, H. J. Esch, Charles Blanchard.

(Note: There was no mention of who, where, when she was married, only the surname Smith. WPA records indicate, Nancy Smith, 1858 - 23 Aug. 1929, buried in Strawberry Point cemetery.)

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Added by S. Ferrall 12/4/2020:

Death certificate (familysearch.org) names her as Nancy Agnes Smith, divorced w/o S.A. Smith; and d/o H. Van Alstine & unkn.