Smith, Sarah (Wilkinson) 1830 - 1902

SMITH, WILKINSON, BAXTER, HANSEL, BAKER, BEDDOW, BLOODWORTH

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

Elkader Register, Thur., 30 Oct. 1902. Elkport and Vicinity column.

At the old homestead, three and one half miles southeast of Elkport, there passed to the beyond, Sarah, wife of Winfrey M. Smith, on the 21st day of the present month.

Sarah Wilkinson, eldest child of Thomas and Matilda Wilkinson, was born in Greensburg, Greene Co., Pennsylvania, on the thirtieth day of October, 1830. When about four years old she moved with her mother and other relatives to Morgantown, West Virginia, her father having died when she was three years old. There she grew to womanhood. In her twenty-third year (1853) she moved with a number of her relatives to Clayton county, Iowa, landing at Guttenberg. The sixth day of the following November of that year, she was married to Winfrey M. Smith, who yet survives her. To them were born fifteen children, ten of whom have preceded their mother to the Paradise of God where now no doubt she rejoices in their society awaiting the resurrection and immortalization of their bodies. Two sons, David A., and Samuel J., and three daughters, Mrs. (Jane, wife of) Joseph Baxter, Mrs. (Emily, wife of) Allen Hansel and Mrs. (Carrie, wife of) Marion Hansel, yet remain to comfort their father. There also survives her one half-brother, Samuel Baker, of Mallory township, and three half-sisters, Mrs. (Mary, wife of) George Hansel; Mrs. (Jennie, widow of) Tip Beddow and Mrs. (Rachel, wife of) Frank Bloodworth, the latter living at Manchester, Delaware county, and the other two in Mallory township.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith enjoyed each others society forty-nine years lacking only sixteen days, forty-five years of which time was spent on the old homestead where she died. They commenced married life near Colesburg, on the farm now owned by Bruce Flannagan. At the time of her demise she was 72 years, 11 months and 21 days old. In her childhood she joined the Baptist church, but after coming to Iowa she made her church home with the United Brethren in Christ. Failing to find complete satisfaction elsewhere she in latter years became a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, of which she remained a faithful member until the time of her death. The church has lost a worthy member, the husband a faithful wife, the children an affectionate mother, the neighborhood a constant friend and Clayton county one of its early land marks.

The funeral sermon was preached at the residence by Elder J. W. Peterson, and her mortal remains were interred in the Wilsie cemetery.