Quigley, Nancy B. (Griffith) 1819-1897

QUIGLEY, GRIFFITH

Posted By: Ken Johnson (email)
Date: 7/4/2023 at 19:26:57

Thurs., 25 Feb. 1897 issue of the "Elkader Argus," page 4, column 4:

Obituary

Nancy B. Quigley, born in Tenn., June 21st, 1819, and died in McGregor, Iowa, February, 19th, 1897. Mrs. Quigley was the oldest daughter of John W. Griffith, one of the early settlers of Millville township. When about five or six years of age she came with her father’s family from Tenn. To Illinois, where they remained until 1835, when they removed to Clayton county, Iowa, and settled on Little Turkey river, near Millville. Here she became acquainted with Joseph B. Quigley to whom she was married in the spring of 1839, she being the second girl married in this county. Here they continued to reside until 1846, when they removed to Buck Creek about four miles south east of Garnavillo, and there built the first frame house in the county. They resided here until the spring of 1846 [sic] when they removed to Highland township and settled on what is known as the Quigley farm, which the family made beautiful and homelike, by planting and cultivating evergreens and various trees, shrubs and flowers, together with orchards and vineyard, and erecting good and commodious buildings.

In January, 1896, Mrs. Quigley removed from the farm and made her home with her son Robert until the time of her death. Deceased was the mother of six children. Wm. W., Robert, Sue I., George W., Joseph M., and Charles H. These all lived on their Highland farm, an unbroken family, until 1859, when Joseph M. died in his eighth year, afterward in 1884 the husband and father, and in 1896 the only daughter, Sue I., passed into the great beyond. Since Dec., 1884 the deceased was a great sufferer, the result of a compound fracture of the thigh, the immediate cause of death was catarrh of the stomach and liver.

Deceased was known to the writer since 1856 as a most excellent woman, in the family, in the neighborhood and in all the various walks of life in which she participated. To neighboring boys her house seemed like a home; so kind and gentle was she that she drew friends all about her without an effort and without seeming to realize it; scarcely a home in all that region but has felt the kindly influence of her presence and been the recipient of her helping hand in times of sickness and death. The earth life of Mrs. Quigley is closed, and the world is better for her having lived in it. It was the Master who said: “By their fruits ye shall know them” and “in as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these ye have done it unto me.”

The funeral was held at the Highland Illyria church, where old neighbors and friends, and young men and women came to pay their tribute of respect to the departed. An impressive service was conducted by Rev. F. L. Fisk, pastor of the First Congregational church, of Elkader, assisted by the choir, of the neighborhood. The remains were deposited beside her loved ones, in the cemetery by the church.