MARTHA (KENDALL) PARSONS

KENDALL, PARSONS, ADAIR, WILLIAMS, KING, SMITH

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 7/7/2002 at 20:07:07

Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, August 3, l922

MARTHA KENDALL, daughter of MR. and MRS. JAMES KENDALL, was born in High Point Township, Iowa, September 9, l857 and died at her home at the same address July 25, l922. Her age was 64 years, l0 months and l6 days.

She lived with her parents until their deaths, which occurred in the years of l889 and l897. She united in marriage with MR. N.T. PARSONS, January l8, l905, upon which she became the step-mother to seven children. Under her thoughtful care and devotion, she saw them all grown to manhood and womanhood, who have always regarded her as mother and for whom they give the tenderest words of praise. She was a most dutiful wife, kind and conscientious and accommodating in disposition.

She united with the Methodist Church in young womanhood and lived an active Christian life. In the ministry and service of the church, her life was typical of many of the highest Christian virtues. The beatitudes, "Blessed are the peace makers", etc. seem to express the ideal for which she lived to attain. To her, deeds were better than words and actions mightier than boastings."

For many years, MRS. PARSONS was the organist of the M.E. Church at High Point and was a faithful friend and loyal support to the pastors, covering a long period of ministry.

Her health had gradually failed for several months, but being a person who seldom mentioned physical discomforts, many of her nearest friends and neighbors scarcely understood how rapid the end was approaching. Some of the best physicians in this part of Iowa were consulted, but since her disease was dropsy in a most complicated form, little encouragement was given for her recovery. Some years ago, MR. PARSONS suggested that they leave the farm and seek rest and recuperation elsewhere, but her desire to make a home for the youngest step-son, to whom she was greatly attached and had raised from infancy, influenced their decision to remain on the farm. She loved the quiet and solitude and always shrank from their opposite. The Divine Father evidently gave her the answer to her prayer, as she passed away. It was noon on Tuesday, July 25th, that she quietly sat in the parlor of their comfortable home. From her chair in the open door, her eyes caught the sight of the beautiful fields and meadows over which many times her childish footsteps had carried her in the reveries of youthful days. Also, she saw many large shade trees in their spacious lawn that had reached their maturity even as her own life had ripened. It was here in the quiet and alone, while others were absent for a moment, holding in her hand a church publication of which she was fond, she lay her head back for the spirit's flight, in just an instant she was gone.

She leaves to mourn her loss, one sister, MRS. LOUISA ADAIR, of Zincite, Mo.; one brother, MR. EDWARD KENDALL, of Allerton, Ia.; her husband, MR. N.T. PARSONS; five step-children; MRS. STELLA WILLIAMS, of Garden Grove; MRS. NAOMIA KING, of High Point; MRS. MARY SMITH, of Garden Grove; MR. PEARL PARSONS, of Seymour, Iowa and MR. LESLIE PARSONS, of High Point and eighteen grandchildren, all of whom loved her dearly.

Funeral services were conducted from the High Point Methodist Church on July 27th, by her Pastor, Rev. V.J. Andrew, assisted by Rev. Winslow of Allerton, and the body was laid to rest in the High Point Cemetery.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
List Administrator; Decatur County, Iowa GenWeb
"With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter"
July 6, 2002