MABEL ELIZA (CHURCH) COCHRAN

CHURCH, COCHRAN, THOMAS, SMITH, GRENAWALT

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 7/29/2002 at 22:27:26

Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, May l0, l923

MRS. MABEL ELIZA COCHRAN was born at Mantua, Portage County, Ohio, then known as the Western Reserve, on May 23, l845. Her spirit passed out on the morning of April 30, l923, making her 77 years, 4 months and 7 days old at the time of her demise.

She was the fourth child of nine children, there being two sisters and six brothers, four only of the nine having lived to maturity, all of whom were residents in our midst, together with her father and mother, HORACE and SALLEY E. CHURCH, all of whom have passed on before except one brother, CHAS. F. CHURCH, of Lamoni. Her sister, CARRIE A. THOMAS, was known to many in the church as the composer of the Hymn, "Tis a glorious thing to be in the Light," and a brother was also known to many here, EDWARD C. CHURCH, the former passed on in the early days of Lamoni while the latter was with us till recently.

The early childhood of deceased was passed in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, except short periods that she traveled in the East with her parents, visiting the boyhood home of her father, in Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York, where they spent some time and lived for a time. Soon after returning from Michigan and there remained until their removal to what was then Sedgwick, Iowa, later changed to Lamoni when the railroad came through and this town was started.

On June 27, l866, sister MABEL and ASA S. COCHRAN were united in marriage and entered on the voyage of life together. It was not long till the glad tidings of great joy came to them for their study to together of the principles of the Gospel had made them ready for obedience, and together in the cold bleak winter of l867 and '68, the ice was broken and through the watery grave, Elder Briggs led this couple, together with her sister, CARRIE and her husband, ORLIN B. THOMAS and their father and mother into the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Of nine children, five have gone on before; CLARK WILLARD, CAROLINE AUGUSTA, MABEL JOSEPHINE, WALTER ASA, and ASA FRED. Four were present (*can't read - large torn area in paper) COCHRAN, of Norfolk, Nebraska; MRS. ELBERT A. SMITH, of Independence, Mo., WILBUR PAUL COCHRAN, of Lamoni, Iowa; and MRS. RALPH GRENAWALT, of Garden Grove, Iowa. These with grandchildren and great grandchildren, mourn her loss, but not as those without hope, for theirs is a hope that is steadfast, even unto the end.

Her parents, brothers and sisters, and her husband have all preceded her to that beautiful home except one brother, mentioned above, CHAS. F. CHURCH, well known to those in the community.

During recent months, deceased had become feeble, and her children were not willing that she should stay alone in her own home, so she had visited with each as she chose, but she was at her daughter, CLARA's, when she was taken to her bed in her last sickness, and there remained until it was apparent that she could not have the care that she needed and so she was taken to the Saints Sanitarium at Independence, Mo., where she was cared for by a special nurse and had every attention that could be bestowed upon her together with what her loving children could do for her comfort and pleasure, and there the end came early in the morning of April 30, in the early spring time when all was beautiful in all of Nature and her tired spirit took its flight to the Paradise of the Faithful and to join those she loved who had gone on before, being surrounded by her daughters and others of the family when she took her departure.

The body was brought to Lamoni, Tuesday afternoon and the funeral was held from the Brick Church, Wednesday afternoon. Funeral by A. Carmichael. Remains laid to rest beside her husband in Rose Hill.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
List Administrator; Decatur County, Iowa GenWeb
"With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter"
July 25, 2002