ELIZA A. (GRAHAM) SMITH

GRAHAM, SMITH, TUCKER, KELLER, TEALE, WHITE, OLDS, LANDPHAIR

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 8/12/2002 at 18:55:28

Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, July 5, l923

ELIZA A. GRAHAM was the eldest daughter of THEODORE and LENA (TUCKER) GRAHAM and was born July l2, l844. Her education was received in the district school. In her girlhood she united with the Methodist Episcopal Church of which she has ever since been a consistent member, and always faithful in her attendance at church as well as in all other lines of Christian service.

On Nov. 3, l864, she married JAMES R. SMITH in Jo Daviess County, Ill. In l866, with her husband and parents, she came to Decatur County, Iowa. The following year they settled on a farm southeast of Lamoni, where all of their children with the exception of the two oldest, were born and raised. In l890, they moved on a smaller farm nearer town, and in l90l, MR. SMITH having retired from active business, they removed to Lamoni where she has ever since resided.

MR. SMITH passed away Feb. 20, l922. While she never burdened others with her sorrow, those who knew her best felt she would never recover from the loss of her companion of more than fifty years.

She was the mother of eleven children, three of whom died in infancy. The eldest son, E.H., and third son, J.W., died in l9l0.

MRS. SMITH passed away June 23, l923, after an illness of less than two days, thus surviving her husband but l6 months. She is survived by her daughters, MRS. D.H. KELLER, of Mt. Sterling, Ill.; MRS. BERT TEALE, of Mt. Ayr, Iowa; MRS. A. OTIS WHITE, of Lamoni, and her sons, C.F., T.J. and A.H., also of Lamoni. MRS. TEALE who has been very ill the past three months, was unable to be at the funeral.

She is also survived by her sisters, MRS. LYDIA OLDS, of Warren, Ill.; MRS. VIOLA LANDPHAIR, of Pleasanton, Iowa; and two brothers, W.H. GRAHAM, of Leon, Iowa; and B.F. GRAHAM, of Lamoni, Iowa.

Seventeen grandchildren will keenly miss the kind ministrations and loving thoughtfulness of a devoted grandmother. The material success of MR. and MRS. SMITH was largely due to her thrift and early sacrifice in their pioneer days. MRS. SMITH was greatly loved by all who knew her and her loss is deeply felt by a host of remaining friends as well as her immediate family.

Funeral services were held from the home Monday afternoon in charge of Rev. J. Vincent Gray, sermon by Rev. R.M. Shipman, of Des Moines. Music was furnished by a mixed quartet, older grandsons acted as pall bearers and younger grandchildren as flower bearers. Interment 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"
August 8, 2002