Jennings, Louisa A. 1835-1900

JENNINGS, RIKER

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 2/23/2019 at 12:29:26

Obituary ~ Louisa A. (Riker) Jennings
April 20, 1835 ~ June 13, 1890

Decatur County Journal
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
June 26, 1890

DIED--Of heart disease at Grand River, Decatur County, Iowa, June 13, 1890 at 2:45 p.m., MRS. LOUISA JENNINGS, 65 years.

MRS. JENNINGS was born on the week of April [20], 1835, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. She was the only living child of MR. and MRS. DAVID RIKER. When she was yet fourteen years old her mother died, and six years later she went with her father to Knox County, Illinois. And on the 7th of October, 1855, she was married to her bereaved husband, MR. SCHUYLER C. JENNINGS. She came to Decatur County, Iowa with her husband and father October 25, 1866, and settled for a short time in Funktown; then they moved to their present residence at Grand River, where she spent the rest of her life. Early in life she joined the German Reformed Church, but when she came to Illinois she joined the Presbyterian Church.

MRS. JENNINGS was the mother of seven children, namely; MARY, JENNIE, DAVID, EMMA, (now MRS. MCGINNIS), IOWA, SCHUYLER and EDITH. The first child died May 20, 1879, at the age of nineteen.

MRS. JENNINGS spent her lifetime in good health, but for nearly eight years she had frequent troubles of the heart. However, she was always active and attended to her duty. The day before her death, she drove with MISS MARY DAILY to Westerville, where she spent the day visiting with her friends. She rested well that night, and never for many months had she felt better than the morning of her death. She called JENNIE, her daughter, and told her that she was feeling very much refreshed after her trip to Westerville. All that afternoon her mind was active, and she talked to her children with unusual cheerfulness, as if she perceived the happiness awaiting her. She attended to her morning work with added energy. Her last hours were marked by clearness and elevation of mind. At noon she was at the dinner table when the messenger of God came and called her away. The heart failed to beat, and she passed away peacefully within a few minutes.

MRS. JENNINGS was a devoted wife and a noble mother. She raised her children in the fear of the Lord. She was an active member of the Presbyterian Church at Grand River, and faithfully attended the public worship in the sanctuary. She was a generous, open-hearted Christian lady; trusting in the Lord in all her toils and trials, and it was always well with her no matter what the circumstances were. Her home has always been open to welcome her many friends--a place of good cheer for all worthy comers and goers. The death of MRS. JENNINGS is a great loss to the church, to her large circle of acquaintances and to her family.

The funeral was largely attended in the Presbyterian Church at Grand River, Saturday, June 14th at 2 p.m., after which the remains were carried to the Funktown [a.k.a. Oak Hill] Cemetery, and were laid in the family's lot beside her daughter.

May the consolation of Divine Grace be generously bestowed upon the bereaved husband and children, who bore their lot bravely. They have the deep sympathy of all their friends.

The funeral was attended by the writer.

~ Rev. M.E. BARAKAT

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