Malinda Hutson Holmes, 1842-1923

HOLMES, ALLEN, HUTSON, COCKER, FERRY

Posted By: Susan Rezek (email)
Date: 10/11/2004 at 22:06:26

[1.] Alta Advertiser, Alta, IA, Thurs., May 31, 1923:
"AGED LADY IS LAID TO REST ON MAY 30th -- Mrs. T. L. Holmes, Mother of Mrs. H. S. Allen, Passed Away Sunday Morning --
Malinda Hutson was born March 25, 1842, in Delaware County, Iowa and united in marriage October 9th, 1862 to Theodore Holmes. To this union was born two daughters, Mrs. H. S. Allen of Alta and Mrs. H. M. Cocker of Clam Falls, Wisconsin. She is also survived by a niece, Mrs. Bell Ferry of Waucoma, Iowa, who made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Holmes from the time she was seven years of age. She is also survived by four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Her husband passed away in 1900 and is buried at Manchester, Iowa.
After the death of her husband, Mrs. Holmes has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. H. S. Allen and has lived in Alta some eighteen years, being away from here frequently on extended visites [sic].
Mrs. Holmes' parents moved north from Alabama in 1840, being one of the three first white families to settle in Delaware County. Their home was used as the first school house and church and Indians then roved over the plains and then [sic] the forests of Eastern Iowa. Her parents were real pioneers and had the genuine pioneer spirit. Her father built the first school house on his farm, which was also used as the first church in all that section. Mrs. Holmes, too had attained the pioneer spirit and was a woman of remarkable patience.
She was converted in early life and always lived a consistent Christian life, and at the time of her death was a member of the Christian church. While living in Alta, before her last sickness, she was a very regular attendant of Sam'l [sic] Parker's Sunday school class and of the Methodist church. She made many close friends, and these all remembered her during her last illness with correspondence and well wishes.
She was taken sick two months ago, with ailments of general breakdown incident to advanced age, gradually growing weaker until Sunday morning when she passed into the great future.
Brief funeral services were held Monday afternoon from the H. S. Allen home, a former pastor, Rev. Mr. Byers of Cherokee, was in charge, who was assisted in the service by Rev. Mark Masters.
The body was taken Tuesday morning to Manchester, where a public funeral service was held on Wednesday morning and the body buried by the side of her husband. Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Allen accompanied the remains and will spend several days with old friends, before returning home."