Martha Watkins Converse, 1842-1909

CONVERSE WATKINS

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 11/19/2010 at 17:34:08

MRS. CONVERSE DEAD

Passed Away at Her Home Wednesday Surrounded her Children.

FUNERAL WAS HELD SATURDAY

Burial Made in Oak Hill Cemetery—-Mr. Converse is Very Ill at His Residence.

Early last Wednesday morning news of the death of Mrs. Converse passed rapidly over our town and community, and although her death was not unexpected, people generally were unprepared for the unwelcome news. Since last October Mrs. Converse had been in poor health—at times confined to her bed and suffering much pain, but part of the time able to be about the house and get some little comfort and pleasure out of life. About four weeks ago she had a bad spell with her heart while busying herself about her bedroom and administering kindly little attentions to her sick husband, and after that date she was confined to her bed. During her illness she was patient and pleasant, always pleased with whatever attention she received. Her wants were few. She made no complaints.

She wished only that she might be well and strong enough nurse and care for her husband. During last weeks of her illness, while Mr. Converse, too, was in a dangerous condition, their tender solicitude each for the other was pathetic in the extreme. Day after day they noted that each was growing weaker and were reconciled to the inevitable. They had lived their lives well, their days had been well spent, they were ready to go and longed to go together.

Martha Maria Watkins was born at Eastford, Connecticut, May 12, 1842 and died June 23, 1909, aged 67 years, 1 month and 11 days. October 9, 1859 she was united in marriage to P. S. Converse, and eleven children were born to this union. Of these eleven children all but one are now living and most of them were at her bedside when Mrs. Converse passed away. In the year 1867 they came to Iowa and located on a farm in Tama county, near Dysart. There they lived for thirty-six long years, happy, contented and prosperous. In March, 1903 they sold the farm and moved to Estherville to take life more easily and enjoy the fruits of their labors. During their residence here they have made many friends. Mrs. Converse's pleasant, happy disposition made all her acquaintances her friends. She loved to speak of her children and grandchildren and was overjoyed that she was permitted to live long enough to become a great grandmother. She went but little into society. She loved her home, her children and her husband and delighted in making a home for them in every sense of the word. The absent members of the family were always sure of a hearty welcome whenever they came home, and Mother Converse always parted with them reluctantly when their visit was ended and had planned for a home coming of all the children this fall to celebrate their golden wedding. But it was not to be. God, who doeth all thing well had other plans and the hand of death removed from this one happy home the wife an dmother, and the home _____ desolate and lonely.

The funeral services were held at the home on East Lincoln street, Saturdya at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Campbell, assisted by Rev. Wasser. Floral attibutes in abundance bore mute testimony of the love and sympathy of friends and loved ones. All of the surviving children of the deceased were present at the funeral an in compliance with her wish, the five sons and one son-in-law acted as pall bearers and tenderly carried their mother to her last resting place, and in and in th cemetery beside her daughter, Edith, Mrs. Converse was laid in her earthly bed, free from all care and pain, at peace with the world, at peace with her God.

Source: The Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa; June 30, 1909.