Olive E. Heerman Littell 1843-1906

LITTELL, HEERMAN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/19/2011 at 00:15:53

Mrs. Littell Dead
Died Very Suddenly Friday Evening
Was an Old Resident of the County
Very suddenly and from heart failure and at 8:50 o’clock Friday [June 1, 1906] evening last occurred the death of Mrs. E.R. Littell, one of the very old time and highly respected ladies of Estherville. A short time before she had retired to her bed and in seemingly excellent health, for she had remarked that evening as to how well she was feeling. The summons was indeed a most sudden one for not more than two or three minutes before did she attract the attention of Mr. Littell who noticed a difficulty in her breathing and he called to her. He called to his son, William, who was in an adjoining room and a physician was summoned immediately but too late, Mrs. Littell was dead. For some time she had complained of her heart but not seriously, though knowing that her heart was so affected.

The funeral was held from the M.E. church on Sunday afternoon under the auspices of the W.R.C. and the Royal Neighbors. Rev. Cole of the church and Rev. McColley, pastor of the Free Baptist church officiated. The church was far too small to accommodate the great crowd who came to pay their last tribute of respect to the memory of Mrs. Littell and the wealth of flowers bore fragrant and ample evidence of the place she held in the esteem of her many friends and the people of Estherville generally. The burial was made in the east side cemetery where repose of the remains of the family relatives.

Olive E. Heerman was born in Pennsylvania August 1843 and when but a babe in her mother’s arms came to Des Moines county, Iowa. It was a long journey in those days from the east to the west. Arriving at Pittsburg they took passage down the Ohio river to Cairo and thence on the Mississippi river to Burlington. The date of their arrival on Iowa soil was June 3, 1844. In 1857 the family moved to Buffalo, Wisconsin. At Wabasha, just across the Mississippi from their home, she was united in marriage with E.R. Littell, Nov. 3, 1862. Seven years later they came to Emmet county making their home in Ellsworth township and engaged in farming for the subsequent fifteen years. Since October 1884 the family made their home in Estherville where Mr. Littell has been engaged in business and in the mercantile line. Two sons survive their mother, Leslie, who makes his home in Arkansas, and William, who is engaged in business with his father.

Mrs. Littell was a most excellent lady and during her entire life almost had been a practical and most helpful member of the M.E. church, very devoted to all of its services and a constant attendant at its ceremonies. Rev. Cole paid very high tribute to her Christian character preaching a sermon highly eulogistic of Mrs. Littell and spoke at great length.

The choir rendered a number of most beautiful selections. The pall bearers were Howard Graves, E.E. Johnson, H.C. Coon, J.T. Johnson, R.E. Ridley and M. Parriott. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, June 6, 1906)

A Sudden Death
The people of Estherville were shocked Friday evening to hear of the sudden death of Mrs. R. E. Littell, of this city. Although Mrs. Littell had not been in robust health for some years, she had been feeling exceedingly well for several months past and on the day of her death was able to do her house work and had been working with her flowers in the garden. On Mr. Littell’s return from the store, they sat and visited for some time and on retiring were visiting when suddenly at five minutes of nine, without warning she passed away, without warning she passed away, without a struggle. The first intimation Mr. Littell had that anything was the matter, she commenced to breathe heavily and gasp for breath. He immediately called his son and daughter, and a doctor was sent for, but she passed away within a few moments of the time in which she had spoken her last word. Mrs. L. suffered from a stroke of apoplexy, several years ago, but recovered from it in a short time.

Mrs. Littell was one of the pioneer women of Emmet county, coming here with her husband in1869, and settling on a homestead in Ellsworth township near Grass Lake. She was a good Christian woman and devoted her life to charitable deeds. Her old neighbors can testify to the kindly acts of Mrs. Littell. She was a prominent member of the M.E. church.

Olive E. Heerman was born August 19th, 1943, in Tioge county, Pennsylvania. The family removed to Iowa during the years 1845, when the mode of travel was a steamboat trip down the Ohio river, and up the Mississippi. They settled near Burlington, then a river village, where she was married to R.E. Littell, Nov. 2, 1862, near Burlington, removing to Emmet county in 1869. She leaves a husband and two sons, Leslie and Will Littell.

The funeral services were held at the M.E. church Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Cole. The church was filled to its capacity by the friends of this estimable woman and many were unable to gain admission. The remains were buried in Oak Hill [East Side] cemetery. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, June 6, 1906]