Sarah Ann Kisling Burkhead 1841-1912

BURKHEAD, KISLING, FOWLER, POLK

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/7/2012 at 19:51:43

Mrs. Burkhead Dead
Settler of Armstrong Grove Township Passed Away
Armstrong Journal – The saddest [news] which has devolved upon us since we assumed charge of The Journal [was the] chronicling of the of the death of Mrs. [Sarah] Burkhead, which occurred at [Vinton], Iowa, early Christmas morning.

Two months ago Mrs. Burkhead – srong for a visit to a sister at [Vinton] and incidently take treatment [for a nervous] ailment. About two – ago she slipped and fell, sustaining a fracture of one of her hip [bones]. Her advanced age and meager resources, brought about by years [of suffering] from her nervous trouble, -- fight against death a hopeless [task] although she struggled gallantly [she was] finally forced to yield to the inevitable and close her eyes for that last long sleep.

Mrs. Sarah Burkhead was 72 years old. For the past twenty-two years she had lived in the vicinity of Armstrong and for several years has made her home in this city. She was one of those motherly, lovable old ladies, and the announcement of her passing away will cause grief in many an Armstrong home. She was a devout Christian woman, affiliating with the M.E. church, and her many kindly Christian acts will live as monuments to her memory.

About ten years ago her husband died and since that time she and her daughter, Miss Gertrude Burkhead, have made their home together. Besides the daughter she is survived by six sons. They are G.W. Burkhead of this place, E.J. Burkhead of Swea City, O.Z. of Jerome, Idaho; Geo., Joe and John of Oakdale, Nebraska. She also leaves numerous grand children.

And thus the life book of another of our pioneers has been closed. Inscribed on its pages are the deeds of one who lived to do some good for humanity, and in doing so won the love of all. Her greatest pleasure was in extending sympathy to the afflicted and broken in spirit, and her reward was forthcoming Christmas morning when she came face to face with that great Comforter.

Funeral services will be held at the M.E. church Friday afternoon at 2:30 in charge of Rev. Pruitt, pastor of this congregation. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, January 1, 1913)

Death of Pioneer
One of the good pioneer mothers of Iowa laid down the burden of life early Christmas morn when the angel of death called Mrs. Sarah Burkhead to the world beyond. Sarah A. Kisling was born in Boone county, Indiana, in 1841 and passed away at the home of her sister in Vinton, December 25, 1912. She came to Benton county with her parents when twelve years of age and was united in marriage to Geo. W. Burkhead September 2, 1858. Nine children were born to this union of which two passed away in infancy. The seven living children were at the bedside of their mother when she passed away: G.W. Burkhead of Armstrong, J.W. and G.L. of Oakdale, Nebraska, and Gertrude of Armstrong. Besides the children two sisters and one brother are left to mourn. Mrs. Fred Fowler of Vinton, Mrs. Wm. Polk of Brandon and J.D. Kisling of Elgin, Nebraska. In 1890 the family moved from Benton to Emmet county, where she has since made her home. The past two months were spent at the home of her sister in Vinton, Iowa, where she died. She was a member of the M.E. church at Armstrong and was laid to rest in the Armstrong cemetery by the side of her husband, who died May 31, 1896. – Swea City Herald (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, January 8, 1913)