Elizabeth Ann Cory Soper 1845-1924

SOPER, CORY, CORRY, ALEXANDER

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 4/1/2013 at 00:56:13

Mrs. E.B. Soper Passes Away Friday, Sept. 26
Spent Last Months of Life With Her Daughter
Lived Here from 1871-79
Since Then Until Last Illness Had Made Her Home in Emmetsburg
Mr. E.B. Soper, mother of Mrs. D.R. Alexander of this city, passed away on Friday evening at the home of her daughter. She had been in very poor health for several years but there had been no noticeable change for the worse. Her death came suddenly from cerebral embolism.

Mrs. Soper was a woman of great strength and beauty of character and was a leader in her home town, Emmetsburg, and in this city where she lived in pioneer times from 1871 until 1879 she was actively interested in all social and community affairs.

The deceased lady was seventy-nine years of age at the time of her passing. She was a native Iowan [born] on October 2, 1845, shortly after her parents came to this country from England.

It was as a bride that she came to this then tiny village in1871. Her husband had just been admitted to the bar and practiced law during their residence here. He was also one of the founders of the First National Bank. The law firm of Soper, Allen & Alexander which later became Soper and Alexander continued to be one of the most influential professional firms of Estherville and still retains that name even after the death of Mr. Soper.

Funeral services were held for Mrs. Soper at Emmetsburg on Monday afternoon. Short services in charge of the P.F.O’s were held at the Harlan Soper residence followed by services at the Methodist church.

Messrs. and Mesdames M.K. Whelan, John Kirby, R.J. Ridley, J.W. Morse and D.R. alexander were there for the funeral. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, October 1, 1924)

Mrs. E.B. Soper Passed Away Last Friday
Had Been Seriously Ill for Nearly Five Years
Was a Pioneer Resident
Came to Emmet County in 1871 – Mother of Mrs. D.R. Alexander – 78 Years Old
Mrs. E. B. Soper passed away Friday evening at 10:30 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. D.R. Alexander on north Seventh street, after an illness lasting over a period of nearly five years, three of which she was confined to her bed and the past two years an invalid and a nurse continuous employed. During the last two years, however, she was able to be taken out in a wheel chair and given all the comfort and happiness that human hands could give. She was the wife of Captain E.B. Soper and they came to Estherville in 1871 and remained until 1879 when they moved to Emmetsburg where Mr. Soper engaged in the practice of law and heavily invested in banks in northwest Iowa. Mr. Soper was at one time president of the First National Bank of this city. He passed away seven years ago. Mrs. Soper was born in Linn county in 1846 and married to Mr. Soper in1871. Three children, Mrs. D.R. Alexander of this city, E.B. Soper, Jr., and E.H. Soper, of Emmetsburg, and one brother, J.W. Corey of Spencer, are left to mourn her death. Mrs. Soper was a wonderful lady, admired by all who knew her. She was a good Christian woman and will be greatly missed by friends who have known her for fifty years. The remains were taken to Emmetsburg Saturday morning and the funeral took place Monday afternoon at 2:30. President Harlan, of the Cornell College, a life long friend of the Soper family was present for the funeral. Sympathy is extended the bereaved relatives in their time of sorrow. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, October 1, 1924)

Mrs. E.B. Soper Is Called
Passes Away Friday at the Home of Daughter in Estherville
Friday evening word came from Estherville that Mrs. E.B. Soper, Sr., had passed away in that city. She had been up there for some little time at the home of her daughter, Mrs. D.R. Alexander. She had been in failing health for several years, this sickness following the death of her husband, Captain E.B. Soper. The remains were brought here from Estherville on the evening train Saturday and taken to the old family home where they remained until the funeral services on Monday.

Elizabeth Ann Cory was born in Linn township, Linn county on October 2nd, 1845, and just subsequently to her birth the family removed to a farm in the vicinity of Mount Vernon where she grew to girlhood and young womanhood. She received her education in the public schools and in Cornell college, teaching in the meantime in the public schools during the civil war period. She became acquainted with Captain Soper in her girlhood days and attended college at Mount Vernon while he was also a student there. On November 15th, 1867, she was united in marriage to him and the following June both of them graduated from Cornell. For a year after their graduation Captain Soper taught in the college after which they moved to Marion, Iowa, where Mr. Soper entered the law office of her uncle, Colonel William Smyth, and did office duty and studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1871 and removed to Estherville where he commenced the practice of law. The family continued to reside in Estherville until April, 1879, when [they came to] Emmetsburg. This was the home of Mrs. Soper until she was called to the better home beyond. It was here in Ememtsburg that she began that life work of genuine service to the community and to the church that rarely women give to the duties of this life. In her early married years three children came to bless the home and while never neglecting home nor these children she always found time and opportunity for the other manifold duties of life of service to her God and her fellow man. This service found its greatest activity in the Methodist Church and Sunday School of Emmetsburg. For twenty years she was superintendent of the Sunday School and gave to it a devotion that was rare and unselfish in the extreme. She knew every scholar, who was in the school, and knew the home from which these children came. It was a very common sight to see her horse and buggy hitched near some of the poorer homes of the community where she had gone not only to minister to their physical needs but to cheer and comfort them by giving them the loving words of the Master. None who did not follow her work closely know of the great amount of work she did in this direction. She was not only interested in this kind of work but many a young girl who was ambitious for a better education received aid and support from her in gaining their laudable ambition. She was also interested in the Foreign field and for years was a heavy contributor to this work and was president of the Womans Foreign Missionary society of the church. Her last Christian work was done in this society. Even when failing health compelled her to desist from her labors of years she would still attend these Missionary meetings and aid the work by her cheering words of advice and encouragement. She was truly a grand and noble character and one can but think in her case of the words of the Master, who having declared “As – have done it to the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Enter thou into the joy prepared for thee.

The funeral was held Monday at the home at 2 p.m. and at the church at 2:30 p.m. At the home the P.F.O. Sisterhood of which the deceased was a member held their beautiful service. At the church the scripture reading was given by Dr. J.T. Weeks, and prayer by Rev. J.F. Brereton and the obituary was given by Rev. Acheson. The sermon was given by Dr. Herbert Clegg of Storm Lake, who was intimately acquainted with her work for the church and the community. He spoke beautifully of this work and of its influence not only in this community but in the darkest regions where through her aid work the gospel of Christ had been carried. The remains were laid to rest in Evergreen cemetery by the side of her husband. As one beheld the beautiful flowers which smiled above the earthly mound beneath which she slept one could but think that they reflected the beauty of the character of her, who reposed beneath them.

As one looks back over the past thirty years or more in Emmetsburg, one can not help but think of that beautiful home of Captain and Mrs. E.B. Soper, now ended with the passing of Mrs. Soper. It was here that many of the gatherings of the church and Sunday school were held and from which radiated fellowship and love which makes Christianity a real factor in the life of any community. It will longer linger in the memory of the many that so often frequented it. Such homes give more to the world that all the ostentation and power with which immense wealth seeks to dazzle the children of this world.

Mrs. Soper leaves to mourn her three children – Mrs. Ruby Alexander of Estherville, E.B. Soper and E.H. Soper of this city. She also leaves several grandchildren and her brother, Mr. Cory of Spencer. They have sympathy of the entire community in their sorrow. (Palo Alto Reporter, Emmetsburg, IA, October 2, 1924)