Rocksy Smith, 1818-1903

SMITH, MUNGER, BERKSTRESSER

Posted By: Constance, IAGenWeb Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/27/2016 at 20:23:56

The Argo
West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa
December 9, 1903
Page 1 column three

THE PASSING OF A PIONEER.
Mrs. A.M. Smith, Life Consort o f a Pioneer Methodist Minister, Dies at Fayette, December 1.

After a week's illness from her old enemy, heart disease, Mrs. Rocksy Smith passed peacefully to rest last Tuesday morning, Dec. 1, full of years and with a glorious record behind her as a Christian worker. Funeral services were held from the M. E. church on Wednesday afternoon, Rev. Cattermole officiating, and the remains were laid at rest beside those of her husband in beautiful Grandview cemetery. The W.C.T.U., of which organization she was a devoted member, attended the funeral in a body.

Rocksy Strait was born on the 2nd. day of July, 1818, in Stockholm, N.Y. , and passed from this earthly life Dec. 1st, 1903, aged 85 years, 4 months and 29 days. She lived with her parents at home until on the 3rd. of August, 1837, she was married to Rev. Alban Smith, of the Oneida Conference, N.Y., with whom she passed through the vicissitudes of a Methodist itinerant's life, until his death on Dec. 25th, 1891. The young preacher and his bride began housekeeping Oct. 25, 1837, in the town of De Kalb, Lawrence county, N.Y. For twenty years they worked together in the ministry, in New York state, first in Oneida, and afterward in the Black River Conference.

In 1859 her husband was transferred to Upper Iowa Conference, and their residence ever afterward remained within the bounds of this Conference. In 1880, because of advancing age, her husband concluded to retire from the active ranks, and Fayette was chosen as their permanent home, because of the privileges of the school and congenial surroundings. Mrs. Smith was one of ten children in her father's family, all of whom have passed on before, except one sister, Mrs. Munger, who has outrun her in the race of life, and though two and one-half years older than the deceased, promises to continue with the blessing of her presence among us for a good while to come.

To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born three children, two girls and one boy. Of these Mrs. Celia Berkstresser, of Fayette, and Albert Gary Smith of Nebraska, remain to mourn the departure of the aged mother.

She was baptized by immersion when twelve years of age, and united with the church at 17, thus having lived the Christian life 73 years, and being a member of the Methodist church sixty eight years.

All through the active ministry she was a great help to her husband and of use in the hands of the Master. Gifted in an unusual degree with the power of song and prayer, she employed them for the building of His kingdom in the saving of souls.

Many in Fayette remember well her remarkably sweet voice, and the flow of fervent language in supplication. She was poetical by nature, writing considerable verse, and loving especially the old hymns, scores of which she had committed to memory, and was able to sing or repeat them up to a few days of her death.