WALLER, Eliza Jane 1823-1911

WALLER, JOLLY

Posted By: Kathy Gerkins (email)
Date: 9/11/2013 at 18:37:39

Waller, Eliza
Mrs. Eliza J. Waller Dies at Age of 95 Years
Mrs. Eliza Jolly Waller was born at Chillicothe, Ohio and died at Charles City, Iowa, August 30, 1911 at the ripe age of 94 years, 3 months and 28 days.
As stated above Eliza Jolly was born at Chillicothe, Ohio, and when a small child with her parents removed to Hillsboro, Highland County, Ohio, where the family loved for a time and then moved to Rockford, Ill., where the subject of this sketch grew to womanhood and was married to Richard Miles Waller, December 19, 1839. The death of the husband a few years ago removed from life the last of the Waller family of that generation. To this union five children were born, who, with their parents came to Charles City, then St. Charles, in 1855, and have made their home here ever since. These children in order of birth, were John Richard, Joseph Wesley, Warren Edwin, Amanda Ellen (now Mrs. A. H. Brackett) and Martha Elizabeth (Mrs. Carr). Not only are these children all residents of this city, but during the later years of their mother's life gave her devoted and painstaking care,, ministering to all her needs from day to day in fillial spirit. Besides the five children she is survived by seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Waller came of pioneer stock and was of that hardy spirit that approached all the problems of life with determination and self sacrifice. She belonged to a family of fourteen children who underwent the privations of pioneer life in West Virginia and it is a matter of family record that her grandmother and tow of her sisters were slain by Indians, near the town of Wheeling in what was then the state of Virginia, and her father, then a boy of ten, taken and held a prisoner until he grew to manhood.
When Mrs. Waller and her family came to Charles City there was only one other house on the west side of the river and one on the east side, the latter being built without sills, the studding being set in the ground. This latter house was occupied by the Jarvis Ruttan family and stood on lots on Kelly street, just west of the lot how occupied by the public library. Mrs. Waller lived all her life in this city on the plat of ground now occupied by the family residence, the property being improved from time to time as the needs of the family grew and their financial condition improved . Much of the and about the Waller home on Kelly street, now occupied by residences belonged to the original Waller holdings, being sold off from time to time as the demands of the city for building sites grew.
Mrs. Waller was of a hospitable disposition and a woman who in her younger days occupied a large place in the activities of the city, but above all she was of domestic tastes her first thoughts being given to her home and the welfare of her family. These duties performed as she generously of time and means to the relief of suffering and need humanity. Her entire life was lived in strictest probity an she takes with her to her last resting place the sincerest affection of all our people. Her rule of life was 'to do unto others as you would have them do unto you'. In passing from life into eternity she suffered no pain, her breath simply leaving a body worn out by the passage of time.
Funeral services were held at the family home, 301 North Jackson Street, at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, September 1st., and were in charge of Rev. W. L. Dibble, pastor of the Congregational Church. Interment was made in Riverside Cemetery.

Newspaper clipping from Floyd County Museum.