BOWER, Martha Ann (Halstead) 1848-1921

BOWER, HALSTEAD, STEWART, WILTSE, TAATUM, HAMMOND, BROWN

Posted By: Chris Tonn (email)
Date: 5/28/2014 at 17:19:05

Marble Rock Journal, Marble Rock, Iowa June 16, 1921
(Originally posted in the Charles City Press, Charles City, Iowa)

Obituary

Martha Ann Halstead was born in Marion County, State of Michigan, March 10th, 1848 and passed away to her last resting place Sunday morning, June 5th, at the age of 73 years, two months and 25 days. She was united in marriage for the first time to Bingham Stewart to which union eight children were born of which all have preceded her in death but two.

A few years later she was united in marriage for the second time to Benjamin F. Bower of Rockford, Iowa and to this union one child was born who died in its infancy.

Mrs. Bower was preceded in death by her husband the late Benjamin F. Bower by two years and three months.

She has been ill health for years and shortly after the death of her husband she came to make her home with her daughter, Mrs. Minnie Wiltse, 508 South Iowa St. [Charles City, Iowa] at which place she remained up until her death.

Mrs. Bower was a person of a kind and loving disposition as well as a neighbor esteemed by all who knew her and to know her was to love her as she was a mother to all the young people of her community.

She was a devoted and christian hearted woman having been baptized in the Christian Church at Marble Rock, Iowa some fifteen years ago.

All that loving kindness, care and help could do was given her to help brighten the remaining days of her life which all knew were not long.

At the time of her death she seemed in more pain than was usual and Sunday evening at half-nine she complained of being tired and was put to bed and seemed to be resting easy but the sleep was never to be awakened as her life passed to the great beyond while she slept.

Besides being a kind, loving and devoted mother to her children she was a ____ and loving wife. She leaves to mourn her sad departure one sister, Mrs. Adaline Taatum, of Nora Springs; two children, Charles Stewart of Marble Rock, and Mrs. Minnie Wiltse, of this place; three grand children, Dale Stewart, of Marble Rock, Julius Stewart, of Rochester, Minn. and little June Wiltse of this place [Charles City]; besides eight step-children, Hamp, Wash and Melvin Bower, of Marble Rock, Willie Bower of Mason City, Sarah Hammond of Edgewood and the Mesdames Rose and Nora Brown of California. These together with the above children and a very large _____ friends and neighbors are left to mourn the loss and sad departure of this highly esteemed and lovable mother and neighbor.

Funeral services were held at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Minnie Wiltse at 508 South Iowa street [Charles City], on Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock by Rev. Hess, when after a brief ceremony the remains, the children and a few neighbors and friends departed for Marble Rock, at which place they [were] met by a large delegation of relatives, friends and neighbors, after which the procession proceeded to the Hillside cemetery where a short word of testimony and prayer was given by Rev. Hess. The friends who cared to review the remains were given the chance through the kindness of the children, after which the body was laid to its last resting place in Hillside cemetery at Marble Rock, Iowa.
--- Charles City Press, Charles City, Iowa