CROMWELL, Mrs. Henrietta Hardin

CROMWELL, KIDD, LAMB, GIESLER, HARDIN

Posted By: Pam Hardman (email)
Date: 8/4/2006 at 13:50:31

DIED.-On Sunday morning, June 25th, 1899, Mrs. Henrietta H. Cromwell, aged 77 years and 7 months.

Mrs. Cromwell, whose maiden name was Hardin, was born in Simpson county, Kentucky, on Nov. 25, 1821, and removed to Independence, MO. when ten years of age. Thence she removed to COuncil Bluffs, Iowa, in 1837 her father being Indian agent for the Pottawattamies, and their home was the first house built where the city of Council Bluffs now stands. In 1842 she returned to Independence, Mo, and was, on August 12th of that year married to Stephen T. Cromwell. From this place she and her husband removed to Kentucky, finally coming to Iowa in 1846.

To Mr. and Mrs. Cromwell were born ten children, all of whom are now living but one daughter. These children are A.H., J.F. and D.M. of Pine Bluff, Arkansas; F.C. of Wichita, Kansas; T.T. of El Reno, Oklahoma; S.W. of Idaho; Mrs. Betty Giesler, Mrs Jennie Lamb and Mrs. Ollie Kidd, of this county. The other daughter, Nellie, died when 14 years of age.

Mr. and Mrs. Cromwell moved to Fremont county in 1846 and settled on the farm now owned by A.M. Gordon, the claim having been taken by Mrs. Cromwell's father. They were the purchasers of the first town lot sold in Sidney, that on which the Furbush building stands, occupied by the store of H. Runyon & Co. They built the first hotel in Sidney on the spot now occupied by the Crozier house, and during the erection of the same conducted a hotel in a log house which stood on the lots now occupied by T.J. Wilson's residence; this was away back in 1852, nearly half a centurey ago. What a crowd of memories come floating into the minds of the old settlers now living, as they look backward upon these by-gone years. What a panorama of swiftly shifting scenes in the great world around, as well as in Fremont county, presents itself as in recollection they retrace the past.

Mr. Cromwell was elected to the office of sheriff in 1865, and in 1871 removed to the farm where both he and his wife were to live until called away by the imperious mandate of that power that none can evade nor resist. Mr. Cromwell died in the spring of 1878

Mrs. Cromwell was the earliest settler in any of the three counties of Pottawattamie, Mills and Fremont, and four years ago was, by the old settlers society which met in Council Bluffs that year, awarded a rocker, a valued gift, as it served to renew vividly the recollections of the pioneer days. Mrs. Cromwell's later years must have been made pleasant as these early scenes were recalled, for there is an enchantment, a romantic charm in pioneer life to which the later stages of civilization and the more artificial tastes of its society are strangers. And we are sure that her temperament was such that whatever was most romantic in nature and most cordial, candid and trustworthy in society, was, by her most highly valued and most ardently enjoyed.

Mrs. Cromwell was known by all her acquaintances to be a woman whose hospitality knew no bounds but the limit of her abilty to serve; and her own happiness was always enhanced by ministering to ---of others. Many an early pioneer to Fremont county had enjoyed the shelter of her home and the best entertainment she had to bestow, and through her hospitable aid was enabled to gain a footing in this new region. And many there are whose thoughts will linger fondly around the old Cromwell home with blessings, hearty and heartfelt, for the generous host and hostess who now sleep together at the foot of life's hill.

It was a peculiarity of Mrs. Cromwell and remained so even through her declining days, that she sought and enjoyed the society of young people and was in the habit of inviting them frequently to her home and of providing for them such social entertainments as won their lasting affection and will cause them to cherish her memory with almost the fondness they bear to that of the mother. Even within the last year groups of the young people of Sidney and vicinity have been invited to her house where the utmost care had been taken to provide all that could make the social occasion most pleasant and enjoyable; and although bowed by age and infirmity, always made on of the group, participating in all that contributed to the enjoyment of the hour. We have often heard words of enthusiastic admiration spoken by those who have been her guests, and the monuments built thus in human hearts will be more precious and enduring than the marble that marks the spot where quietly she now reposes.

About six years ago Grandma Cromwell was stricken with paralysis, from which she partially recovered. But she was visited with a second stroke on Thanksgiving day, 1897, and again attacked on about April 1st, of the present year, while at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Giesler. But rallying, she was removed to her own home and there linered awaiting the approach of death which took place as above stated.

Her funeral was held fromt he home of Tuesday of this week at-----an immense concourse-------
The Rev. E------Presbyterian---
her old acquaintances and friends gathered at her funeral some coming from neighboring towns, and wept tears of sorrow at the svering of those ties that bound their heart to hers in terms of fervent esteem and affection. To such her memory will be a benediction, her grave a shrine. To any who doubt the value of human friendship and the dominance of human helpfulness and kindness over the heart, we command the study of the life of Grandma Cromwell.