Clifton, Margaret Ann Sinclair Haswell (1848-1931)

SINCLAIR, HASWELL, CLIFTON, RICHARDSON, HOLT, MILLER, BLANCHARD

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 9/27/2016 at 14:55:50

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Friday, September 4, 1931

Margaret Ann Sinclair, daughter of Alexander and Mary Sinclair, was born in Sandusky, Ohio, March 4, 1848. When about 4 years of age her mother died. And at this time she began to make her home with her aunt, who also resided in Ohio. Later she moved to Illinois. When about 16 years of age she migrated to Hamilton county, Iowa.

Those were pioneer days and the Illinois Central only came as far west as Cedar Falls, making it necessary for this young lady in company with 11 others of her relatives to travel the rest of their journey westward, by horse pulled wagon, arriving in Hamilton county in April 1864. In this locality she had resided the remaining part of her lengthy life, excepting, one year in Eagle Grove and two years in Boone, in the home of her brother, to whom she was very intimately related by ties of blood relationship and because of whose departure, the brother (Mr Sinclair) deeply mourns, having lost, at last, a very dear sister and long life friend.

During this young lady's first winter in this country, she taught school in a log house situated on the east shore of Wall lake. During this early period there were very few dwelling houses in the country between Wall Lake and Webster City. But being young and ambitious, bent on gaining a livelihood, she endured the wilds of the uninhabited prairies, and hard cold winters; and as a matter of course, shared in the discomforts of these early pioneer days.

On Oct. 26, 1865, she was united in marriage to Arthur Haswell, of Cass township.

Mr. Haswell passed away in death in 1895. She remained a widow until March 1, 1906, at which time she was married to J.J. Clifton, of Webster City, with whom she lived until he passed away in death in 1925.

Mrs. Clifton became a charter member of the Webster City United Brethren church. She was an active and efficient worker in the local church, and community until her health was so great impaired that she was confined to her wheel chair under which handicap she spent the remaining 15 years of her life.

During the days of her physical ability, she was superintendent of the local Sunday school and took practical interest in the moral and religious welfare of the community.

Also during these years of her usefulness, she was a member of the Woman's Relief Corps of Webster City and made herself of practical benefit to the people of the neighborhood in time of sickness. Being a practical nurse, she proved to be of great benefit in times of child birth, during those days when attending physicians were not as generally called as now.

During the years of impaired health, she made her home with her children, and her brother, Mr. Sinclair.

Except for being an invalid, her health was fairly good, until the last year.

On Oct. 1 of last year Mrs. Clifton made her home with Mrs. J.D. Miller and remained in Mrs. Miller's home until the end came about 4 o'clock Aug. 25, 1931 at the age of 83 years, 5 months and 21 days.

Upon preponderance of evidence Mrs. Clifton was well prepared to die, often remarking that she did not understand why she was not permitted to go.

The deceased is survived by five children, Mrs. Viola F. Richardson, Webster City, W. A. Haswell, Everet, Wash.; Mrs. Ida B. Holt, Aldin, Wash., Mrs. Bertha L. Miller, Webster City, and George C. Haswell, Brooklin, Iowa. Sixteen grand children and 12 great grandchildren, also survive, as do two brothers, W.W. Sinclair, of Boone, and O.A. Sinclair, of Chicago, and two sisters, Mrs. Mary Blanchard and Emma Sinclair, Clinton, Mich., one step-daughter, Mrs. Ella Haswell, Cochrin, Calif., and five stepsons, C.H., Let and John Clifton, Webster City, Buron Clifton, of Nebraska, and Frank Clifton, of Greely, Col.