Iles, Elizabeth Southard (1826-1897)

ILES, SOUTHARD

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 7/7/2025 at 11:13:48

Stratford Courier, Stratford, Iowa
April 29, 1897

DIED - Mrs. John Iles at her home west of Stratford, last Friday morning. The burial took place Sunday at Hook's Point. Obituary will be in next issue.

Stratford Courier, Stratford, Iowa
May 6, 1897
Mrs. Elizabeth Southard Iles, died at her home in Yell township, Webster county, Iowa, at half past eight o'clock, Friday morning, April 23rd, 1897. She had been poorly most of the winter, and at times it seemed as though she could not recover, but for the last two weeks before her death she seemed to be regaining her former health and spirits, and we were all rejoicing at the prospect of her recovery; when suddenly on Thursday she took much worse, and Friday, when death had her in his grasp and we could see that medical skill, affectionate care and prayers were of no avail, died we first realize what that parting meant.
Elizabeth Southard was born in Licking county, Ohio, on the eight day of November, 1826. She early conceived what the duties of this life required and commenced to prepare herself to meet them. At the age of fifteen she was qualified to pass the required examination and was granted a certificate to teach in the public schools, an occupation she followed during her single life.
She was fourth of a family of ten children, three of whom have passed on before, the other six still remain.
At the age of ten she professed Christianity and in February 1833 united with the M.E. church of Martinsberg circuit, Ohio, Zephaniah Bell was the pastor at that time and his circuit belonged to the Michigan Conference; her mother and father joining at the same time and place. She always took great delight in attending worship and never shrank from duty, filling the position of Sabbath School teacher, Superintendent, Class leader and any thing that seemed her duty to do.
She was a great reader especially of the Bible and her memory was so good that she could quote almost any passage of scripture one could refer to. She lived a consistent, earnest member of her chosen church for almost sixty years.
She was united in marriage to John H. Iles, Feb. 22, 1852, and to this union was born seven children, four sons and three daughters; the husband and six children survive her. She never ceased to mourn for Alec, who died sixteen years ago at the age of twenty-two. In 1854, she, with her husband and one child, Alice, left their old home in Ohio and moved to what was then the far west, Iowa. They came to Des Moines county but soon came farther west and settled in Webster county in 1856, locating permanently on the old home in 1859 where they have since continued to reside.
In mother's death, the bright star that shone so brightly for each and every one of us and that penetrated every nook and corner of our home has gone out, and how gloomy it seems to us to think that those eyes that always sparkled with love at our return to the parental home can meet us no more and those lips that always bore a smile of welcome and that sweet voice that always spoke cheering words at the right time are now stilled in death. She was a devoted wife and mother and the affection she bestowed upon her family was reciprocated. No mother was more revered and honored by her children. The purety of her life, the gentleness of her character, endeared her to all who knew her; hers was a most useful and beautiful career and the good that she did and the examples that she set will still live on. - CHAS. S. ILES

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mrs. John Iles, the subject of this sketch, departed this life on the 23rd of April, 1897. Death is both natural and common. He comes to us at every period of life, from the dimpled babe of a day, to the gray haired centenarian. When he comes to call the little babe the house is filled with gloom and sadness; but when he calls the good and the revered who have towered among us as models of purity and goodness whose counsel has so often been heard in directing the weak and wayward to the better side of this dubious life, the community suffers a loss from which it can never recover, and the home, a power for good that can never be replaced. The singing in death of such a one, be it father, mother, sister or brother causes the living to whom the departed is so near and dear, to feel a sadness too deep for any earthly balm to heal.
No music soft enough, no voice ministering angelic whispers of solace, can eliminate the feeling of bereavement from the heart. The features, the smile, the voice of the loved one have passed from the real to the ideal and can only be seen and heard as we review them in memory.
How sacred is memory, the shrine from which the departed can be called up, sweet communion held with them in this treasure house of the soul!
The deceased was a devoted wife, a good and kind mother and an exemplary Christian. She leaves a husband and six children to mourn her departure. By her death a light that illumined her neighborhood has set in the night of death; but the twilight from it will reflect back its benignant rays for many years to come. - H.M.L.
Fold them together, those beautiful hands,
Freed from a mission of care.
Go hide them away from a world's unrest,
Lovingly shroud them there.

Beautiful hands! they could soothe the pain
That sorrowing hearts had tried.
Beautiful lips! they could smile away
Shadows of care beside. Death has severed the bond of love.
And the links of that golden chain,
While life shall form of that world a part,
Can never be bound again.

Till God shall join in that endless realm,
The ties that on earth are riven.
And our hearts in a glad, glad joy shall be
United again in heaven.
- SADIE LUCAS

[her children were Alice Orlinda Iles; Charles Southard Iles; Van Fossen Iles; Fred Walter Corydon Iles; Leonia Augusta May Iles; Bertha Ellen Iles and Alec Iles]