Iles, Viola Martha Hook (1856-1912)

ILES, HOOK, NICKUM, PETERSON, LUCAS

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 7/7/2025 at 11:20:14

Stratford Courier, Stratford, Iowa
June 20, 1912

Viola Iles, the subject of this sketch, was born in Hamilton county, Iowa, May 16, 1856, and died in Des Moines, Iowa, June 12, 1912, having completed her 56th year. She was married to C.S. Iles, May 16, 1878. To this union were born six children, two sons and four daughters, two - a son and a daughter - died in infancy. The four surviving children are Floyd Iles, Mrs. Elsie Peterson, Miss Libbie and Miss Dollie Iles, all living in Des Moines, Iowa. These children and her devoted husband are left to mourn her departure. She also leaves three brothers and one sister, John W. Hook of Jamesport, Missouri; J. A. Hook of Seattle, Washington; E.W. Hook of Timber Lake, South Dakota, and Mrs. H. M. Lucas of Woonsocket, South Dakota.
The cause of death was malignant tumor which could not be made to yield to the surgeon's knife. Everything was done for her relief that could be, but of no avail. The entire family and many friends were present at her bedside and saw her sink painlessly into the sleep we call death.
The funeral services were held at Stratford, Iowa, Friday afternoon, June 14th. A very impressive sermon was preached by Rev. Fifer of the Grace M.E. church of Des Moines, to a very large and appreciative audience. Many garlands of flowers, rare and beautiful, lay banked around her, at the last sad rites, mute testators of the love of friends whose world was brighter because she had lived in it. She was one of the most upright and lovable of women. Her beautiful traits of character were strong and exemplary; her faith in Christ Jesus unfaltering. Those nearest and dearest to her will long remember these lines she often repeated in her affliction:

"The way is dark, my Father, cloud
On cloud is gathering thickly o'er my head,
And loud the thunders roar above me,
See! I stand like one bewildered,
Father, take my hand,
And through the gloom, lead safely home thy child."

After the services, she was laid to rest in the Oakwood cemetery. The pall bearers were W. A. Wharton, Edward Peterson, J. T. Drug, O. W. Cline, F. M. Milburn and J. W. Naylor.

Dear sister, adieu. Sweet be thy rest 'till we meet again. H.M.L.
[husband was Charles Southard Iles, Sr; she was the daughter of William Matthew & Sarah Ann Nickum Hook]