Mrs. Mary Stewart, 1822-1909

STEWART, STAFFORD, INGHAM

Posted By: Pat Ryan White (email)
Date: 11/11/2019 at 14:51:44

MRS. MARY R. STEWART.

Few people living the quiet home life, such as characterized the later years of Mrs. Mary R. Stewart, who has so recently passed from our midst to her reward, have been better known, greater loved, and more respected than was she. As the widow of Rev. I.I. Stewart, one of the early itinerants of Iowa, and especially of the Iowa Conference, since the decease of her husband, which occurred in 1864, she has made her home in Mt. Pleasant, and so not only from her relation to the church as the wife, and afterwards, the widow, of one of the men who laid the foundation of Methodism in Iowa, but also from her long residence in our midst, has she become widely and well known and greatly respected by a large circle of friends. She was born in Ireland in 1822 and when but three years of age came to this country. Her people first settled in Philadelphia and from there moved to Kentucky, afterwards to Illinois, and then later in 1840 settled in Iowa while it was yet a territory. In 1844 she was married to Rev. I.I. Stewart on Sept. 19th, in the city of Des Moines, and for twenty years itinerated with her husband, stationed at Des Moines, Burlington, Keokuk, Ft. Madison, New London, Knoxville, Mt. Pleasant and other places.

Her husband's death in 1864 left her the care of a family of children, and settling in Mt. Pleasant she devoted her life to the care of these. Five of the children with the husband had preceded her to the other side. Two of the children died in infancy; the others after they had grown to manhood and womanhood. Wm. R. died in Texas, March 15, 1879; Anna L., died in Natchez, Miss., July 29, 1887, and Ella L., at Mt. Pleasant, Dec. 11, 1894. Three sons still survive of the family, as follows: Chas. O., of Aurora, Ill.; John F., of Arizona, and H. J., of Idaho.

Mother Stewart was happily converted when quite young and united with the Methodist Episcopal church of which she was a faithful member at the time of her decease. No one loved the church more dearly than did she, and none were more true and faithful to all its interests or more regular when possible for her to be there in attendance upon the services of the church; in her the pastor always had a true friend, and the church a loyal supporter.

The funeral services were held in the home, conducted by Dr. C.L. Stafford, who for many years had been intimate in the family, assisted by Rev. H.A. Ingham, her pastor. A large number of relatives and friends were in attendance at the funeral services and followed the remains to their final resting place in Forest Home cemetery, where the regular burial service of the church was read by Rev. Ingham, and the body committed to the earth to await the resurrection morn.

[" Mount Pleasant Daily News", March 6, 1909, page 4]

Gravesite in Old City Cemetery
 

Henry Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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