Ricker, Elizabeth Ingalls (Cutting) 1831 - 1907

RICKER, ENGALLS, CUTTING, ST JOHN, CONRAD, COBB

Posted By: Janice Sowers (email)
Date: 12/5/2006 at 12:24:29

From the Scrapbook of Newspaper Articles by Mrs. Lillian Wheeler

OBITUARY--MRS. ELIZABETH RICKER

Elizabeth Ingalls Cutting, daughter of Abijan and Permelia Cutting, was born in Hanover, New Hampshire, October 13, 1831. In a few years the family removed to Haverhill, N. H., where she lived until January 1, 1850, when she was united in marriage to Hazen Ricker, of Topsham, Vermont. The new home of these young people was first made in Haverhill, but the "call of the wild" came strongly from the West to the young men of the East in those days and in 1856 Mr. and Mrs. Ricker, with the parents and brothers and sisters of Mrs. Ricker came to the then wild prairie state of Iowa.

One by one the "Reaper with his sickle keen" has gathered home those early pioneers, whose toil and hardships transformd the boundless prairies, from trackless areas into the prosperous and happy agricultural district of today.

The departure of Mrs. Ricker from among us leaves only two of the large family colony who settled on homesteads in Jamestown as heads of families, and took an active part in the material, social and religious development of the community. Of these, one, the companion of fifty-seven years of wedded life remains to complete his earthly task and await the "one clear call" which will reunite them; the other, her brother, Charles D. Cutting now of Palo Alto, California.

Of the five children who called her mother one daughter, Isabell, has long waited her coming in the Eternal City, Mrs. Aaron St. John is a well known resident here, Enos M. Ricker of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, Mrs. W. J. Conrad of Park Rapids, Minnesota, and Mrs. Henry R. Cobb of Red Wing, Minnesota, who has been with Mrs. St. John, sharing the anxiety of the last weeks of their mother's illness. Mrs. Conrad was prevented from coming by sickness.

"Her children rise up and call her blessed," and throughout their lives and the lives of her grandchildren will remain a sweet memory of one whose love and sympathy never failed, who cared for them in sickness and shared with them the joys and sorrows of youth and maturer years.

Mrs. Ricker lived a devoted Christian life from childhood and was one of the early members of the pioneer church which later became the First Congregational church of Riceville, and was for many years one of its active workers.

The late years of her life have been spent partly in Park Rapids, Minnesota, and now for several years in their home near their daughter, Mrs. St. John. As her strength decreased and each succeeding year brought increasing pain and weariness her longing for the summons home grew stronger, and when in the early dawn of June 27th, 1907, the Father said to her weary spirit: "It is enough," the release was most welcome.

These lines written by a friend who has "gone on before" beautifully express her feeling:

"I've gone away--away
I am very happy in my place
I'm still your own, don't wish me back, I pray
You'll all come soon and know my spirit face
Death was so kind; it broke the chafing bands
That bound me to my weary painful form
Released at last, as though by loving hands
I'm happy now, within my dear new home.

Oh then be strong for every struggle here
Follow each duty what so'ere it be
And when you think of me in my new sphere
Do not be sad; feel glad; it's well with me."

The funeral services were conducted by Rev. T. C. Hunt Saturday afternoon from the home at two o'clock and at the Congregational church at three o'clock.