McKy, Mary Elizabeth (Sheafor) 1851 - 1910

MCKY, SHEAFOR, DRING, WILLIAMSON, CHAMBERLAIN

Posted By: Janice Sowers (email)
Date: 12/12/2006 at 12:13:54

From the Scrapbook of Newspaper Articles by Mrs. Lilliam Wheeler

Mary Elizabeth Sheafor was born in Carroll county, Indiana, May 24, 1851. In the fall of 1854, she removed with her family to Sand Prairie, Richland county, Wisconsin, and in the following spring her parents made a home on a farm near Boaz in the same county, where she lived the first early years to wowanhood, teaching school a part of each year.

Her people were United Brethren and with them she worked most earnestly though never a member of that church.

On September 10, 1874, she was united in marriage to Newton McKy of English Ridge. The winter following their marriage they spent in the old home, but with the coming of spring they removed to Iowa and on April 5, 1857, took possession of a farm two miles east of Saratoga, where they lived till the spring of 1896, when they moved to a farm one mile west of Saratoga, that they might be near their only child.

In November 1902 they came to Riceville.

Mrs. McKy first united with the church March 7, 1886. This was the First Congregational church of Riceville, then holding meetings in Saratoga, and in 1891 when the organization was moved to Riceville and another was formed at Saratoga she took her letter from the First church to the Saratoga church and was there a most faithful member till in coming to make her home in Riceville she again became a member by letter of the First church. This was in May 1903.

While living in Saratoga two daughters were born to them, Mrs. Blanche Chamberlain of this place, and Nettie Rose, who died in infancy.

On the evening of December 2 Mrs. McKy went out from among us to that bourne from whence no traveler returns, sadly missed and mourned by the family and a wide neighborhood of friends whose love and respect towards her was shown at the funeral which took place Sunday, Dec. 2, at the Congregational church and cemetery, about six hundred people being present.

Rev. J. St. Aubyn James preached the funeral sermon from John, 14th chapter and 2d verse, the text of her choice, paying a fitting tribute to her memory.

Besides the sorrowing husband and daughter, the deceased is survived by her aged parents, two brother and three sisters. Her youngest sister, Miss Minnie Sheafor, and a brother, Francis Sheafor, both of Richland Center, Wis., were with her for several days prior to her death.

Relatives from away who were in attendance at the funeral, besides the brother and sister mentioned above, were Fred Dring, a brother-in-law of Mrs. McKy, and his daughter, Mrs. Beulah Williamson both of Worthington, Minn., and two sisters of Mr. McKy, Mrs Everett/Sverett* of Eagle Corners, Wis., and Mrs. Conkle and son Walter of Boaz, Wis.

*Print not plain.