Smith, Lara Oneita (Wilcox) 1866 – 1939

SMITH, WILCOX, HOLZWARTH, LANZ, WELLS

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 2/23/2013 at 14:10:17

Source: Plain Dealer November 23, 1939, Page 4

Mrs. J. N. Smith Is Laid To Rest At Howard Center

Funeral services for Mrs. James N. Smith, 73, were held Sunday afternoon at the Methodist church with the Rev. George W. Turner, pastor, officiating, assisted by the Rev. John Gammons. Burial was made at Howard Center cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers were Will Foote, Percy Haven, John Emslie, Dave Easler, Emil Monthy and Fred Prinz. During the service Mr. E H. Allen and Mrs. F. D. Mead sang “A Perfect Day” and “Abide With Me” accompanied by Mrs. Paul Nagel, organist.

Lara Oneita Wilcox spent her childhood days in LaPorte county, Ind., where she was born, Oct. 30, 1866. At the age of 11 she came to Howard county, Iowa, Febr. 17, 1878 with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. O., V. Wilcox and grew to young womanhood on their farm one mile north of Howard Center corners. She prepared herself for teaching profession and taught rural schools until her marriage to James N. Smith on May 30, 1889.

They built a home on Mr. Smith’s boyhood home farm north of Davis Corners and south of Lime Springs. Together they experienced all of the hardships of pioneer days – cyclone, fire, hail and severe winters as well as all of the joys of a happy married life, a large family, and many friends. At this farm home seven children were born – Lew, Eva who died in childhood, Bessie, Helen, Fred, Marjorie and Charles. In 1910 the family moved to Mrs. Smith’s old home farm at Howard Center where the youngest child Bernice was born.

In December, 1919, after nine years at this residence, Mr. and Mrs. Smith rented their farm and moved to Cresco which has been their home for the last 20 years. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on May 30, 1939 with all of their children present.

Mrs. Smith was a life long and faithful member of the Methodist Church transferring her letter to the Cresco church from Bonair in 1920. She served various offices in the Ladies Aid and Missionary Society and Sunday School class. She held both county and local offices in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, a cause in which she thoroughly believed. She was one of the organizers of the Howard Center Schoolmates organization and was its secretary at the time of her death.

By the time Mrs. Smith had lived her three score years and ten and physical effects of the vigorous pioneer days and the responsibilities of a large family were beginning to be felt although she continued to live an active life and maintained her interest in family, church and community.

On Sunday morning, Nov. 12, while attending Sunday school she was taken ill and was given medical attention at her home. None of her bodily organs was able to furnish sufficient resistance and the end came very quickly and quietly on Thursday afternoon, Nov. 16 at 4:30 o’clock.

Mrs. Smith is survived by her husband, James N. Smith and by seven children: Lew J. Smith of Waterloo; Mrs. Bessie Holzworth of Glendive, Mont.; Mrs. Helen Lanz of Cresco; Rev. Fred M. Smith of St. Paul; Marjorie Smith of Flasher, N. D.; Charles V. Smith of Cresco; Miss Bernice Smith of St. Paul and 15 grandchildren. Her only brother, Charles S. Wilcox lives at Kansas City, Mo. There are four nephews: Ralph Wilcox of Kansas City; Clifford and George of Haven of Rochester; and Hervey E. Wells of Cresco.

Transcribed from a newspaper clipping submitted by Janice Sowers.

Howard Center Cemetery
 

Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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