Pound, Minerva Jane (Martin) Drake 1808 - 1897
POUND, MARTIN, DRAKE, ADAMS, WANLESS
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 10/9/2017 at 12:02:00
Iowa Plain Dealer June 15, 1897, FP, C5
Mrs. M. J. Pound, mother of Mrs. J. C. Adams, died at the home of her grand-daughter, Mrs. O. G. Wanless, Monday morning. She was aged nearly 89 years. The funeral will be from the house this afternoon. Obituary later.
Iowa Plain Dealer June 25, 1897, FP, C5
Obituary.
MRS. M. J. POUND.
Minerva Jane Martin was born July 27, 1808, at Fort Ann, N. Y., and died at Cresco, Ia., June 14, 1897, aged 88 years,
11 months and 17 days. She was married to Eben E. Drake in September, 1837, from which union wore born two sons, Howell A. and Austin S., and one daughter, Irene G. Adams of Cresco. Howell died in Washington in 1892. Mr. Drake died Jan. 9. 1850 in Walworth county, Wis., where they had settled in 1840.
In 1852 deceased was married to Elijah Pound who preceded her to the better world in 1891. Their home for twenty years was at Eau Claire, Wis. She united with the Baptist church in early life and was a devoted member for 14 years. After the birth of her first child she began to question the truth of her creed which affirmed that some infants were fore ordained to eternal punishment. To her this doctrine seemed so inconsistent with the fact that God is a just and loving Father that she renounced it and endured persecution and the alienation of friends and relatives, all of whom were members of that church. She was the seventh daughter of the seventh son, and possessed the remarkably clear spiritual gifts and healing powers attributed to such persons.
When modern Spiritualism was in its infancy she accepted the philosopy{sic} of spirit communion as truth and for nearly half a century her visions and inspirations confirmed this belief. In the prime of her life she devoted thirty years to ministering to the afflicted in mind and body, always without compensation from the poor. She gave up active labor at 75 years of age but continued to study and discuss all questions of science, philanthropy, religion and reforms to the day of her sweet sleep. She had been promised for many years by angel friends that she should go to sleep in this life and wake up in the higher one, which promise was verified in her departure. She was an ardent and faithful friend but fearless in her denunciation of all hypocricy{sic} and wrong. She returned from Florida in May in company with her daughter and son after a sojourn of six years in that clime. She was delighted to be again in Iowa where all her children and nearly all her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren reside. She was bright and happy, patient and free from pain and the asperities of life.
Rev. S. H. Mitchell of the Cresco Baptist church conducted the funeral services. Mrs. Moon and Mrs. Emery White sang “The Last Rose of Summer,” her favorite song, one she had taught to all her children and grandchildren. They also sang “We Shall Sleep but not Forever.” The floral decorations were lovely and elaborate. Lilies, carnations and roses were mingled with the profusions of her garden favorites. A bank of spring blossoms beneath a mound of ferns, an anchor of white roses and a star of yellow roses gleamed down upon the peaceful form. Her hands were filled with roses and daisies and a little bow of white ribbon was on her breast, the temperance emblem she loved. The members of the W. C. T. U. placed a double wreath of of{sic} pond lilies and roses around the entire casket and at the grave each laid upon the casket a white bouquet tied with white satin ribbon. Death touched her aged face with gentle fingers, smoothing every wrinkle and leaving it so lovely that it was a pleasure for her loved ones to look again and again. She rests in one of the loveliest spots of Oak Lawn cemetery, the oaks bending over her and birds and nature near to her as she loved them –Times.
Oak Lawn Cemetery
Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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