Emma H. Sheetz, 1853 - 1922

SHEETZ, SEYMOUR, MCLEOD, WALKER, SHIPTON, COWNIES, POPHAM, JOHNSON, BERRY, LEASURES, WEEKS, EVANS, POWELL, JONES, WILLIAMS, GITTENS, POSTEN, HARRINGTON, EDWARDS, SNAVELY, CHASE, TANNER

Posted By: LaVerna K. Moser (email)
Date: 5/2/2009 at 20:00:34

MARENGO PIONEER REPUBLICAN
MRS. EMMA H. SHEETZ CALLED TO LONG HOME
BELOVED PIONEER CAME TO IOWA COUNTY IN 1856 AND HAS CONTINUOUSLY RESIDED HERE SINCE - PUBLIC SPIRITED-REVIEW OF LIFE OF NOBLE WOMAN REVEALS RECORD OF UNSELFISH SERVICE TO FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY
Williamsburg, January 23 - (Special to the Republican) - Mrs. Emma H. Sheetz, one of the real pioneers and successful school teachers of this community died at her home in Williamsburg January 17th. She was born in 1853 at Silver Creek, New York about thirty miles from Buffalo and when three years of age came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles W Seymour to Iowa, via the long water route over the Great Lakes to Chicago by rail from there to Muscatine, then by stage to Iowa City, where they were met by relatives, presumably "Uncle Horace" Seymour, with oxen. For a few years the home was in Millersburg and White Pigeon then back to the York Center neighborhood where her earliest school days were spent, at the "White School House". Later the father bought a small tract of land and for about fifteen years the home was in Troy Township, where what is known as the Murchison home now stands and from there she went as a bride to her own home. When scarcely fourteen years of age she commenced her first term of school in the "Scotch Settlement", where lived the McLeods, Walkers, Shiptons and Cownies and the friendships made in those early years were hers throughout life. The same was true wherever she taght. Down on "Yankee Lane" there were the Pophams, Johnsons, and Berrys and farther east Leasures and Weeks and back to the home school, old "number six", always making friends, never enemies. For ten years she followed teaching, then on March 28,1879, was married to Bert M. Scheetz. Four daughters and two sons were born to them, then with the love of her profession tugging at her heart strings she again commenced teaching, continuing for ten more years, the last terms after the family had moved to Williamsburg, being taught in the grade schools here, in all sixty-five terms. Mrs. Sheetz was public spirited, always interested in the uplift of the town and community, a worker in the Presbyterian Womens' Guild, and an enthusiastic W.R.C. member. She was for two years, 1918-19, Department Treasurer of Iowa and while in office made many warm friends as was shown by the loving greetings at Christmas time and later the notes of sympathy from W. R. Corps all over the state. Her home was a haven where many sought comfort and because of her unusually ready wit combined with an understanding mind, their burdens were lightened. As long as she could sit at her desk she wrote her news items and trasmitted business, all of which she left completed in every detail. One night, while unable to sleep she said "There is one thing more, I thought it did not matter, but it does." She then named her pall bearers and singers, each one with a reason why. Some represented childhood friends, some former pupils and others exceeding kind neighbors. Altho not herself a musician, could she have heard the beautiful solo by Mrs. Daniel Evans and the quartet composed of Mrs. Evans, Miss Martha Powell, O. G. Jones and Howell Williams with Mrs. Ed Gittens at the piano, whe would have been satisfied with her choice. It was truly a beautiful service, the music, the sermon by Rev. Posten, who in his short stay endeared himself to the family and the beautiful floral offerings, all seemed so fitting for the closing chapter of this beautiful life. The husband, Bert M. Sheetz, survives, also four daughters, Mrs. Hugh Harrington, of North English; Mrs. Orson Harrington, of Williamsburg; Mrs. E. J. Edwards, of Cleveland, Ohio and Mrs. Ralph Snavely, of Wellman. The two sons, Carl and Malcolm, died within six weeks in the fall of 1908. She also leaves three sisters, Mrs. Ira Chase, of Newberry, Michigan; Miss Laura Seymour and Mrs. J. A. Tanner of this place and one brother, Harry Seymour, of Buffalo, New York. One sister, Mrs. W. C. Chase died in 1915.