Clara Jane Nicola 1864-1928

FOSTER, NICOLA

Posted By: Netha M Meyer (email)
Date: 3/16/2003 at 22:09:44

IMPOSING FUNERAL FOR MRS. NICOLA
Funeral services Sunday afternoon -Attracts large Concourse of Relatives and Friends –
Resided here for 35 years
Was woman of Great Worth and character, and her Passing is a community loss.

Clara Jane Foster was born at Wellman, Ia, March 3, 1864 and passed out of this life at her home in Williamsburg February 2, 1928, aged 63 years, 10 months and 29 days.

Her parents, Ezekiel and Elizabeth Foster came to Iowa from Canada in 18?? and settled in Washington County. Mr. Foster was a graduate of Toronto University in Canada and taught school for a number of years both here and in Canada.

When a girl of 12, Mrs. Nicola moved with her parents from Wellman to a home close to Plymouth. She attended high school at Mason City and took her teacher’s training work later at Decorah. She taught for a number of years in northern Iowa in the rural districts. She taught one year at Wellman as principal in 1888-89.

On June 17 1891, she was married to J.C. Nicola of Riverside. They were married at the home of her sister, Mrs. W. H. Wishard of Wellman. For two years Mr. and Mrs.Nicola resided at Riverside, moving to Williamsburg in 1893. They have made their home in this city since that time.

In passing, Mrs. Nicola leaves to mourn her loss and cherish her memory her husband, J.C. Nicola, three sisters, Ms. W. H. Wishard of Wellman, Mrs. J Chas. Robinson of Jesup, Iowa, Mrs. B. Harrington of Des Moines. Three brothers L.M. Foster of Fertile, J.W. Foster of Yakima Wash., and C. G. Foster of Brownsville Texas. Two brothers had preceded her to the great Beyond. Besides these there are nephew and nieces and other relatives in Canada.

Mrs. Nicola led a clean, active and friendly life. She prized her friends and she counted her friends far beyond her immediate social circle or acquaintances in organizations.

When a girl of sixteen Mrs. Nicola united with the Methodist Church in which organization she has remained a faithful loyal and lively member. Her Christian life has been above reproach. Her friends have been many.

She loved her home, was a happy wife and mothered many who came her way. For a number of years she has been a member of the Eastern Star. Mrs Nicola was a woman of marked mental strength and character and her influence was a potent force for good in the community.

The witchery of trifles never attracted her attention from the really important things of life, and her studious observations never failed to bring a valuable sheaf in which the community was always a sharer. The idle word, the gossip’s tale, the poisoned sentence of suspicion, were not used by Mrs. Nicola, so her influence never suffered thru the conatct with the vicious, the uncharitable.

The funeral services were held at the M.E. Church Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock , and were conducted by the Rev. W. M. Doughty. A large gathering of friends and relatives were present, comfortably filling the church, many outsiders being present from Wellman, North English and Iowa City sending a large delegation. The music was furnished by a select body of singers, and the sermon by the Rev. Mr. Doughty was a splendid production, touched here and there with flights of eloquence on the age-old theme of life and death, and the merited tribute of the life of her who went forth on the long journey with the way marked by the good deeds done and the kindly words spoken while here below.

Interment was in Oak Hill and the Rev. Mr. Doughty in charge of the grave, and the pallbearers were R.E. Jones, C. J. Simmons, F. A. ??, H.A. Halverson, J. D. Lewis, L. Keil.

To the bereaved husband and other relatives, the sincerest expressions of sympathy are extended.