Mary Jane (Hoyt) Chapman Shoaff

HOYT, CHAPMAN, SHOAFF, BRIGGS, MAYBERRY, BYRUMM, WHEELER, MERRITT, BLACK, KYLE, MARCH, SUTTON, GARRETSON, BOWMAN

Posted By: LuAnn Goeke (email)
Date: 4/8/2010 at 10:29:19

"Beloved Woman Mourned. The day will come for every home when the mother is taken away, sometimes in the prime of life, sometimes in high old age. A dead wife or mother is a spectacle that has made many a man and many children weep with remorse and regret. The work of a true mother can never be fully repaired. But God loves mothers and he will reward them for their sacrifices and sufferings. The mother of our sketch was a true mother, one who was not afraid to meet her judge, one whose passing was just as she lived, planning for those near and dear to her, yes planning up to a moment before her sudden departure, and such are the thoughts flooding the memory of the son and daughter who have so tenderly cared for this dear mother in her declining years.
Mary Jane Foster Hoyt was born Sept. 9, 1837, at Moulton borough, N. Hampshire. She came to Iowa in 1852 with her parents and two brothers and has continuously resided in the vicinity of Andrew. In 1857 she was united in marriage to Albert Briggs Chapman, a nephew of the late Gov. Briggs. This union was blessed with three children, Mrs. Wm. Mayberry of Fulton Ia., Chas. Chapman of Blairsburg, Ia., and Mrs. A.H. Byrumm of Bloomington, Nebraska. In 1863 Mr. Chapman passed away. March 7, 1867 she was united in marriage to John Shoaff. Three children also blessed this union, Retta and Fred at home and Mrs. Lettie Wheeler of Stickney, S. Dak. By this marriage, Mrs. Shoaff became a kind and considerate mother to Mr. Shoaff 's five motherless children, who have always received her. They are, Mrs. J.C. Merritt, Maquoketa, Ia.; J.C. Shoaff, Ia.; S.S. Shoaff, Oxford Jct., Ia.; L.I. Shoaff, Pratt, Kansas; and Mrs. C. Black, Cedar Rapids, who with one brother, J.B. Hoyt and 23 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren and hosts of friends are left to mourn. In the year 1864 Mrs. Shoaff united with the Presbyterian church and has since been a consistent member. Full of deep faith and an indomitable will she brought up her family in the fear and love of God, for which she enjoyed the supreme pleasure of seeing them staunch Christians and generous supporters of their churches. In February 1905, Mrs. Shoaff’s daughter Retta and son Fred retired from active farm work and moved to this city, where Miss Retta conducts a millinery store and Fred has followed his trade of painter and paper hanger.

Mrs. Shoaff’s health began to fail last February, since which time she has been under the doctor's care. But at times she would rally and be about the home. Tuesday morning she was not as well as usual and continued to ail until Thursday morning, Sept. 18 she seemed brighter than usual and had planned while Retta was combing her hair to have pressed chicken for Fred’s dinner and he did not care for chicken boiled. Just as Retta was through with her hair, she said, "Retta I feel so faint, call Fred.” Retta did so. Fred reached her side immediately, just as the Spirit lift[sic] the tired body, and was wafted back to its maker.
Mrs. Shoaff’s passing has caused deepest sorrow in the home where she was loved and so tenderly cared for all these years, by her two children. Those from a distance spending the greater part of the past year with her were now prevented by illness of paying the last earthly tribute other than by beautiful floral gifts to this mother whom everybody loved. Nothing was too much trouble for her to attempt if by its accomplishment some heart was made happier, some trouble lightened. To her the will of God was concerned. God had blessed her with a long life, so her death is but a change from this vale of tears to that eternity, where she receives that crown that God promises to those that love him.
Funeral services were held Sunday from her late home to the United Presbyterian church, where her pastor Rev. Kyle paid a beautiful tribute to her memory. The funeral cortège with six grandsons, Clarence Mayberry, Q. March, C.C. Merritt, Walter Sutton, Howard Merritt, and John Garretson as pallbearers, when did its way to the Andrew cemetery, where the beloved form banked with a wealth of floral splendor, silent messages from legions of friends, was lowered to its final rest.
Out-of-town attendants were, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Chapman, Blairsburg, Ia.; J.C. Shoaff, Coggan, Ia.; F.F. Hoyt, DeWitt, Ia.; and Mr. and Mrs. Jess Bowman, Delmar, Ia.
Among the abundance of floral tributes were a large pillow from the grandchildren, a huge boquet[sic] of marigolds and daliahs[sic], grown by Mrs. Shoaff herself. One marigold stalk had 70 large flowers, besides being full of buds. It would seem it bloomed purposely for her.

- 26 September 1919, Jackson Sentinel, Maquoketa Iowa, page 7, Andrew.