Eliza Antoinette Meeker Northrop (1826-1901)

BARNES, CATLIN, CENTER, FELLOWS, HURLBART, MARTIN, MEEKER, NORTHROP, POFF, SPENCER, STEPHENS, STIMPSON, SWEARENGEN, TAYLER, TAYLOR, WRIGHT

Posted By: Kelli Wilslef (email)
Date: 3/10/2011 at 06:51:56

Eliza Antoinette Meeker
Maquoketa Excelsior
June 21, 1901

Eliza Antoinette Meeker was born in Middleport, New York, Jan. 23, 1826 and died at her residence near Maquoketa, July 17, 1901. In 1849, she became the wife of Mr. E. R. Northrop and the day after the wedding went west. The journey was direct to this city where the first six years of her married life were spent. In 1855, the family moved three miles south and opened the farm on the wild prairie, which has since afforded them a home. Here ten years ago her mother died, and four years ago, her husband received his crown, and now from the same sacred place she has gone to join them.

She was the mother of two children both of whom were present at the funeral. The son, Landon L. Northrop, resided in Worth county, Mo. The daughter, Cora, remaining at home, has been the companion of her mother.

Mrs. Northrop became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at the age of sixteen. Her membership in the Maquoketa church dates from the time of her coming west in 1849. She is known in the church as an active faithful member. To her faithfulness as treasurer to a fund raised by the ladies of the church in 1850, and her business management of it, in 1875, there was available for the purchase of a bell the sum of $300 with which the present bell was secured. In that time the fund had grown from thirty to three hundred dollars. This is an instance of her strong character and her loyalty or right and the kingdom or Christ.

Of her father’s family but two remain, a brother in Oregon, and a sister, Mrs. Center of DeWitt who was in attendance at the funeral. A niece, Mrs. C. J. Northrop of Monticello was also present.

Thought an invalid for the past eight years her last sickness was of a but a week’s duration. In conversation with her sister she had while in health expressed her confidence that death was like stepping from the workroom of the house into the parlor. In the first years of her connection with the church she was associated with its early pastors, Hurlbart, Landon Taylor, Dummitt Swearengen and Catlin. She was one of the heroic band Landon Tayler mentions in his book “The Battlefield Review,” as a little host every ready to bear a past in pushing forward a good cause. Their names are Spencer, Martin, Poff, Stephens, Barnes, Wright, Stimpson, Northrop and Fellows. They have nearly all passed to the other shore. We may imagine their greeting her coming and their exalted fellowship.

The view from the front door of her prairie home looking toward town is very beautiful in the green of summer, or the white of winter; but what is this compared with the river of life and the heavenly city.

Funeral services were conducted by the pastor of the Methodist church, at the house. There was a large attendance of neighbors and friends. Interment was in Mt. Hope cemetery, Wednesday, June 19, 1901.