CHRISTINA (FRANK) (SMOLA) BLESSING

BLESSING, SMOLA, FRANK, SOSTHEIM, STRAWBRIDGE, MILLER, TUBBS

Posted By: bj (email)
Date: 2/22/2004 at 19:02:30

Jackson Sentinel, Maquoketa, Iowa
Monday, October 4, 1915
Pioneer Called Home

After a lingering illness of several months, Mrs. Christina Blessing passed peacefully away at the Iowa Sanatorium Friday night, Oct. 1, 1914.

Christina Franks was born October 3, 1838, in Stuttgart, Germany, and when but a child came with her parents to New York state and via the lakes from Buffalo to Chicago, thence by ox team to Maquoketa, there then being but a few buildings where our city is now located. With the pioneers of that early day she faced the hardships and watched the progress of her adopted home develop from a vast prairie to a community of thriving homes and business places. She was united in marriage to Joseph Smola to which union eight children were born, five of whom survive to mourn the loss of a kind, loving mother.

For many years she had been a devout member of the Baptist church and until illness overtook her she had always been active in religious work. She was also a member of the local W. C. T. U. Later in life she was married to C. H. Blessing, who passed away about ten years ago. The children surviving are: Mrs. E. V. Sisthein of Chicago, Mrs. H. E. Strawbridge of Finlay, O., Mrs. Minnie Miller of Maquoketa and Mrs. Ed. Tubbs of Delmar, one son, W. F. Smola of Maquoketa, also two brothers, Jacob and Louis Franck of New York City.

Funeral services were held this (Monday) afternoon at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Minnie Miller, on Olive St., Rev. Bartholomew of the M. E. church and Rev. Fletcher of the Baptist church officiating. Interment was made in Mt. Hope cemetery.