Maytag, Amelia (Tonebohn) 1835-1905

TONEBOHN, MAYTAG, REIFSCHNEIDER

Posted By: Barbara Hug (email)
Date: 1/26/2005 at 17:36:11

Amelia Tonebohn was born in Hanover in 1835. In 1850, with her parents, she come to this country and located in Blackhawk County, Iowa. In 1855 she was married at Buchanan to G. W. Maytag. Shortly after that Mr. and Mrs. Maytag moved to Elgin, Ill., where the sons, Fred L. and Lou R. were born. Early in the sixties they went to southern Illinois where they remained until 1867, when they came back to Iowa and settled on the farm near Laurel, where they passed the major portion of their lives, or until 1896, when they left the farm and located in Laurel. The husband and father, Geo. M., died in February 1900, since which time Mrs. Maytag has lived with a widowed daughter, Mrs. Emma Reifschneider. There were ten children in the family, Senator F. L. Maytag being the eldest. They are all living but one who died in infancy.

Mrs. Maytag had been in feeble health for many years, being afflicted with bronchitis, which, with other complications, sapped her vitality gradually till the machinery was worn out and refused longer to do its work. Then her soul passed on to the great beyond. She had expressed a desire to go at least once before the end finally came, and wondered why it could not be. Not that she was complaining at all, but rather that she was weary of the long struggle. She was conscious to the last, although for several hours she was unable to speak. Wishing to be turned over in bed she so indicated to her son, Lou, who, in compliance with her wish, took her in his arms, and it was there that she died.

Thus passes one, who, in the completion of her allotted years had done her work well. She was beloved by her children, and her declining years were made as happy and comfortable for her as loving hearts could make them. ~ The Newton Daily News, Newton, IA, Tuesday, October 31, 1905, Page 1, Column 4