Ball, Eliza (Drew) 1856-1906

BALL, DREW, COOK, SWEARENGEN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/15/2005 at 09:07:39

Mrs. Eliza D. Ball, whose death occurred at Madison Lake, Minnesota, from an acute attack of chronic Bright’s disease, was born in the state of Ohio, August 11, 1856. Before she was a year old her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oren Gilman Drew, removed to Iowa, coming the long distance in a wagon, and settled about four and a half miles northwest of this city. Their first home was a log house and Mrs. Ball obtained her education in the rural schools and later was an attendant at Hazel Dell Academy of this city.

About 29 years ago she became the wife of S. C. Cook, an attorney of Newton, and went to Little Rock, Ark., where they resided about a year, when they returned to this city and made this their home until the death of her husband, September 29, 1887. One daughter was born to this union, Mrs. Ethel Swearengen, of Madison Lake, Minnesota.

After her husband’s death, Mrs. Cook went to Mitchellville to reside, and there, Nov. 27, 1896, she married Robert Ball. Several years later in March six years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Ball came to Newton, built the beautiful home on East Green Street, where they have since resided.

On June 22nd, Mr. and Mrs. Ball left on an extended eastern trip, expecting to return late this fall and bring with them her mother, Mrs. Mary Emily Drew, who had been spending some time in the east.

For two weeks they were guests at the home of her daughter in Minnesota and then went to Indiana to visit relatives of Mr. Ball. It was while there that Mrs. Ball, becoming quite ill, was advised by her physician to return to Minnesota, which they did.

Less than two weeks after her return she was taken violently ill. That was on Tuesday of last week. The next day, Wednesday, she became unconscious and remained in that condition until her death came Saturday, August 18, about 12 o’clock.

Her brothers, William and Gilman Drew, had planned a pleasant surprise for their sister. The mother, whom she had not seen for some time, was brought from the bother’s home in Massachusetts to New York, that she might be there when the daughter arrived. But this was not to be, for death claimed the sister and daughter, before the trip could be taken.

The remains were brought to Newton Saturday night. The husband, the daughter, Mrs. Tracey Swearengen and her husband, and the brother, William Drew accompanied the body here.

Mrs. Ball was a woman with a strong character and personality. She loved nature and especially was very fond of plants and flowers. Wherever she lived she always arranged to have them in profusion. She was most kind and generous, believing and living up to that belief that only what you are matters eternally.

With all her duties as a business woman and a housekeeper she had for years found time to devote to the art of painting, of which she was very fond and had much natural talent.

While at the home of her daughter a year ago, she painted four pictures, almost her last work in that line, which now are prized most highly in that home.

She leaves behind besides her husband and his two daughters, Mrs. Agnes Caldwell and Miss Nelle Ball, of Altoona, to whom she had been a good mother, her own daughter, Mrs. Tracy Swearingen of Madison Lake, Minn., the mother, who will be so bereft by the loss of her only daughter and two brothers, Gilman of Wood’s Hole, Mass., and William of Ithaca, New York.

Rev. A. R. Tilleghast, pastor of the Church of Eternal Hope of New York City, officiated at the funeral held at the home this afternoon at 2 o’clock, which was attended by a large number of friends and many beautiful flowers attested to the love and esteem with which the one now gone was held in the heart of neighbors and acquaintances of a life time.

Mesdames George Allen and Nona Knepper and Messrs Fred Hough and Fred Meredith sang several sweet hymns, Mrs. Mark Moorman accompanying them at the piano. The pallbearers were Eugene Bean, Henry Efnor, George Hughes, Dave Allen, George Denniston and Henry Wright, and the interment was in the Newton Cemetery. ~ The Newton Daily News, Tuesday, August 21, 1906, Page 4, Column 2