Churchill, Rhoda Jane Offill– 1862-1943

CHURCHILL, FRAZER, OFFILL, WALTERS

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 11/15/2021 at 10:11:04

Last Rites for Mrs. Rhoda Churchill Sunday, Feb. 24
Rhoda Jane Offill, daughter of James and Mary Walters Offill, was born May 16, 1862 at Olive Hill, Ky.
Her earliest days were fraught with the dangers of war, as their home was on the border of the Union and Confederate territories.
Morgan’s Raid passed within a half mile of their home. So her parents decided to leave all their belongings behind and move to a safer place. At the age of ten months she was carried by her mother on horseback to the Ohio River, then by boat on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Keokuk, by train to Pella, and in a wagon to Prairie City, then a very small settlement, arriving April 1, 1863.
They lived two years a half mile south of Prairie City, then homesteaded the old Offill farm three and one-half miles southeast of Prairie City, which was her home for many years.
She taught several years in rural schools.
On Feb. 22, 1888, she was united in marriage to George D. Churchill. He was then in the mercantile business in David City, Nebr., where they established their home, later moving to a farm there; then in 1895 they again moved to Escondido, Calif.
In 1900 they returned to Iowa and located on the Churchill farm, neighboring her old home. Here they remained for nineteen years. In the spring of 1919 they retired from the farm and came into Prairie City to make their home.
Four children were born to this union. The oldest son, Charles Wilbur, passed away on March 20, 1904.
Her husband also preceded her in death March 7, 1940.
She leaves to mourn her passing one daughter, Mabel (Mrs. Vern Frazer), and two sons, Ralph and Sumner, sixteen grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, one sister, Miss Josephine Offill of Des Moines, many nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.
She became a Christian at the age of fifteen and united with the Methodist church at Fairmount, later transfering to Prairie City, where she worked faithfully as long as her health permitted.
She was a charter member of the American Auxiliary and of the Three Quarter Century club.
In failing health for several years, she was a victim of arthritis and was bedfast since May 1, 1943.
Two years ago she was removed to the home of her daughter southwest of town, where she was cared for until the end came Thursday evening, Feb. 21, at 10:32 o’clock.
She was ever hopeful of recovery, although she suffered so much.
Funeral services were conducted Sunday afternoon at 1:15 at the Frazer home and at 2:00 at the Methodist church in Prairie City. Rev. C. P. Hughes of Council Bluffs, her former pastor and dear friend, was in charge.
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Roberts offered beautiful hymns accompanied by Mrs. Jean Bartelma.
Pallbearers were John De Graff, John Woddell, John Guerts, J. L. McKlveen, Will Patterson and Maurice Danley.
Mrs. Bowans, Mrs. Roberts and Mrs. Sparks were in charge of the many beautiful flowers which spoke so much for the esteem in which she was ever held.
Source: newspaper and date unknown; possibly Prairie City (IA) News; death date Feb. 21, 1943