HUMESTON, Mary Northrup 1822 - 1885

HUMESTON, HARKNESS, FINN, WOODS, NORTHRUP

Posted By: Richard K. Thompson (email)
Date: 5/2/2011 at 21:33:45

Fairfield Tribune
Thursday Nov. 26, 1885
Pg. 3 Col. 3

"....A Sudden Death.- Sunday last in this city occurred the sudden death of Mrs. Mary HUMESTON (sic. Mary NORTHRUP HUMESTON), wife of Mr. Alva HUMESTON, of Humeston, Wayne county, this state, and mother of Mrs. R. A. HARKNESS (sic. Susan/Susie B HUMESTON HARKNESS, wife of Richard A. HARKNESS), of this city. Mrs. HUMESTON had been a sufferer from heart disease for several years and it was this which caused her death. Its suddenness was a shock to everybody in the city. She had attended the Christian church, of which she was a member, in the morning, and while on her way home to Prof. HARKNESS' residence, was suddenly taken with a severe attack of her old complaint. She was taken into the residence of Mrs. Mary FINN and Dr. WOODS sent for, but was unable to render any assistance. Mrs. HUMESTON revived sufficiently to recognize those about her, but soon relapsed into unconsciousness and died about half past one o'clock. The old couple had been here for several weeks visiting their daughter, and were expecting to remain all winter. Mrs. HUMESTON was sixty-six years old past. The remains were taken to Humeston for burial on Tuesday."

* Transcribed for genealogy purposes. I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Mary NORTHRUP HUMESTON was born about 1822 (give or take a year or so) and died in Fairfield, Iowa on November 25, 1885. Her husband, Alva HUMESTON Sr.(who later also died in Fairfield in 1889 while visiting the same daughter), was an early settler and businessman in Wayne county, Iowa. The town of Humeston and the city cemetery there were literally named in his honor, although the population of the town is now counted in the hundreds of residents. Alva and Mary HUMESTON, and several members of their family, are thus buried in Humeston cemetery in the town of Humeston, Wayne county, Iowa.