Sarah Shepard Andrews 1827-1912

ANDREWS, PAGE, COZINE, SHEPARD

Posted By: Nancy Page Richings (email)
Date: 2/11/2003 at 22:00:11

1827-1912
MRS. ORRIN ANDREWS

The early settlers of Johnson County are fast passing away. On Sunday, August 4, 1912, after a sickness of some months, Mrs. Sarah S. Andrews peacefully passed on to the hereafter, at her home in Graham Township.

Her maiden name was Sarah S. Shepard. She was born in Erie County, PA, Feb. 26, 1827, where in Dec. 1853, she was married to the late Orrin Andrews.

They were attracted by the stories of the wonderful fertility of the young state of Iowa, and in the spring of 1854, joined the multitude who were rushing to this new land of promise. They bought land in Graham Township of this County near where Morse was afterward located. There were no railroads in the state then. There were comparatively few settlers in that Township at that time, and they had to endure many privations attended to life in a new country. The had faith in themselves, they had faith in the future and with strong hard and tireless industry they set about building a home for themselves in the wilderness. That home was one of generous hospitality, comfort and good cheer, full of contentment and happiness.

Three childre made glad that home. Mrs. Jessie I. Cozine of Chicago, and Mrs. Jennie I. Page of Wisconsin, who survive their mother and the youngest, a son, Charles M. Andrews whose tragic death occured on the same day Jan. 11, 1902, that his father died. Five grandchildren also survive.

Thirty-five years ago, both Mrs. Andrews and her husband, became constituent members of the Christian Church at Morse, which was organized by the Rev. W. Bayard Craig,D.D. They continued until the removal by death, to be not only liberal supporters of the Church, but also willing workers, strong in faith, striving to do good and make the world about them better.

The funeral services were conducted by Rev. C. C. Rawlinson of Iowa City, on Aug. 7, 1912, and she was laid away in the Morse cemetery beside her husband and her son, Charles.

Mrs. Andrews possessed great force of character, an uncommon amount of common sense, a kind heart, full of sympathy and good will to all about her. She made her home a typical American home where God was feared, industry, morality, honor, virtue and right living were taught and exemplified. No one in need or distress ever appealed to her in vain. She was a ministering angel at the bedside of the sick, a comforter to those in distress.

She was highly respected and greatly beloved by the entire community and all who know her. She will long be remembered for her pure life, sterling character and the good deeds she has done. No one who has lived to the grand old age of more than eighty-five years, whose life has been an open book in the community for nearly half a century, exemplifying the religious truth which moulded her life, who had enjoyed the love and confidence of all, as has Mrs. Andrews, can be said to have lived in vain. The community, the County, the State have sustained a great loss by the removal of one of such sterling worth and high character.

M.R.