Agnes Catharine Gramly

GRAMLY, RESSLER, EDWARDS

Posted By: Misty Christner (email)
Date: 4/26/2018 at 11:39:12

Source: Unsure of Newspaper June 1905

A GOOD WOMAN CALLED HOME

Death of Mrs. Gramly, Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ressler of Sharon

Reared and Educated in Johnson County - Married Minister and her life was Devoted to the Good of Others - Death Occurred in St. Louis After Brief Illness.

At St. Louis June 21st occurred the death of Mrs. Gramly, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ressler, of Sharon, and the funeral party reached this city this morning, accompanied by members of the family except their son Earl, who had gone to Indianapolis in an automobile and being on his way home, could not be reached, but he arrived in St. Louis last evening and the funeral has been postponed till tomorrow to await his arrival. The services will be held from the house at 10 tomorrow, and then at the Evangelical Church.
Agnes Catharine Ressler, daughter of J. J. and Fanny Ressler, wife of C. H. Gramly, was born Jan. 27, 1861 at Sharon Center, Johnson County, Iowa, and died at 724 Vandeventer Avenue, St. Louis, June 21, 1905, aged 44 years, 5 months, 26 days. Her fatal sickness was of two weeks' duration. Being afflicted for a number of years with diabetes, it settled in her heart, causing heart failure. She was unconscious the last 24 hours before her death. Her parents are of German ancestry, inheriting a strong constitution and as a girl, raised on a farm. She learned to do all kinds of work in and outside of the house and developed physically into robust womanhood. In her youthful years she attended school at Sharon Center and received a common school education. In staying with her grandmother Ressler at 12 years of age for a few years, she was impressed with older ideas than that of her age, so in her teens she was many years in advance of her age, and needed no safe guards thrown about her and was generally recognized as a model type of girlhood, while her disposition was open and free. Hers was always the expression of a well balanced character. At the age of 21 her hand was solicited in marriage by the now bereaved husband Rev. C. H. Gramly, of Blairstown, Ia., being a widower with five children to care for. She counseled with her mother and while the venture was full of so many risks of a happier life, she accepted and was married, Feb. 2, 1880, at the family residence, becoming at once the guardian of five children and the familiar "mamma" here and "ma" there was at first embarrassing but her aptitude for strange surroundings was soon overcome by the kisses of children and blending of innocent affection, so that love became the ruling spirit of the new home. The children growing up and moving away, to this day corresponded with her and look to her for counsel and comfort. Christmas and Valentine days always meant kind remembrances. Four children were born to her, two infants and Edna May, now Mrs. Roy Edwards. of La Harpe, Kans., being here to attend her funeral, and Earl, of St. Louis.
As a preachers wife the missionary ideas implanted in a youthful heart by the preaching of the ministry, work of the church and Sunday School, reading of Christian literature had an opportunity for development in public life and became incorporated in the stronger expressions of life. Children were her favorite attraction, teaching infant classes in Sunday School with a good word and a smile. Picture cards and flowers were refreshing to her. She became a leading spirit in the young people's societies, curbing many a break of the rude by her presence or word. In kindergarten work she became the moving agent among 250 young pupils. Packs of pictures, and badges and patterns are among the store of her keepsakes and relics of bygone years.
Modest of disposition as president and officer of ladies' aid societies, she many times tided the craft over difficult breakers and preserved the integrity and harmony of the membership, neglecting her home work in preference to the work of the church.
In 1890 the family was transferred from the upper Iowa conference to the western frontier of Kansas in a missionary territory, about to be possessed by the tide of emigration. The only preacher's family in the territory, the circle became enlarged by the planting of new societies, organizations of new Sunday Schools, building of churches, founding of L. A. S. and auxiliary, missionary societies. She was content to make her home in a sod house and taking the sack would gather buffalo chips for fuel, in the abscence of her husband, working in sod houses, sod school houses, kitchens, stores, empty cares, laying the foundations, forming sentiments, giving direction to the tide of immigration. After a strain of four years they were sent farther east, where the same labors were continued. Being partially broken in heath it was thought best to rest a few years and moved to St. Louis to engage in the grocery business. She became the clerk and had on her counter picture cards and tracts for distribution to the poor and needy. Thus she continued the good work of her life to the end. After caring for others for a fourth of a century, she is brought home to her parents to rest from her labors in the family lot in the cemetery in Sharon Center till the morning of the resurrection. The monument at her tomb marks a brighter spot, the influence of which will shine to endless day.