Laura Gertrude Anderson

ANDERSON, GARDNER, CURRIE, WILLIARD, ALCOCK, MATHESON, FERGUSON, SMITH, KRAMER, CAIN, COTTRELL, BUFFINGTON, SMALLFIELD, FORSYTHE, HUNTER, ELEKELBERG, GALBRAITH, YOUNG, CHEHOCK, TROUTNER, HILDEBRANT, BAIN, BRADLEY, MOYLE, HALPIN

Posted By: Carrie Robertson (email)
Date: 10/18/2016 at 15:21:17

Thursday February 11, 1932 The Marion Sentinel
Services For Mrs. Anderson Held Monday
Prominent Marion Woman Killed by Train Here Saturday Morning
--------------------
Mrs. F. I. Anderson was killed by an early morning train Saturday on the Milwaukee tracks, near the Seventh street viaduct.
No eye witness of the terrible accident has yet been found, and it is not likely that it will ever be known whether it was an accident or self destruction. Had she been hit by the engine, surely the engineer would have seen her. It is believed by many that she was on her way to the Indian Creek bridge, and while walking along the narrow path, became exhausted and fell into the passing train. The top of her head was crushed and an arm broken. Death must have come to her instantly.
For a long time, Mrs. Anderson had been an intense sufferer from heart trouble, and only her intimates knew how grave was her condition and the past year she had been mentally as well as physically ill. Six weeks ago, she suffered a complete nervous breakdown, and realizing she had no chance to ever regain her health, she had many times expressed the wish that an end might come to her suffering.
She was taken to the hospital for a time, and after returning to her home, was in charge of skilled nurses night and day. The obsession to end it all grew on her, and her essential honesty would not permit her to even promise her family that she would not make the attempt, give opportunity. To end things by leaping from some high place, was her chief obsession, and this had lead her family to believe that she slipped away in the night, bound for Indian Creek bridge, though how she ever got as far as she did, in her weakened condition, is very remarkable.
This is one of the saddest deaths that has come to Marion for a long time. Mrs. Anderson was one of the brightest, keenest women that this city has known. She was a born leader and an indomitable worker in any cause she espoused. She was quick in her decisions, and once made they were unchangeable--qualifications that would have made her a power in public life. She gave much time to the cause of teaching patriotism through her work with the Woman's Relief Corps, having been a department president of that organization. She was at one time a prominent state officer in the Pythian Sisters, which called out as well, the fraternal spirit that was hers. She had various civic interests. She was a prominent member of the O.O.P. club of this city; had a large part in organizing the work that brought to Marion what we know as Thomas Park.
She gave to the Red Cross and kindred public services a lot of her time. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Home of the Friendless in Cedar Rapids, and helped many a needy soul to find sanctuary there. She was a tireless worker in the Congregational church, and gave liberally of her time and strength and money to help it through its problems. But undoubtedly her best work outside of her own home was that done with her Sunday school class of girls, through which has passed during the twenty or more years of her leadership, a great many lives that are larger and stronger and better fitted for the future because of her instruction, her admonitions and her love. As a final tribute to her memory, members of this class acted as ushers at the funeral services.
Gertrude Gardner was born near Palo, and has spent her entire life in this county. Her mother dying when she was quite young, she came to Marion and made her home with an aunt, Mrs. Mary G. Willard. She received her education in the Marion schools, and later was a teacher in these schools, and was serving in this way when she met and married the young lawyer, Fergus L. Anderson. The wedding occurred in 1898. To this union, a daughter was born, the cultured, talented and beloved Ruth, now Mrs. Meill Currie, of Kalamazoo, Mich.
The funeral services Monday afternoon, tested the capacity of the Congregational church. Members of the Woman's Relief Corps, and the Pythian Sisters attended in a body. In the neighborhood of a hundred lawyers and judges from the various parts of this judicial district were in sorrowful attendance, and mourning neighbors and friends filled the remaining spaces. The front of the church was a mass of flowers, eloquent in tribute. The organ played softly as the crowd assembled, but there was no other music. The service was simple--an invocation, some comforting scripture, a prayer and a brief and sympathetic message by the pastor, Rev. James Alcock, from the text, "Let not your heart be troubled." The speaker admitted that anything he might say would be inadequate eulogy of the departed. The presence of so many mourners was a more eloquent tribute. He called her a contributor. She gave to society, rather than received from it. Those who knew her best felt there was a most fitting sermon in that word {continued on page 8}
which summed up the loyalty, devotion, sacrifice for the things she loved--contributor. Interment was made in Oak Shade cemetery.
The relatives from out of the city, present for the funeral besides Mr. and Mrs. Currie, were her sisters, Mrs. Edna Matheson, of Omaha, and Mrs. Jennie Ferguson, of Battle Creek, Nebr., and a cousin, Miss Alice Williard, of Hot Springs, South Dakota. Relatives of Mr. Anderson were his brothers, Charter and F.R. Anderson; Mrs. F.R. Anderson; four nephews Verde, William, Charles and Herbert Anderson; two nieces, Mrs. Maria Smith and Mrs. Pearl Kramer, all of Ohio, Ill., and a cousin, Miss Jessie Cain, of Bigelow, Minn.
Prominent officials of the Pythian Sisters present were: Mrs. Ada Cottrell, grand chief, Iowa Falls; Mrs. Bertha Buffington, grand junior, Cedar Rapids; Miss Nellie Smallfield, grand secretary, Davenport; Mrs. Lavinia Forsythe, past grand chief, Cedar Rapids; Mrs. Carrie Hunter, past grand chief, Newton; Mrs. Grace Elekelberg, past grand chief, Fairbanks; Mrs. Bessie Galbraith, most excellent chief of Winter Temple, Cedar Rapids, and her officers and past chiefs; Mrs. Carrie Young, Maquoketa; Mrs. H.W. Chehock, Amelia Hildebrant, past chiefs, of Iowa City.
Officers of the Woman's Relief Corps attending were: Mrs. Maude Troutner, department president, of Marshalltown; Amelia Hildebrant, past grand color bearer; Mrs. Pearl Bain, department musician; Mrs. Walter Bradley, Iowa City; Mrs. Bessie Moyle, department press correspondent, Maquoketa; Mrs. Jessie Halpin, department treasurer, Cedar Rapids.