Martha (Ronald) McDill

MCDILL, RONALD, AGNEW, CURTIS

Posted By: Steve Harrison (email)
Date: 7/19/2010 at 09:55:16

Muscatine Journal, April 16, 1913 (Wednesday), Page 4, Column 5:

“Aged Louisa County Resident Succumbs.

Wapello, Ia., April 16. Mrs. Martha McGill [McDill], an aged resident of Port Louisa township, died at the home of her son, William McDill, on April 13, 1913.

Martha A. A. Donald [Ronald] was born in Fayette county, Ind., on February 23, 1825, and was aged at the time of her death, 88 years, 1 month and 21 days.

When only five years old she came with her parents to Nauvoo, Ill. In 1836 the family removed again, this time to Louisa county, Ia., where her father, John Ronald, entered the land on which she was living at the time of her death.

In 1850 she was marred to Joseph B. McDill, of Sparta, Ill. After a residence of a few months in Sparta, they returned to Louisa county, which has since been her home. Here were born to them seven children, four of whom survive her.

Coming to Iowa in its earliest years, she shared its privations and its growth. Although her school advantages were limited she constantly kept her hands stretched out for information and by reading and conversation made herself an unusually intelligent woman, alive to all the issues of the day.

In early life she gave herself to her Savior and joined the United Presbyterian church of Harrison, in which she retained her membership throughout life. During years of strength and years of weakness, the loss of children and lonely widowhood, she was sustained by her faith in Christ, and has left her children an ideal of trusting and submission to her Father in heaven.

To Mrs. McDill were born six children – John, who died at the age of 24 years; Mary Belle, wife of Louis Agnew, of Pawnee City, Neb.; William M. and George R., of Port Louisa township; Chalmers R., of Fort Morgan, Col.; Florence E., who married William L. Curtis, of Columbus Junction, and died in 1897. The husband and father died in August, 1891.

The funeral services were held at the Harrison church on Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock, conducted by the Rev. D. L. McBride, pastor of the United church at Winfield. Interment was made in the Harrison cemetery.” END