Emma Josephine (Allen) Aronson (1944)

ARONSON, ALLEN, BEEZLEY, MAPES

Posted By: Linda Brittain (email)
Date: 3/2/2006 at 20:23:24

Earlham Library Collection, Earlham, Iowa
July 1944

Emma Allen Aronson

Emma Josephine Allen was born near Mt. Vernon, Illinois, April 2, 1860. She was the youngest of nine children born to Henry Davis and Lucnda Dare Allen and now she is the last of the family to depart this life. Her mother died when Emma was but two years of age and for 14 years thereafter her home was with an aunt. After some schooling she had employment with another family where she remained for a few years.

In the summer of 1883 she was united in marriage with Lars Eric Aronson at Ambay, Illinois. In February of the following year they came to Adair County, Iowa, and made their home on a farm which they cleared from the raw prairie and where they lived for 21 years. There the four children were born: Alice G., who passed away in 1930, Allen E. of Earlham; Anna Beezley who resides at Paonia, Colorado, and Hesper Mapes of Dexter, Iowa.

Following a short sojourn in California they moved in 1906 to a farm near Earlham, Iowa. Several years later they sold the farm and moved to another near Osceola, Iowa. Then after three years they moved to the present home in Earlham, 28 years.

Although not in rugged health the past 40 years she has carried her share of the home, church and community responsibilities. The past few years her health has declined to her home much of the time in suffering and always without much complaint, ever appreciative of the kind, efficient care given by those attending her. Only last year occurred the golden wedding anniversary. On Monday afternoon, July 24, the summons came and she slipped quietly away to the land of the redeemed, aged 84 years, three months and 22 days.

She is survived by her husband, the son, Allen, two daughters, Anna and Hesper, eight grandchildren 15 great grandchildren and many other relatives and friends. One grandson, Arthur Mapes is in the armed service, in the Army Medical Corps, now overseas.