Savannah (Stiles) Bell McAndrews (1932)

BELL, BROWNE, FORNEY, MCANDREW, STILES, WILLIAMSON

Posted By: Treva Patterson
Date: 9/19/2006 at 09:55:54

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, January 5, 1933
Page 8

Mrs. Savannah McAndrews

Another early pioneer has gone to her reward, in the passing of Mrs. Savannah McAndrews. Savannah C. Stiles, ninth child of John S. Elizabeth Williamson Stiles, was born on October 12, 1849, at Bentonville, Fayette county, Indiana, and passed away at her home in St. Charles, Iowa, December 26, 1932, aged 83 years, 2 months and 14 days.

She came with her parents to Iowa in the fall of 1856, settling in Warren county, near what is now Martensdale. Here she grew to womanhood and saw her older brothers march away to the war. One of these brothers was Captain Thomas W. Stiles, who for many years lived near Blair Chapel and took an active part in both political and church affairs in this community and county.

Near the close of the Civil war she went to visit her grandparents at Bentonville, Indiana, where she met a returned Civil war veteran, Edward P. Bell to whom she was married on New Year's day 1866. Here they made their home until 1877 when they came to St. Charles, Iowa, where Mr. Bell was engaged in the jewelry business. They moved to Des Moines for a year or more, returning to St. Charles in 1888, making this their home until the death of Mr. Bell, January 1, 1907 and he lies buried in the St. Charles cemetery.

To this union seven children were born: John M., now deceased, Alfred T., Virginia, now Mrs. M. W. Browne, Edward P., Gus, Rose, who died in infancy and Charles who was drowned at the age of two years.

After the death of her husband, she continued to live in St. Charles until her marriage to John McAndrews of Winterset, on June 7, 1910 moving then to his home in Winterset. Mr. McAndrews was also a Civil war veteran, enlisting in Warren county in Company H. 39th Iowa Infantry and was a prominent citizen of Winterset many years, dying November 25, 1914. Mrs. McAndrews then purchased her home in St. Charles where she lived until her death.

She was a member of several organizations, a charter member of the O.E.S. which was organized February 1895, and its first Worthy Matron. Also a member of the John Miller, W.R.C. and was always greatly interested in its activities. She had been almost a lifelong member of the Methodist church in St. Charles and was a regular attendant as long as her health would permit.

Mrs. McAndrews was a kind, gentle disposition and when the weather permitted would sit on the porch where she loved to meet and greet her friends. For several years her health had been failing, yet she was able to make short trips down town or to the church nearby, but on December 15th suffered a stroke from which she only rallied slightly, but gradually grew weaker and quietly entered into rest on December 26th. For the past two years her daughter Mrs. W. M. Browne and family have lived with her and cared for her.

Of her immediate family she leaves five children, Alfred T. of Kokomo, Indiana, Mrs. Virginia Browne of St. Charles, Dr. E. P. Bell of Pleasantville, Iowa; and Gus Bell somewhere in the south. Eight grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild and one sister, Mrs. Eliza Forney of Cherokee, Kansas. On pathetic feature was the arrival of a son, Alfred of Kokomo, Indiana on Thursday morning after his mother's burial on Wednesday afternoon. The message sent the family telling them he was coming failed to reach them until after his arrival. It was a sad disappointment but in no way could it be helped.

Relatives and friends from a distance who attended the funeral were; Dr. and Mrs. E. P. Bell, Mrs. Holiwell and Mrs. Billingsly of Pleasantville; Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Stiles, Ralph, Raymond and Ray Stiles, Merle Browne and children, Harold Grace and Mrs. Mary Clair of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Jud McGinnis and Mr. and Mrs. Albert Stiles of Patterson; C. D. Stiles, Everett Clark, Mrs. Minnie Embree and Maxine Martin of Winterset and Herbert Browne of Cheyenne, Wyoming.
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Coordinator's note: Transcribed as published, her 2nd husband's surname is "McAndrew" per his gravestone and Iowa Death Certificate.

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