Martha Penn (1924)

PENN, DUNMIRE, BELL

Posted By: Treva Patterson (email)
Date: 12/6/2006 at 20:20:32

Winterset Madisonian
September 18, 1924

Death of Mrs. Martha Penn

Mrs. Martha Penn, who had lived in Dexter for several years, died last Thursday, Sept. 11th at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Harry Dunmire in Penn township. She had been a great sufferer during the past years, passing away at the age of seventy-five years. The family formerly lived in Union township, the husband, William Edwin Penn, preceding her in death a number of years age. She is survived by four sons and five daughters. Funeral services were held at the Dunmire home on Saturday and burial made at Dexter.
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Winterset Madisonian – September 25, 1924
Pg 6

Martha J. Bell was born April 20, 1849, in Clark county, Illinois, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Harry Dunmire, Sept. 11, 1924, aged 75 years, 4 months and 21 days. She was married July 31, 1865 to Edmund Penn, in Warren county, Iowa, where she had moved previous to that time, with her parents. To this union were born 13 children, the oldest one dying in infancy, three other children: Alma, dying in 1920, Elza in 1921 and Ellsworth in 1922. The husband and father died 32 years ago, leaving her with the cares of a large family. She moved from Warren county to Madison county, where she lived and raised her family, keeping up her home until her youngest child married, she since then has made her home in and around Dexter.

She united with the United Brethren church north of Winterset and has been a faithful member. She was at one time superintendent of the Sunday school and was always anxious to keep up the Christian work of the community in which she lived. She endured all the trials of the pioneer mother and was a tireless worker in order to keep up her home.

She leaves to mourn her loss, nine children: Frank, Minnie and Emma of Winterset; Mae, Elmer and Mary of Dexter; Ida of Adel, Tom of Earlham, Ed of Stuart. She also leaves 31 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, one brother of Perry, three half-brothers and two half-sisters, besides numerous distant relatives and friends. She has been in feeble health for a long time, but was a patient sufferer and ready when the summons came for her to come up higher where she can meet those who have gone on before.