Minnie Litton (1898)
LITTON
Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 10/24/2008 at 15:51:27
Winterset Reporter – September 29, 1898
Pg 4Minnie Litton Dead
Last Friday morning the startling information was passed from one individual to another that Miss Minnie Litton was dead. The community was shocked and many were the expressions of grief when learning of the demise of this noble, kind hearted Christian young lady.
Minnie Litton was born January 12th, 1869, in Jefferson county, Iowa. Came to Madison county, Iowa, with her parents, in 1874. She finished her studies in the common schools of this county in 1887 and attended the Normal school at Dexter in 1888. After finishing her studies at Dexter she began teaching in the common schools of this county and taught thirteen successful terms. In 1894 she was employed to teach in the North Ward school of this city she being assigned to the third grade. She had taught three weeks of the present term when she was taken suddenly ill with rheumatism and Brights disease and died from the effects of the same last Friday morning at 4:00 o’clock.
Miss Litton was a devout member of the Baptist church, a member of the P.E.O. society and Eastern Star lodge.
The funeral occurred from her late residence on east Jefferson street, on last Saturday at 2 o’clock, p.m. Rev. Jacobs and Dr. Ely conducting the services.
She was interred in Rock City cemetery and the procession that followed her remains to their last resting place was very large.
---------------------Winterset Madisonian – September 28, 1898
Pg 1Death of Minnie Litton.
DIED, at her home at Winterset, Iowa, September 23d, of Brights disease, Minnie Litton, aged 29 years.
Her short illness of one week and sudden death was a great shock to the family and all her friends. Her life work was done and well done, and the loving Father said: “It is enough, come up higher.” In her quiet way, she exerted an influence for good that was far reaching, and it can be truly said of her, her works do follow her.
The funeral at her home last Saturday afternoon was very largely attended, the house and yard being filled to overflowing. The music was furnished by a choir chosen from her church, the Eastern Star and the public school teachers, who also acted as pall-bearers. Rev. Jacobs, her pastor, assisted by Dr. Ely, conducted the services. The floral offerings were many and very beautiful, the room where the casket rested being quite banked with the flowers sent in. Many of these were from the children, who had been in her room at school; while a wreath in green and white from the Chautauqua class, the star in its mystical colors from the members of the Eastern Star and great sheafs of roses from the teachers of each ward and numerous set pieces from others told of the esteem in which she was held by the older people with whom she was associated. A large concourse of relatives and friends attended the remains to the Winterset cemetery, where she was laid to rest with the beautiful ceremonies of the Order of the Eastern Star, which had charge of the burial services.
BIOGRAPHICAL
Miss Litton had taught two weeks of the fourth year in the third grade of the north ward school, and was a very efficient teacher, striving in every way she could to keep pace with the times in all educational interests, and was very conscientious in her duties, always taking the best educational journals and reading the best books she could get to help her in her work. Her life from early childhood has been one constant struggle. Early in life she realized the advantages of a good education and set about to acquire it, earning by her own efforts the money, to take a course in the Dexter normal school, beginning in the fall of ’87. In the spring of ’88 she taught her first term in the common schools. Having taught nine terms in succession, she then took a year’s course in the higher branches at Highland Park College, Des Moines; then taught four terms more in the common schools and took a course in the special training school of Elizabeth K. Mathews, Des Moines, then began in the public schools of our city, teaching altogether eleven years. Her aspirations always were upward, striving to attain to the highest. She was held in high esteem by her fellow teachers, and in the social circles in which she moved was much beloved. Her disposition was quiet and cheerful, and her influence on those she associated with was uplifting and inspiring. She was a member of the Chautauqua club, also of the Eastern Star lodge, being one of its officers. Her emblem, a broken column, is now of sad significance. She was a great reader, always improving every opportunity in that line, and had besides her school work, read twelve books since January 1st.
She was converted in 1892 and joined the Baptist church taking an active interest in all branches of church work and lived a consistent Christian to the day of her death, and is now, we have not the least doubt, reaping her reward in the beautiful mansions above. In her home life she was loving and affectionate, always thinking and planning for the best interests and happiness of each member of the family, and will be sadly missed.
Miss Litton was an ardent lover of the beautiful, being passionately fond of flowers, always striving to inspire her pupils with that same ardent love of the beautiful in nature.
Gravestone Photo
Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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