Elizabeth (Langacher) Leeper (1931)

LEEPER, LANGACHER, LONGACRE, LENOCKER, MOORE, KNIGHT, MAULSBY, BARR, SIMONDS

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 2/5/2011 at 15:43:16

Dexter Library Obituary Collection
Dexter, Iowa

PIONEER MOTHER PASSED TO ETERNAL HOME SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Mrs. George Leeper Had Been a Resident of This Locality Since 1870, Being a Penn Pioneer

A common sorrow is shared in this community because of the going away of Mrs. George Leeper, who fell into eternal sleep at her home in Dexter last Sunday afternoon. Mrs. Leeper was loved and revered for the gentle goodness of her kindly motherly heart and her sympathetic neighborly friendship. The tears that have come are not because of regret or remorse, but because of the actual loss the community has sustained in her passing. No woman has made a great or more beautiful contribution to the life of this community than has Mrs. Leeper. All of her days have been a continual testimony to Christian faith, earnest labors, and kindly benevolence. The queenliness of her life was not confined to the circle of her own home’s interest—for more than a half-century she had wielded an influence that made every home in her neighborhood better, and brighter, and holier. She made earth richer—she will bring heaven a bit nearer.

Elizabeth Langacher, daughter of Christian and Susannah Langacher, was born Oct. 21, 1847, in Canton Berne, Switzerland, she being one of a family of sixteen children. At the age of two years, she, with her family, came to America, making the voyage in a two-masted sailing vessel, taking 42 days for the voyage. The family settled in Holmes county, Ohio, and the family name was shortened to Longacre.

In 1868 the family moved to Illinois and the family name was then written Lenocker, which spelling is still employed. After a two years residence in Illinois, the family moved to Iowa, settling in Penn township, Madison county.

She was united in marriage to George Leeper July 6, 1871, they establishing their home on a farm in Penn township, where they lived for 35 years. They reared a family of seven to maturity, two having died in infancy.

When a girl, Mrs. Leeper was confirmed in the German Reformed church in Glenmont, Ohio. After coming to Iowa she united with the Methodist church at Penn Center. Following their removal to Dexter in 1906, her membership was transferred to the Dexter church. She loved the church and was a constant attendant at its services whenever she was able. She lived an every-day Christian life—never speaking ill of any one, always finding something good in all. To know her was to love her.

She died at her home in Dexter Jan. 25, after a three days’ illness, being aged 83 years, 3 months and 4 days.

She leaves to mourn her loss her aged husband, and seven children, Frank, Harry, Essie Moore, Eldora Knight, Reva Maulsby, all of Dexter, Fred of Chicago, and Ray of Modesta, Calif. There are fifteen grandchildren, one brother, J. W. Lenocker of Des Moines, two sisters, Mary Barr of Mansfield, Ohio, and Lou Simonds of Casper, Wyo., together with a host of other relatives and friends.

The funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the Dexter M. E. church, conducted by the Rev. C. M. Corrie of Prairie City, assisted by the pastor, Rev. L. W. Nixon. Interment was in the Penn Center cemetery.

Gravestone Photo
 

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