Sarah Ann (Nevitt) Roark (1936)

CIRCLE, NEVITT, ROARK, SMITH

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 4/10/2011 at 16:47:19

Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
Thursday, December 3, 1936

Sarah Ann Roark, daughter of Frank and Fannie Circle Nevitt, was born at Springfield, Ohio, April 26, 1844, and passed away at her home in Valley Junction, November 27, 1936, at 11:30 a.m.

She united in marriage with James R. Roark in 1859. Mr. Roark operated a saw which cut wood for the locomotives on the Benn Fontain road. This occupation made it necessary for Mr. and Mrs. Roark to lived in several different communities in Indiana and Ohio. In 1863 they went to Illinois where they made their home in McDonough county. In 1864 they came to Iowa. At that time Eddyville was the terminal of the Rock Island railway, so from that point they came by stage to Redfield. They located on a farm in Madison county near Earlham. In 1894 they retired from the farm and came to Valley Junction. Mr. Roark died in December, 1900.

Sister Roark was converted when a young woman at a revival meeting held in a country school house. When the family came to Valley Junction she united with the Methodist church there. She has been loyal to her Christ and church, and has sought to help in many ways. When she was 88 years old she was presented with a flower as the oldest member of the church present at the service on Mother’s day.

She leaves to treasure her memory five children: Zada (Mrs. S. E. Smith) of Valley Junction, Bert M. of Earlham, Chas. F. of Stuart, Edgar G. of Valley Junction, and Otto of Des Moines; one living sister, Mrs. Emma Smith of Springfield, Ohio; two grandchildren, Roland R. Roark of Denver, Colorado, and Margory Roark of Washington state; one great grandchild, Sarah Mildred Roark who was named for the great grandmother, and of course many other friends.

The funeral was conducted by Rev. Lawton assisted by Rev. Eli Cronk at the S. E. Smith home at 500 S. Elm Street, Valley Junction Sunday at 1 p.m. Burial was in the Penn Center cemetery. Services at the grave were conducted by Rev. Lawton, Rev. Cronk and Rev. Mitchell of Earlham.

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