Mary Elizabeth (Kenworthy) Craven Cook (1929)
COMPTON, COOK, CRAVEN, KENWORTHY, WHEELER
Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 1/5/2015 at 16:14:05
The Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
Thursday, November 28, 1929Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Jesse W. and Eliza Kenworthy was born April 16th, 1845, at Kayville, Ind. In 1854 her parents left Indiana for Iowa, at that time considered the far west. Traveling by covered wagon in company with other families, they came to Salem, one of the first Friends Meetings in Iowa. After two weeks stop there, they continued their journey to Oskaloosa, and later to Sugar Creek, in Poweshiek County, where five brothers settled within a mile, and the place came to be called Kenworthy town.
Mary attended school at Spring Creek, (now Penn College) and later at Whitter College, at Salem, Iowa.
For a number of years she was a teacher in the public schools. When twenty-one years of age she and her parents moved to Earlham, Iowa. She was a birthright member of the Friends Church, and was converted in early childhood.
On March 4th, 1871 she was united in marriage with D. Newton Craven. To this union two daughters and three sons were born. In the early years of their married life her husband was not a Christian; but she daily gathered her little ones about her knee for Bible reading and prayer. Through her faithfulness her husband was brought to Christ, and in 1880 entered the ministry with the United Brethren Church. Mrs. Craven then had her membership transferred to the church of her husband’s choice, and through the years that followed they engaged in pastoral work at various points in Iowa.
August 2nd, 1890 while away from home, Rev. Craven became seriously ill, and died, before any word of his sickness reached his family. This was a crushing blow; but in the storm of affliction her “anchor” held and she courageously faced life, and took up the duty of being both mother and father to her children. They made their home in and near Earlham, where all the children were married and settled in homes of their own. Here she re-united with the Friends Church, serving for many years as an elder.
May 25th, 1905, Mrs. Craven was married to Elkanah Cook, of Earlham. After thirteen years of most congenial companionship he was called to his reward, October 19th, 1918, and again she was left to face life alone.
In 1924, because of failing health, she disposed of the home, and spent her time among her children.
A little more than two years ago she came to the home of her son Willis in Kansas, where on November 23rd, 1929 she closed her eyes to things of earth to behold the beauties of the New Jerusalem, the city whose builder and maker is God, and to join the loved ones gone before, she being the last of her father’s family.
More than 84 years. How much they have encompassed—joys, sorrows, labor and care, unstinted devotion to her family; helpfulness to humanity; service to God and the church which she loved and faithfully attended and supported; an unfaltering faith in Jesus Christ and the power of prayer; all these and more.
Her sons and daughters are all living: Willis K., Haviland, Kansas; Eva C. Wheeler, Los Angeles, Calif.; Chas. M., Grand Junction, Iowa; J. Otis, Earlham, Iowa; and Cora E. Compton, Cottage Grove, Oregon.
There are eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren, these with other relatives and many friends will cherish her memory.
Funeral services at the Friends Church Wednesday, were conducted by Mrs. Lenna Hadley assisted by Rev. Simon Hester. Interment was in Bear Creek Cemetery.
Gravesite
Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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