Mary Madaline Roberts (1947)

ERGENBRIGHT, GUILLIAMS, JOHNSTON, ROBERTS, SANDERS

Posted By: Kent Transier (email)
Date: 12/15/2004 at 14:37:41

Newspaper Unknown
June 1947

Came To Madison County in 1850

Pioneer Woman Outlived All Of her Seven Children

Mrs. Mary M. Roberts, oldest resident of St. Charles, and from a standpoint of years lived in Madison county, the oldest resident of the county, died Tuesday, June 24 (1947) at her home in St. Charles.

Mrs. Roberts, known to everyone as “Aunt Mollie”, was 97 years of age. She was a tradition in her community, widely known for the mental and physical alertness and sunny disposition she possessed almost to the day of her death.

She had suffered a fractured hip in a fall last year, but had recovered sufficiently to return to her home. She received another fall about 10 days ago, suffering bruises and shock which probably caused her death.

Mrs. Roberts was the former Mary Madaline Johnston, born March 5, 1850 in Franklin county, Indiana, near the town of Brookville. She came to Iowa when but a few weeks old, arriving at Burlington by boat, then to Madison county by covered wagon.

They settled on Clanton creek in a log cabin, previously occupied by Indians. Here they lived until 1867, when they moved to the Ergenbright farm.

On Feb. 18, 1869, she married Wesley Roberts, a Civil war veteran, who died in 1910. After their marriage, they moved to Clanton creek where they lived on the John C. Johnston farm for 27 years. While residing there seven children were born, all of whom preceded the mother in death. From there they moved to the old Alfred Sanders farm, two miles south of St. Charles, where they lived until 1906. They then moved into St. Charles.

Mrs. Roberts had been a member of the Methodist church since early life. She was a charter member of the Women’s Relief corps, and joined the Eastern Star the autumn of the year it was organized in St. Charles, filling a majority of offices in that order.

Nearest surviving relatives are two nieces, Mrs. Carrie Guilliams and Mrs. Truman Johnston, both of St. Charles.

Funeral arrangements were not complete as the Madisonian went to press, but the services will be held at 2 p.m. the Friday from the St. Charles Methodist church, the burial will be made at the St. Charles cemetery.
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The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, July 2, 1947
Page 9

News of Interest from St. Charles

Funeral services for Mrs. Mollie Roberts was held in the Methodist church Friday afternoon at two o’clock with the Rev. Carothers of Indianola conducting the services, assisted by the Rev. Hall.

“Aunt Mollie”, St. Charles’ oldest resident, and dearly loved by all who knew her, passed away at her home on June 25th at the age of 97 years.

Her husband and seven children had preceded her in death and her immediate relatives are eight grandchildren, now widely scattered; also a brother, Albert Johnston of Ft. Madison, two sisters, Mrs. Hester Switzer of Lake Worth, Fla., and Mrs. Jemima McGinnis of St. Charles, and many nephews and nieces.

Burial was made in the family lot in the St. Charles cemetery.

Link to Gravestone Photo
 

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