TANDY, Martha Ellen

TANDY, BOSTON, SLIDER, BASTON, OSWANDEL, BUTLER, HAMILTON

Posted By: Judy Dankert Parsons (email)
Date: 2/24/2005 at 15:41:52

Oskaloosa Herald, Oskaloosa, IA, January 1840.

Martha Ellen Tandy, daughter of William Henry and Sarah Slider Boston, was born January 1, 1849, in a log cabin a few miles west of Oskaloosa, Iowa, on the Knoxville Road. Here she grew to womanhood and on September 7, 1867, was united in marriage with Henry T. Tandy, with whom she lived most happily almost 61 years, till his death on July 4th, 1928.

When death claimed her late Saturday night, July 21, 1928, none of her immediate family were left, her only brother, John Henry Boston and her only sister, Mrs. W.T. Tandy, having preceded her. She is survived by three daughters as follows: Mrs. Joseph Butler, Mrs. F.A. Oswandel, Oskaloosa, and Mrs. R.W. Hamilton, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Her only son, John, passed away at the age of 28. There are also five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Reared in a home that was thoroughly Christian, she became a follower of Christ very early in life and a member of the Reformed Church at Leighton. She and her husband were deeply interested in all the activities of the church and gave evidence of their deep devotion in many ways. On removing from the farm to Oskaloosa about twenty years ago, they united with Central M.E. Church, taking an intelligent and active interest and part in its life and work. When her husband's health failed, she had an all-absorbing desire to be spared and kept in health that she might minister to him, and this she was able to do through his long illness. After his death on July 4th she seemed to feel that her work was done and about the time her husband's funeral was to take place she suffered a stroke of paralysis, which terminated her life two weeks later.

Shortly before the end, with her loved ones about her, she kissed them all goodbye, saying: "Someone is waiting for me there." She had lived nobly, had been a true and happy follower of Christ, had kept the faith, was not afraid to die, died happily and triumphantly.