Mary (Hand) Conger

CONGER, HAND

Posted By: Kathy Winters (email)
Date: 2/7/2008 at 17:38:57

Marshalltown Times Republican
Saturday, December 10, 1938

County's Oldest Resident
Dies at Age of Nearly 102

Mrs Mary Conger, a resident of Marshall County for more than 90 years the oldest resident of the county, died shortly after 3 p.m. Friday at the Iowa Soldiers Home hospital here after a short illness. She would have been 102 years old had she lived until next March 12.

Although a patient in the hospital for much of the time since she was admitted to the home Oct. 14. 1930, Mrs. Conger was unusually bright and mentally for one of her years and her physical condition was good until her final illness which lasted only a few days. Death was due to age debility.

Born in Pennsylvania

Mrs. Conger was born Mary Hand, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hand, March 12, 1837, near Pittsburg, Pa. Her parents moved to Ohio when she was 4 years old and six years laer the family came to this part of Iowa, settling on a farm eight miles north of the present city of Marshalltown.

She was married in Marshalltown to W. P. Conger Oct. 26, 1856, when this city was only three years old. He saw service in the civil war in Company H, 146th Illinois infantry, and died in this city Dec 28, 1933.

Mrs. Conger is survived by two sons, D. H. Conger of Marshalltown and P. W. Conger of Fraazee, Minn.; two daughters, Mrs. P E. Cook of San Bernadino, Calif., and Mrs. Lottie Dinnen of Victor, Mont; nine grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Funeral Monday

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday at the Iowa Soldiers Home chapel in charge of Rev. C. H. Van Metre, chapalin of the home. Burial will be in Riverside. The body will be at the Pursel funeral until the hour of the services.