Mrs. Mary C. (McConnell) Huffaker 1846-1904

HUFFAKER, WHITE, POWERS, WIDMAN, GLASPELL, INGLEDUE

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 11/23/2019 at 19:00:14

Evening Times-Republican, Monday, Jan 11, 1904, Marshalltown, IA, Page: 2

MRS. HUFFAKER’S DEATH
Remains of Former Prominent Marshalltown
Woman Laid to Rest in Riverside

The remains of Mrs. Mary C. Huffaker, for many years a prominent woman of this city, arrived from Chicago this morning at 9:30 and were conveyed to Riverside where they were interred beside those of her late husband Matthew K. Huffaker, in the family lot. A large number of the deceased friends met the funeral party at the station, and accompanied the body to its final resting place.

Brief services were held at the grave by Rev. F. H. Lemon, pastor of the Christian Church. Messrs. H. R. McMahon, F. R. Benedict, R. S. Patten, J. P. Dotson, F. B. Garvin and George A. Turner acted as pallbearers. A quartet composed of Mrs. Elmore Johnson, Mrs. R. S. Patten, Mrs. Charles J. Jarvis and Mrs. E. F. Gifford sang, “Shall We Gather by the River?” Accompanying the body to the city were Mr. H. F. White, of Chicago, brother-in-law of the deceased; Mrs. Lucy Powers Huffaker, the deceased’s daughter; Mfrs. E. G. Widman, of Chicago, a niece; and Miss Susie Glaspell, of Davenport.

Mrs. Huffaker was a native of Ohio, and as Mary C. McConnell, was born at Wellsville, April 19, 1846. She was the eldest daughter of Rev. N. A. McConnell, for many years a resident of Marshalltown, and the first minister of the Disciples’ Church in Iowa. When their daughter Mary was four years of age, Rev. and Mrs. McConnell moved to Iowa, and located at Marion, where the daughter grew to young womanhood. At the age of 16 she went to Oskaloosa, which was then the home of a college conducted under the direction of the Christian Church. While a student there she met Mr. Huffaker, who was also attending the college and on Sept. 25, 1866, she was united in marriage to him at Oskaloosa. Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Huffaker moved to Princeton, Illinois, and for two years visited with Mr. Huffaker’s parents, near that city. They moved to this county in 1869, and located on a farm near LaMotte, where they lived for five years. They then moved to Marshalltown and until three years ago Mrs. Huffaker made their home here. Mr. Huffaker died on Dec. 5, 1886.

Mrs. Huffaker was prominent in the club and religious life of the city during her many years of residence here. She was a charter member of the Christian Church and one of the organizers of the Political Equality Club, of which she was president for many years. She was also a member of the Women’s Club for a number of years, and a member of the Wittenagemote Club, in which she took more interest than any of the others. She was a member of the first Board of Trustees of the public library, and was secretary of the board at the time she moved from the city. Mrs. Huffaker had many friends in Marshalltown, a fact that was clearly testified to by sympathy and kindness expressed and tendered the daughter, who has devoted her entire life to her mother during her long illness.

Mrs. Huffaker death occurred at the Lakeside Hospital, Chicago, Saturday afternoon at 2:30. She had been ill with an abdominal cancer, involving all the internal organs, since July 23. Mrs. Huffaker leaves the one daughter, and one sister. The latter is Mrs. H. F. White, of Chicago.

The funeral proper was held in Chicago Sunday afternoon, from the undertaker’s chapel, conducted by former Dean Ott, of Drake University, now pastor of the Open Church, Chicago. The service was largely attended by old Marshalltown, Des Moines and Chicago friends. The music was by Mrs. Edna Parker–Bruegger and Miss Bessie W. Parker, who sang, “Lead Kindly Light,” and “It is Well With My Soul.”

Miss Huffaker expects to remain in the city a week, and is a guest of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Ingledue.