COSTER, Orissa E.

COSTER, HARRINGTON, SARPY, EYLER, PERKINS, HINDMAN, EPPERSON, PROUDFIT, WALLING

Posted By: Elaine Harrington (email)
Date: 5/20/2006 at 10:30:24

The Tabor Beacon
April 13, 1906

Coster, Mrs. Orissa E., died at her home in Bartlett, Tuesday April 3rd at 8:15 PM aged 64y 11m 3d. Mrs. Orissa E. Harrington was born Apr. 30, 1841 in Oswego County New York. She came to this part of the country when very small. At this time she was only 7 years old and has resided within a radius of two miles of this place ever since, so it may be said that she was one of Iowa's earliest settlers. It is stated by her children that she oftentimes spoke of the ravages of the Indians, they doing such tricks as taking the white people's feather beds, cutting them open and watching the feathers go with the wind. She knew the Indian agent Sarpy and was also well acquainted with Sarpy's wife, who was a half breed Indian. She could locate the burial place of old Chief Waubonsie. In the years of the Morman immigration from Illinois to Utah, she was in this vicinity and could recall many incidents of Mormon hardships although she didn't cross the plains. She was well known throughout that part of Fremont County and well liked by all. She will be greating missed in the way of sickness, as she was known as a faithful one to all whom she assisted when on the bed of affliction.

On Dec. 10, 1857, Miss Harrington was married to Robert H. Coster on a farm just over the line in Mills County. To this union nine children were born, eight of whom are living. A daughter, Effie, died when 10 years old. The other children are Mrs. Julia E. Eyler of this place, Mrs. Lydia Perkins of this place, Mrs. Ella C. Hindman of near Tabor, Mrs. Ida O. Proudfit of Percival, Miss Ossa O. Coster who lived with her mother, Daniel E. Coster of Percival, Robert B. and Guy J. of this place (Bartlett). All of these were in attendance at the funeral. Her husband died Jan. 7, 1896 from cancer of the face. Mr. and Mrs. Coster were born near the same place in New York, were reared together and both came to Iowa about the same year. Mrs. Coster and her husband were members of the Re-organized church of LDS, having become indentified with that body in the year 1869. Besides the surviving children is one sister, Mrs. Ophelia Epperson of Pacific Junction, and a brother, John in Utah, to mourn her loss, also many other relatives. Heart trouble was given as the cause of her death, having taken to her bed about a month ago. Funeral services were conducted Thursday at 11 o'clock at her late residence by Elder G. F. Walling of Glenwood, of the faith of the deceased. The interment was made in the old Van Eaton cemetery five miles NE of this place. It was her request that she be buried beside her husband, who is buried in this cemetery.