HUNTSMAN,Catherine (1885)

HUNTSMAN, STELTZ

Posted By: Cay Merryman (email)
Date: 4/20/2004 at 15:22:29

OBITUARY

Mrs. Catherine Huntsman, widow of Peter Huntsman, died in this place on Tuesday morning, Sept. 1, 1885 in her 88th year.

The deceased was born in Maryland, but at an early age she came with her parents to Richmond county, Ohio, where in 1822 she married Mr. Peter Huntsman. Her name before marriage was Steltz. They soon removed to Indiana, where they lived a number of years. They then came to the northeastern part of Iowa, went thence to Mo., and back to Iowa, settling in this neighborhood about thirty five years ago. They were among the first settlers and well knew the hardships and trying experiences of a new country. They had nine children, of whom five are still living. Mr. Huntsman died in February, 1854., and since that Mr. William Huntsman has cared for his mother who preferred to live alone in her own little house, and for a number of years the infirmities of age have kept her very close to her home. She had 42 grandchildren and quite a number of great-grandchildren. "Grandma" Huntsman as she was usually called, was known and respected by all the early settlers and some of them have spoken in warm terms of her kindness as a neighbor. About three weeks before she took her last sickness, she told her confidential friend that she would not live long, and gave her full instructions in regard to her funeral. She was sick for several weeks before her death, and from the first did not expect to recover.

The funeral services were held in the Presbyterian church, conducted by the pastor, assisted by Rev. Parker of the Baptist and Rev. Shifflet of the U.B. churches, and then her body was laid to rest in the Emerson cemetery.

One by one the early pioneers of this country pass away, and the longest life on earth comes to an end, for it is appointed unto men once to die.

(Probably from one of the Mills County newspapers
of that time.)