VAN SWERINGEN, Anna Martha (Weire) 1853-1926

VAN SWEARINGEN, WEIRE, PRIME, BARKER, VAN SWERINGEN

Posted By: Marilyn O'Connor (email)
Date: 10/24/2011 at 11:31:43

Birth: Jul. 8, 1853
New York, New York County, New York

Death: Aug. 13, 1926
Mitchell, Mitchell County, Iowa
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Mrs. Van Swearingen Dead

Greatly Loved Mitchell Lady Passed
Away Last Friday -- Life Was A Blessing to All

Mrs. O. M. Van Swearingen of Mitchell has been transferred to the realms of the blest, and no words of ours can do her justice. No one could converse with her but a short time without being blessed. Her very presence radiated the Christ that glorified her whole life.

During the forty-five years she had been a pastor's wife she was a most able assistant. No call ever came from a troubled soul unheeded. In Strawberry Point, where her husband was pastor for several years, she was lovingly called "Mamma Van" and we do not doubt that there are many jewels in her crown of souls she had won for the Master.

Anna Martha Weire was born in the city of New York 73 years ago and passed away Friday morning at her home, August 13, 1926, at 6 o'clock after a year or more of being "so tired". Her father was French and her mother Scotch. When she was only a baby both parents died and an aunt cared for her until she was 16, when she was again left alone and was sent to relatives in Palo, Illinois.

There she attended school and at the age of seventeen married her penmanship teacher O. M. Van Swearingen. Three years ago they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary.

After a pastorate of six years at Strawberry Point Rev. and Mrs. Van Swearingen returned to Mitchell and purchased a home, where they have lived ever since.

Surviving Mrs. Van Swearingen are her husband and two daughters, Mrs A. C. Prime of Waterloo and Mrs. F. C. Barker of St. Paul.

The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the home and was conducted by Rev. J. I. Walker of Kansas City, Missouri, a friend of the family, assisted by Rev. Risse of Mitchell, who represented the district association of Congregational pastors. Many former parishioners from Strawberry Point were also present.

(Credit: M. O'Connor)
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NOTES:
She married Rev. Otho M. Van Sweringen.

It is believed that the name should be spelled Van Sweringen instead of Van Swearingen, although there are several Van Swearingen's listed in the SSDI. (kk)
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Van Swearingen
Funeral to Be at
Mitchell Sunday

Services will be conducted at 2:30 p. m. Sunday at the family home here for Mrs. O. M. Van Swearingen, whose death occurred Friday.

She was the wife of Rev. O. M. Van Swearingen, pastor of the Congregational Church here for years. The couple transferred membership to First Congregational Church, Waterloo, where they have spent recent winters with a daughter, Mrs. A. C. Prime.

Besides the husband and Mrs. Prime there survives another daughter, Mrs. F. C. Barker, St. Paul, Minnesota. The daughters have been here the last month to care for Mrs. Van Swearingen.

Anna Martha Wiere was born in New York City, July 8, 1854. Her parents died when she was five years old and she was adopted by an aunt, who took her to live in Chicago, where they were at the time of the big fire.

Mrs. Van Swearingen shared 45 active years as the wife of a minister, pioneering in home missionary fields and enduring hardships and joys with a sweetness of character seldom found.

[Waterloo Evening Courier, Saturday, August 14, 1926, Waterloo, Iowa]

(Credit: S. Bell)

See Findagrave Memorial for Picture of Tombstone
 

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