SKINNER, Anna Bowen 1818-1903

SKINNER, BOWEN, WOODSON, NUTTING, LOVEJOY, HARMON

Posted By: Marilyn O'Connor (email)
Date: 2/26/2012 at 13:57:45

SKINNER

Anna Bowen was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky, January 20, 1818 and departed this life at Osage, Iowa, February 5, 1903, thus having but recently completed four score and five years. When about ten years old she removed to Coles county, Illinois, and later in 1847 to Wisconsin and ten years later still, she came to Mitchell county, Iowa, where she had continued to reside until her death. As each of the places to which she moved was new and but sparley settled she experienced the hardships of pioneer life in three different states.

In 1836, she was united in marriage to George Woodson. Three children, one son in Washington, one in St. Louis, Mo., and a daughter, Mrs. Sarah Nutting, in California, survive. Many of the friends who gathered at the service remember her second husband, William Skinner, to who she was married in 1844. Not a few will recall his death which occurred in 1866. Three children from this union also survive: Mrs. Mary Lovejoy, Mrs. Rose Harmon, both of Osage, and George Skinner of Washington. Besides her own children she was called to rear to young manhood and young womanhood eleven stepchildren to whom as they were glad to acknowledge, she proved herself a mother indeed, (only one of whom survive her) ever exerting the strong Christian influence of her vigorous faith and personality. There are also living twenty-six grand-children and seventeen great grand-children. Aside from these there are hosts of others who loved to call her "Grandma Skinner".

It is not necessarty to say to those who have known Mrs. Skinner so long that in many respects she was a remarkable woman. Left an orphan at an early age, as a mere child thrown upon her own resources never having the privilege of a single day at school, while but a girl of eighteen taking upon her husband's family bravely winning victories against great odds, suffering the privations of pioneer life in three different states, obtaining by her own indomitable will the rudiments of an education, that few realized her lack of early advantages, instilling into her children a love for those educational privileges of which she had been deprived, and above all impressing upon them by life and word the supreme excellence of the Christ-like life. Well may her children, grand-children and great grand-children, for the heritage who is theirs, rise up and call her blessed.

Since her husband's death, Mrs. Skinner has lived with her children, first about one and one half years ago in California, then until about five years with Mrs. Harmon and since that with Mrs. Lovejoy.

While still young she united with the Baptist church and at the time of her death was a member of the First Baptist church of Osage.

The funeral service was held at the home of Mrs. Lovejoy on Saturday afternoon, conducted by Rev. D. L. Coon and the body was laid to rest in the
Osage cemetery.

Osage News
February 12, 1903