Minnie Mabel Underhill 1867-1960

UNDERHILL WERTZ RUCKER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 3/9/2010 at 23:13:12

Mrs. Minnie E. Underhill Passed Away in California

Mrs. Minnie Mabel Underhill was born to Josiah W. Wertz and Frances Rucker Wertz at Steamboat Rock, Iowa, on March 20, 1867, and died at Los Angeles, California, on November 25, 1960, at the age of ninety-three years, eight months and five days. She was the third of three children, the others having preceded her in death at an early age.

After graduation from the Steamboat Rock Schools, she taught school there and at Eldora, Iowa, and attended what is now Iowa State University at Ames for two years, She was married to Charles E. Underhill, who was an Iowa State University graduate and a lawyer at Onawa, Iowa, on June 27, 1889 and has made her residence at Onawa since them, but has been hospitalized at Los Angeles for more than four years past.

Mrs. Underhill was active in many community affairs throughout her life. She was the only living charter member of the Onawa Women’s Club, Daughter of the American Revolution and the Women’s Society of the G.A.R. and presided at those organizations in earlier years. She was a member of the First Congregational Church of Onawa since 1889 and one of the oldest members of the Ladies Aid Society of the Church. When she taught school at Eldora she resided with one of the original “Iowa Band” of Pioneer Congregational missionaries who came to Iowa from New England before it became a state. Mrs. Underhill was the author of a manuscript on the history of the Onawa Congregational Church, and also composed histories of several of her society. Her husband died at Onawa on June 17, 1949, having practiced law here for more than sixty years.

She is survived by two sons, Harold W Underhill of Los Angeles, California and Robert M Underhill of Onawa, Iowa and by four grandchildren, Major Harold W. Underhill, Jr. of Roswell, New Mexico, Dorothy Jane (Mrs. John Joseph) Deasy of Framingham, Mass., Carolyn Sue Underhill of Palm Springs, California and First Lieutenant James R. Underhill of San Antonio, Texas, by nine great-grandchildren and by a host of friends who will mourn her passing.

Funeral services were held at 10;30 a.m. Tuesday, November 29th at the Onawa Congregational Church. Rev. C.E. Hanan officiated at the services, . Mr. Harry H. Miller of Sioux City was the soloist, accompanied by Mrs. Marie Danforth. Active casket bearers were Orville Eisele, Oscar Falk, N.C. Christenson, Robert Nixon, Darold Moon and Derwin House.

The Honorary bearers were George, Bert and Robert Prichard, Patrick Morrow, Sewell Allen, James Cooper and John Beardsley. Interment was in the family lot in the Onawa Cemetery with arrangements by the Pearson Funeral Home.