Amanda (Stanover) Pfitzenmaier West (1849-1925)

STANOVER, PFITZENMAIER, WEST, FIETKAU, BERRY

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 6/12/2021 at 21:05:24

This community was shocked Friday afternoon by the announcement of the sudden death of Mrs. Amanda West, who has resided in west Hartley for some years past. Deceased had apparently enjoyed her usual health and that morning had baked and performed her usual work about the home. Her daughter had gone to the home of Mrs. Hoffman to assist in some sewing and was absent from the home but about an hour when she returned. Finding the storm door latched she knocked for admittance and as her mother did not come to the door it aroused her suspicions. She finally pried the door open and upon entering the room found her mother on the floor beside a sewing chair. She called in Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Byers and the doctor was immediately summoned, but life was extinct, she having passed away between the hours of three and four p.m.

Amanda Stanover was born Dec. 25, 1849, at Plattville, Wis., and died March 13, 1925, aged 76 years, 2 months and 16 days. At the age of 17 years she married Henry Pfitzenmaier of Plattville, Wis., and came to Iowa in the pioneer days and settled on a homestead in Center township, O'Brien county. To this union two children were born, John of Hartley and Henry of Alsen, N. D. Six years after their marriage her husband died of a shell-wound received during the Civil war.

She then returned to Wisconsin with her children and later married John West after which they came to Iowa and settled in O'Brien county. To this union seven children were born, Mary [Fietkau] who died at the age of 22 years and Catherine who passed away at the age of 6; Albert Robert of Mason City, George Lewis of Alsen, N. D., Charles William of Hartley, Arthur of Sanborn and Laura who lived with her mother up to the time of the mother's death.

Her husband John West, died 31 years ago.

Mrs. West united with the Methodist church shortly after coming to Iowa. She believed in her God and lived a good life. She experienced all the hardships of a pioneer in the early days. She left the farm and moved to Hartley seven years ago, where she has since resided.

Funeral services were held at the home at 2 p. m. Tuesday. The Rev. W. O. Thompkins, former pastor of the M. E. church here, officiated. The attendants were relatives, neighbors and friends and acquaintances such as one would devoutly wish to be present to show respect, honor, sympathy and interest.

The end came suddenly, but as we think she would have had it. The floral offerings were ample, beautiful and fitting. The sons acted as pallbearers. All the children were present with the exception of Henry Pfitzenmaier of Alsen, N. D.

Others present from out of town were: Mr. and Mrs. John Watters of Spencer, Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Mead, Mrs. C. J. Wagner and Mrs. John Haliday of Primghar and. Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Hart of Sanborn.

"We will weep for the days that come no more,
For the sunbeam gone from the heart and door;
For a missing step, for a nameless grace,
For a mother's form, for a mother's face;
But not for the soul whose crown is won,
Whose infinite joy has only begun;
Not for the spirit enrobed in light,
Crowned where the angels are tonight."

Hartley (Iowa) Sentinel, Mar 19, 1925, p8