Margaret Geddes Ruthven 1817-1904

RUTHVEN, GEDDES

Posted By: Cathy Joynt Labath (email)
Date: 1/28/2007 at 08:32:21

Emmetsburg Democrat; Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa; Wednesday, October 26, 1904

A RUTHVEN PIONEER.

Mother Ruthven, whose maiden name was Margaret Geddes, was born in Whiteburn, Scotland, December 10, 1817, and died October 17, 1904, at Ruthven, Iowa, aged. 86 years, 10 months and 70 days.

At the age of 17 she gave her heart to God and joined the United Presbyterian Church, at Whiteburn. She was always a faithful and devoted follower of her master, Jesus Christ.

She was married to Alexander Ruthven, June 10, 1842. To this union were born 10 children, seven sons and three daughters. The greater part of her life was spent in Scotland, which country she left in 1874, coming to the old homestead, October 4 of the same year, where she has lived ever since. The church of her choice having no organization here, she affiliated and found a home in the M. E. Church at this place. A son, Campbell, and a daughter, Jesse, died in Scotland at the ages of three and 13 years respectively.

Her husband and the remaining children, with the exception of the oldest and youngest son, were with her during her last hours.

She was a queenly woman and deserved the love and esteem that her children and friends gave her. Her strong womanhood late in the purity of her life.

She was a strong Christian and one whom God allowed to ripen and mature in her experience. The beauty of her Christian life resulted from her implicit trust and unfaltering obedience to Him and His teachings. Her closing days were spent in a sweet communion with her beloved friend and companion, Jesus Christ. Her life might well be copied by all. She trusted God and He trusted her. She has fallen asleep in the Lord, Heaven is her home. "Heaven! It is our Father's house, the home of the angels, and of all departed saints who have fallen asleep in Jesus."

Funeral services were conducted by her pastor in the M. E. Church on Wednesday at 2 p.m. and the body laid to rest in a Ruthven cemetery