Wendt, Matilda Mae "Tille" 1860-1908

WENDT, WATTS

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/21/2014 at 20:32:02

WENDT—At her home in Akron, Iowa, Thursday, November 26, 1908, at 10:45, a.m., Mrs. Paul Wendt, aged 48 years, 9 months and 23 days.

A shade of sadness came into the homes of this community, in the midst of Thanksgiving festivities, when this fact became known. The feeling of sorrow, however, was not unmixed with a certain sense of thankfulness that she had found the only possible relief after nine weeks of the most intense suffering.

Matilda Mae Watts was born February 4, 1860, in Clayton county, Iowa. At the age of eleven years she suffered an attack of spinal meningitis, which continued seventeen months, leaving her permanently crippled. She received a common school education and taught school one term. In the fall of 1879 she came to Akron and resided in the home of her sister, Mrs. W. E. Jones. When her sister’s family removed to Canton, clayton county, Iowa, about a year later she accompanied them. However she had become much attached to Akron during her brief stay and two years afterward she returned here and took a position in Mrs. A. H. Smith’s millinery. She resided with Mr. and Mrs. Smith and when here, continued to make her home with them until her marriage. Early in life she developed an artistic aptitude and became skilled in painting. To perfect her talent in this line she went to Fayette, Iowa, a short time after coming here, and took a special collegiate art course. Returning to Akron, she took up the vocation of instructor in painting, which was much to her taste and in which she was very successful. Later there came a demand for the product of her skillful brush, until there are many homes in Akron and the surrounding towns and country that treasure one or more beautiful oil paintings from her cosy home-studio. Her work was highly commended by artists of established reputation. The event of great happiness in her life was her marriage to Paul Wendt, which took place September 17, 1891, at Morningside, Sioux City, Rev. M. W. Darling officiating. They at once established a home here that evolved into a model of all that sacred term implies—where happiness, devotion, patience, forbearance and Christian fellowship reigned supreme. The care and solicitude of this husband for his invalid wife, at home or in her wheeled chair on the street, and her implicit trust in him was a familiar sight, but always touching, even to pathos. In her younger days, after her illness, she was able to walk considerable with the aid of crutches, but in the course of time the spinal difficulty grew upon her and caused her to take to the invalid’s chair. For the past ten or twelve years she had been an almost constant suffer, at times in severest pain, yet there are none who heard her complain of her lot, and only in the last days, when there was no home for relief, did she pray for surcease from suffering. She departed this life as she had so beautifully lived it, firm and steadfast in the Christian faith. Many are they who have found her home a haven in time of trouble or perplexity, when a word of advice or encouragement from this always cheerful little woman would set matters right. Her mission was to spread sunshine and do good for others, and her influence was far-reaching and beneficent. With such noble characteristics possessed by one, her departure brings to each one blessed by her acquaintanceship a keen sense of personal loss and causes the entire community to mourn.

Besides her husband so deeply bereaved there survive five sisters and two brothers; Mrs. John Horisky, of Norfolk, Nebraska; Mrs. W. E. Jones, of Hudson, S. D.; Mrs. Al Campbell, of Earlham, Iowa; Mrs. Norman White, of Montevideo, Minnesota; Mrs. L. Siglen, of North McGregor, Iowa;Thos. Watts, of Waterloo, Iowa, and William Watts, of Marathon, Iowa. To all the relatives the community offers its sincerest condolence.

Deceased made all the arrangements for her funeral, which were followed to the slightest detail. the services were held in the M. E. church, of which she was a member, on Saturday afternoon, beginning at 1 o’clock. The entire seating capacity of the church was occupied, her fellow-members of the Eastern Star order attending in a body. Rev. George C. Fort, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, pastor here from 1894 to 1896, paid a truly magnificent tribute to the life and works of Tillie, as she was affectionately called by friends. He cited her saintly virtues, her kindness, helpfulness, patience and devotion as combining a sermon more eloquent than his mind could frame or his lips utter, even after a close personal acquaintance of fourteen years. One of her favorite passages of Scripture, the Twenty-third Psalm, was read, and favorite hymns were sung by a mixed quartet, Mrs. J. H. Kerr, Miss Estalene Rhodes, G. G. Douglass and Dr. Wooton. The floral offerings were most beautiful. At the grave the ceremonies were in charge of the local Eastern Star, where the last sad rites were impressively conducted.

The pallbearers were H. W. Fields, E. H. Youngstrom, B. F. Wintersteen, J. F. March, A. N. Williams and J. C. Beck.

Relatives from out of town present at the funeral were: Thos. Watts and daughter, Miss Agatha, of Waterloo, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cable and Miss Ethelyn Ferris, of Hudson, S. D. Most of the other relatives had recently visited her here. Miss Mae Campbell, a niece, was her constant attendant during her last illness, as was also Mrs. A. H. Smith.

Akron Register Tribune
Thursday, December 3, 1908
Akron, Iowa