Searls, Mary Louise 1858-1945

SEARLS, DOUGLASS, METIER

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/13/2024 at 11:17:39

Note: Her mother's maiden name was Metier. Even though it doesn't mention it, she was also preceded in death by a infant daughter Adell in 1882.

RITES ARE HELD HERE MONDAY FOR MRS. MARY SEARLS

Former Akron Woman Called By Death At Minneapolis, Minn.

Mrs. Mary L. Searls a former well known and beloved resident of Akron, passed away in Minneapolis, Minn., on Thursday, December 27, 1945, after an extended illness from an internal malady at the age of 87 years, 10 months and 19 days. Despite her advanced years, Mrs. Searls retained her faculties to a remarkable degree right up to the time of her death.

Mary Louise Douglass was born February 8, 1858, at Garden City, Decatur county, Iowa, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George L. Douglass. When a girl, she came west with her parents to Vermillion, Dakota Territory, making the trip across Iowa in covered wagon, there being no railroad facilities at that time. Her father installed and operated a sawmill there. She attended school in the first log school house at Vermillion, and later finished her schooling in Sioux City.

On September 17, 1875, she was united in marriage with Edwin j. Searls at Vermillion, the officiating minister, who dedicated the first Baptist church in Vermillion. At this time Mr. Searls was telegraph operator and assistant to the depot agent of the Dakota Central railroad at Vermillion. In the spring of 1876 Mr. Searls accepted a clerkship in the Greenwood Traders Store, on the Yankton Indian Agency, and he and his young wife made the trip there by wagon, the only available means of conveyance. Mr. Searls was also employed at the White Swan Store at Fort Randall, D.T., where Gen. Geo. Custer and his Indian fighters did their trading while stationed there.

In 1879, Mr. and Mrs. Searls and their two young sons, Burton and Harve left the Indian country and moved to Centerville, S. D., where Mrs. Searls father, Geo. L. Douglass, operated a grist mill. Mr. Searls assisted the depot agent of the C. M. & St. P. railroad in Sioux Falls several months in 1881, when he was appointed depot agent for the Milwaukee railroad in Akron and moved his family here. He served as depot agent here until the time of his death, January 19, 1917. During this thirty-five year period, five more children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Searls, George, Ethel, Jessie, Nell and Dwight.

After the death of her husband, Mrs. Searls continued to live in Akron for a time and also resided several years in Long Beach, Calif. In 1942 she lived with her daughter, Mrs. Jessie Goodwin in Philadelphia, Pa., and in May, 1943, went to Minneapolis, Minn., and made her home with her youngest daughter, Mrs. Nell Marsh, until the time of her death.

During her many years’ residence in Akron, Mrs. Searls was a very active member of the First Baptist church here. In later years she transferred her letter to the First Baptist church of Long Beach, Calif.

Surviving Mrs. Searls are two sons Burton O. and Dwight C. Searls of Sioux City; and two daughters, Mrs. Jessie Goodwin, of Philadelphia, Pa., and Mrs. Nell Marsh, of Minneapolis; also by 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Children who preceded her in death were Harve D. Searls of Westside, Iowa; Mrs. Ethel McKibben of De Smet, S. D., and George Searls of Sioux Falls.

Mrs. Searls is remembered here as a woman of most amiable and friendly nature, a kind and devoted wife and mother, a splendid housemake and a friend and neighbor whose helpfulness, generosity and sympathy knew no bounds. The many useful years she lived in Akron are still treasured in the hearts and memories of the friends of those days, who offer condolence to those near and dear to her.

The body arrived here from Minneapolis, Sunday evening, accompanied by Mrs. Nell Marsh. Funeral services were held in the First Baptist church at 2:30 o’clock Monday afternoon, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Ellis L. Jackson, who paid a fine tribute to the life and character of the deceased. Many old-time friends were in attendance at the services. Interment was in the family plot in Riverside cemetery.

Relatives from a distance attending the funeral were; Mrs. Nell Marsh of Minneapolis; Dwight Searls and family and Mrs. B. O. Searls of Sioux City; also, grandchildren from Sioux Falls.

Akron Register Tribune
Thursday, January 3, 1946
Akron, Iowa