Charlotte Durston

DURSTON, SANDY, SHERMAN, GREER

Posted By: Nadine Coles (email)
Date: 11/8/2008 at 01:00:35

ANOTHER PIONEER GONE - May 20, 1920

Word was passed around Wednesday morning that Mrs. Wm. Sandy, another of the early pioneers of this locality, had been called to the Great Beyond.

Charlotte Durston was born in England on July 25, 1839, and died atRolfe, Iowa on May 19, 1920, lacking bur a few weeks of reaching her eighty-first year. In 1847 her parents removed from England to America, settling in the city of Dubuque, Iowa, where the deceased grew to young womanhood. There, too, she was married Aug. 11, 1863, to William Sandy, whose death occurred ten years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Sandy moved to the vicinity of Old Rolfe in 1864. In that same year they purchased the farm which is still in the family. On this farm they lived until 1900, when they removed to town into the home on east Elm street, in which home Mrs. Sandy passed away.Mrs. Sandy was the mother of seven children, two of whom died in childhood. Those living are Mrs. F. H. Sherman of Fort Dodge; Mary, James, George B. and Frank A., all of Rolfe. Besides these, Mrs. Sandy leaves one sister, Mrs. David Greer of Elmore,Minn., three grandchildren and eight nieces and nephews, besides a host of friends. Mrs. Sandy has been a member of the Methodist church since childhood. She was an original member of the local church, uniting when the class was organized at Old Rolfe over a half-century ago, bringing her certificate from Dubuque. She was faithfully attendant upon its services until a few weeks ago, when an increasing weakness and failing eyesight kept her from going about. But in her home she observed the hour of worship. She always asked those returning from church what the text had been. She loved the Bible and when she could no longer read it, asked others to read it for her. She had hidden some of God's Word in her heart, as was evidenced by quotations from that Book in the years when she could no longer see to read. She was ready to go when the Master called, and realized that the call might come at any moment. For five years her eyesight and strength have been failing, but she kept up until last Saturday morning, when she took to her bed, and from then she failed gradually until Wednesday morning at seven o'clock, when her spirit took flight. Funeral services will be held from the Methodist church on Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, in charge of the pastor, Rev. A. H. Bryan. Interment will be made in Clinton cemetery.