Eva Elstin (Bailey) Richards

RICHARDS, BAILEY

Posted By: Ann Bowler (email)
Date: 10/30/2011 at 11:12:28

From the archives of Phyllis (Northover) Blend:
“In Memory of Mrs. Eva Richards”
“Born--Febrary 2, 1862--Urbana, Iowa”
“Died--April 4, 1942--Des Moines, Iowa”

“Eva Richards was born February 9, 1862 in Urbana, Iowa. On October 1, 1862 a letter was written by Richard Bailey of the Union Army to his two daughters, Emma and Eva, in which he said, ‘I hope the time will be short when I can come home to watch my two little girls grow up to be good Christian women.’ But their father never got back nor was he ever privileged to see the younger daughter. But Eva Bailey grew up to be that good Christian woman who survived her husband, C. J. Richards, who passed away in 1910. She was reared in the home of her uncle, Rev. Stevens of the Congregational Church. There came to her in marriage two children, Mrs. Clyde Mauk of Alun Bank, Pa., and Mrs. Fred Blend of Des Moines. A grand daughter, Miss Gertrude Miller of Des Moines, was reared by her so closely that she is considered a daughter. One grand son, James Blend of Des Moines and two sisters, Mrs. E. M. Van Patten of Fort Dodge and Mrs. Ed Huntington of Norfolk, Nebraska also survive. Mrs. Eva Richards has been a resident of Des Moines for over fifty years; she was a member of the Degree of Honor.”

“She resteth now; no more her breast

Heaves with its weary breath,

Pain sits no longer on the brow

Where lies the calm of death.

Sunk to her rest like a tired child

She lies in slumber deep

Soft folded in the arms of Him

Who giveth His beloved, sleep,
“Let us bow in prayer: ...”