Hannah Barton (1837-1928)

BARTON

Posted By: Debra Scott Hierlmeier (email)
Date: 11/11/2008 at 20:43:06

MRS. HANNAH BARTON 1837-1928

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon, at the First Congregational Church for Mrs. Hannah Barton, 90, one of the oldest settlers of the vicinity having lived in or near Avoca for about 60 years. Services were conducted by Rev J.S Tilden Sloan and the pall bearers were Will Pritchard, B.F. Howell, Joe Wasser, Harry Green and Will and Charles Jackson.

The following members and friends of the church assisted in rendering appropriate music: Mr. and Mrs. Earl Watson, Miss Effie Randall, Mrs. Nellye Nelson, Mrs. Lilly Schmidt, H.E. Patterson and Mrs. S.M. Ferguson, pianist.

Mrs. Hannah Barton was born in Covington, Indiana in 1837, and came to Iowa in 1869. She passed to the great beyond, Monday, March 19, 1928, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J.N. Altig. She was united in marriage to Will Richardson in 1854 and after his decease, to his brother, Dan Richardson. After that she as united in marriage three times respectively to George H. Davis, W.F. Altig and W.C. Barton, all deceased. From these unions the following children survive: Mrs. Hout Davis of Pisgah, Iowa; Erasmus Richardson of Dons, Kansas; Will Richardson of Gaylord, Kansas; and Mrs. J. N. Altig of Avoca. Four other children are deceased: Mrs. Delf Reiehart, Charles and Henry Richardson, and Clara Davis. Besides, surviving Mrs. Barton are 11 grand children, 31 great grandchildren, and 11 great-great grandchildren. Through her various marriages she mothered 14 step-children, besides eight of her own children making a total of 22.

Practically all of her life, Mrs. Barton was active in church and community affairs, having confessed her Christian faith and united with the Christian Church about 60 years ago and some 35 years ago united with the Congregational church here. When she first came here there was but one store in Avoca, conducted by Norton and Jones, and the railroad had just been put through here when she arrived in October 1868.

She attributed her long life in which she kept strong and healthy to active Christian service, right living and right thinking. She was very careful in her eating and practiced temperance in all things. An example of her industry is shown in what when she was only 17 years old she wove 100 yards of cloth, shearing the sheep, wasring the wool and having it carded for that purpose. She also wove and dyed yarn for stockings and other needs of the large family. Until she was 87 years old she kept house and did her own work.

From the Scrapbooks of Bessie Gross Gustafsen
Source: Avoca Journal Herald