Coutts, Helen 1820-1918

COUTTS, ANDERSON, GORDON, BEATTIE, LINCOLN, LEE, THOM

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 2/15/2010 at 10:55:39

Grinnell, Iowa newspaper; dated Sept. 27, 1918

DEATH OF AN AGED LADY

Mrs. Helen Coutts passes Away at Home of Her Daughter Thursday Forenoon.

WAS OLDEST WOMAN IN POWESHIEK COUNTY

Was Born in Scotland Nearly Ninety-Eight Years Ago--Come Here in 1875.

The death of Mrs. Helen Coutts took place at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Edward Lincoln, living five miles southwest of Grinnell, at 10:00 A.M. Thursday. Her death occurred from disease incident to her great age.

Helen Anderson-Gordon was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, December 23, 1820. She grew to womanhood in her native land and was married there December 11, 1845, to Adam Coutts, a native of the same county.

The family emigrated to America in 1875, and arrived in Poweshiek county April 12 of that year, locating on a farm near where Ewart now stands. Her husband died June 4, 1875, in less than eight weeks after their arrival in the county. The next year Mrs. Coutts moved into the second house built in Ewart, where she lived with her daughter, Mary, until 1895, when they removed to Grinnell and lived one year. In 1896 she moved with her daughter to a farm south of Grinnell near Oak Grove. They lived there for several years, and then moved to a farm west of Westfield where she died.

Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Coutts, seven of whom survive their mother, and are named below: Alexander G., of Salt Lake City; Robert G., of Grinnell; William P., of Kellogg, Iowa; James M. of Long Beach, California; Mrs. Elizabeth Beattie of Aberdeen, Scotland; Mrs. Mary Lincoln of Grinnell, and Mrs. Margaret L. Lee, of Burley, Idaho. She also leaves two brothers, Rev. S.C. Gordon, of Kent, England, and Rev. John Gordon, Devonshire, England; also one sister, Mrs. James Thom, of Victoria, Australia.

Mrs. Coutts was probably the oldest woman in Poweshiek county, having reached the great age of nearly 98 years. She was a member of the Congregational church until she came to this county, when she transferred her membership to the Methodist church. She was a devout Christian and a great Bible student. She had a wonderful memory, being able to quote chapter after chapter of the scriptures until her last illness.

The funeral was held from the Lincoln home today at 2:30 p.m., conducted by Rev. J.M. Brown of the Grinnell Methodist church. The interment was in Ewart cemetery beside the remains of her husband.