Wisecarver, Frances Amanda 1852-1932

WISECARVER, THOMPSON, ROSEMAN, MCCOY, DUNHAM, COOP, TERRY

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/5/2010 at 08:34:57

Grinnell Herald (Grinnell, Iowa) Feb. 2, 1932

MRS. FRANCES WISECARVER PASSES AWAY

Frances Amanda Wisecarver, the daughter of Edward and Sarah Thompson Roseman, was born in Herkimer County, Ohio, October 12,1852 and passed from this life at her home 1021 High street, Grinnell, January 29, 1932 in her eightieth year. She was one of a family of twelve children, and, when five years of age her parents moved to Davenport, Iowa, where she lived until her marriage on January 22, 1866 to Jacob Wisecarver, who was a young soldier just returned from the Civil War. The young couple went at once to their farm home near Blue Grass, Iowa where they experienced the hardships of real pioneer life, the stories of which have been told and retold many times at their comfortable fireside in later life. In 1881 they ventured West, as this part of the country was then called, to locate on a farm two and one-half miles east of Grinnell, and, in 1903 they retired from active farm life to make their home in Grinnell. Their married life was a long and happy one, they having celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary just sixteen yars ago.

For a number of years the Wisecarver house on High street was the home of many Grinnell college students during their school days here and Mrs. Wisecarver was "Mother" to all of them. These former students never forgot to return for a brief visit with her at Homecoming time.

Mrs. Wisecarver's life was one of energy and service. She was never so much herself as when bringing help to someone, whether friend or stranger, and, no needy person ever passed her door without aid. And just as she ministered to the stranger did she minister a hundred fold to her children and grandchildren to the third generation. Her home and heart were ever open and responsive to their call. A niece, now Mrs. Robert McCoy, and a grandson Earl Wisecarver, were received as motherless children, into her home and given the same love and training as the children of her own family. Mrs. Wisecarver's last conscious moments were spent attending to her household duties and caring for her aged husband and she entered upon her Morning of Eternity on the same day that her husband began his eighty-seventh year.

And now, dear Mother, thou hast
the best
That Heaven itself can give thee--
Rest.

Mrs. Wisecarver was a loyal and enthusiastic member of the Womens Relief Corps, and, while she was affiliated with no church yet her life was spent in a strict Christian manner. Her creed was the Golden Rule and she lived as she believed.

Besides her aged husband, Mrs. Wisecarver leaves three sons, Edward, William and George and one daughter, Mrs. Willis Dunham all of Grinnell. An infant son and a daughter Mrs. Nettie Coop preceded her in death. There also survive a sister, Mrs. May Terry of Belt, Montana and a niece Mrs. Robert McCoy of Grinnell, fifteen grandchildren and ten great grandchildren besides a number of nieces and nephews living near Muscatine and one nephew in California.

Funeral services were conducted Monday at 2 p.m. from the Methodist Church by the Reverend C.R. Zimmerman and interment was in Hazelwood. Pallbearers were six grandsons, George Coop, Earl, Louis, Raymond, Roy and Alfred Wisecarver.

Dear Mother thou hast left us
And thy loss we deeply feel
Yet once again we will meet thee
Where God will all our sorrows
heal.