Penfield, Margaret Pryor 1831-1880

PENFIELD, HAWORTH

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 7/8/2010 at 21:26:38

The Grinnell Independant (Grinnell, Iowa) Jan. 15, 1880

OBITUARY

The funeral obsequies of Mrs. C.G. Penfield, was held at the M.E. Church last Saturday, Jan. 10th, 1880. The following paper was read by Rev. W.F. Cowles, D.D.

MRS. MARGARET PRYOR PENFIELD, was the youngest daughter of Joel and Mary Haworth, who were members of the Society of Friends. She was born in Jefferson county, New York, July 27th, 1831 and was brought up in the belief of the Friends, in which she continued during her life. On the 1st of February, 1854, she was married to CHARLES G. PENFIELD, and in August, 1856, removed to Illinois with her husband, where they resided about three years. In April, 1859, the family came to Grinnell, where they have resided almost continuously, up to the present. In 1860 she united with the Methodist church for the sake of family unity in religious worship. She was the mother of seven children, five of whom survive her. Her life was one of fidelity and devotion to her family in the duties of which all her mental and physical powers were unremittingly exercised. The tender affection of the mother made her vigilant in the promotion of the best interests of her children, and her intelligence and wisdom gave a judicious direction to all she did for them. She aimed to make the home the brightest of all earthly places to them and its relations indispensable to their happiness. As wife and mother the strength of affection and the dignity of wisdom were so mingled as to give her the true influence of those heaven ordained relations. Her neighbors and friends attest with the unanimity of one voice the sterling qualities of her character. She was genial and happy in the ordinary intercourse of social life with them, and warmly sympathetic in all their trials, being ever ready to extend the assistance, in act and counsel, which was always acknowledged to be the most judicious. Purity in act and thought, and unswerving obedience to the dictates of a Christian conscience charcterized her whole life.