Johnson, Sarah Penrose 1838-1921

JOHNSON, PENROSE, MARSH, ROWE, GRINNELL

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 12/12/2010 at 10:08:17

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; June 24, 1921

A GOOD WOMAN PASSES.

Mrs. J.G. Johnson Suddenly Dies, Lacking But a Few Days of Being 84 Years Old.

In the death of Sarah Penrose Johnson which occurred Monday night at eleven o'clock Grinnell has lost one of its most useful women. Always cheerful, lovable and attractive, she retained to the end the personal charm which made her always a welcome guest in any home and gave broad and lasting friendships.

Sarah Penrose was born July 8, 1838, at Pennsville, Morgan Co., Ohio, one of a family of seven children, all of whom have preceded her to the Heavenly Home, except one brother, John Penrose, of Salem, Ohio.

She spent her childhood days at Salineville, Ohio later moving to New Garden. At the latter place, on Oct. 29, 1862, she was united in marriage with Joseph G. Johnson, who preceded her to the better land in 1904.

In 1874 Mr. and Mrs. Johnson moved to Grinnell and here was their home until his death, since which time she found a welcome and happy home with her only daughter, Mrs. E.A. Marsh.

Mrs. Johnson was reared as a Friend and kept their deep and beautiful spirit to the end of her days.

She united with the Congregational church of this city in 1882, she and her husband bringing their letters from the Friends Meeting in Oskaloosa.

Both in her Christian life and in her activity, she has always proved herself a very faithful member of the church. In earlier days her home was often a gathering place for the Benevolent Society. She was also a beloved member of the "Read and Reflect" club. Characteristically she retained her interest in people to the last, continuing to make new friends every year.

During the later months she has rejoiced in the presence of her granddaughter, Mrs. Mildred Marsh Rowe and the little great-granddaughter who came to bless their lives.

She raised to manhood and was in every sense a real mother to her two nephews, John P. and Thomas B. Grinnell, who were left motherless as small boys.

Last Monday night with almost no warning--and she needed none, for she was always ready--she fell asleep in Jesus.

Her life speaks its own benediction of Christian grace, mercy and peace. As one friend remarked when looking at her for the last time: "She has been a living example of Goodness." And so we may say the influence of a life like hers will never die.

In her family from time to time have lived young men, students in college, and to these men she was the kind, intellectual soul who inspired them to better lives, all of whom retained for her the deep affection which a real lady of the type of Mrs. Johnson always inspires.

Funeral services were held Thursday at 10:30 o'clock and were largely attended by friends of years standing all testifying to her beautiful character. The service by her pastor, Rev. E.W. Cross, consisted of reading selected passages she had loved from the Bible, and a beautiful tribute to the deceased. Miss Winifred Almy sang sweetly "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere."

Bearers were G.H. Hamlin, G.B. McGuin, H.W. Somers, J.R. Lewis, V.G Preston and W.G. Ray. Burial was beside her husband in Hazelwood.

Out of town people to attend the funeral were Leila Penrose, secretary of the City Y.W.C.A., Burlington, Iowa; Mrs. J.R. Penrose of Burlington; Mrs. Lillian Pettit Rowe of Minneapolis; ex-Senator Emlin Penrose of Tama; and Frank Penrose of Tama.

The members of the Read and Reflect club of which Mrs. Johnson was a loved member attended the funeral in a body.