Pilgrim, Mary Sulser 1869-1902

PILGRIM, SULSER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 1/12/2011 at 11:14:55

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; May 6, 1902

MRS. EGBERT S. PILGRIM

Mary Sulser, born in Rock Island County, Ill., in 1869 was one of nine children born to Ulrich and Margaret Sulser. She was the seventh child, her three brothers and three older sisters having come with their parents from Switzerland in 1865. The parents were members of the Lutheran Church. The family came from near Rock Island to Grinnell in 1877 and settled on a farm in the south part of the township where the father died in 1888. Mary was a most amiable and bright child. The writer well remembers a literary contest among the school children of Maple Grove and surrounding districts twenty years ago. In a declamation Mary's representation and impersonation of a character in a battle scene was most vivid and wonderful for a child of thirteen years.

She united with the Congregational church at the age of seventeen and soon after was married to Egbert S. Pilgrim. With him in the neighborhood where they were schoolmates and grew up together, she has lived a prosperous and a very useful and most happy life until her sudden death about noon on the third of May, 1902. Few people have had such perfect health, but without a moment's warning to herself or friends her heart suddenly ceased to beat.

Her mother now first mourns the loss of a child. The husband bravely battles with his grief that he may care for the four motherless children. Croft is nearly twelve, Raymond ten, Egbert three and the baby girl but eleven days old. A dark cloud is surely over the home where the mother's face was always sunshine and her counsels always wise. The surrounding neighborhood deeply feel their loss and sympathize with the family. They will miss her in the social circles, in the Sunday school and the religious meetings. Though her early death seems to us untimely, she has not lived in vain. Not only her own family but other families and other young wives and mothers will not soon forget the kind words and deeds and the example of Mary Sulser Pilgrim.

The funeral occurred yesterday at the home at 2 p.m. The floral tributes from friends were many and most beautiful. Most fitting and comforting words were spoken by her pastor, Rev. E.M. Vittum. Though the day was rainy a very long procession followed the remains to Hazelwood cemetery. A.J.B.