Dean, Clara A. 1829-1904

DEAN, SWARTHOUT, RICKER, PIERCE, KRATZ, MORRISON, MCINTOSH

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 12/31/2011 at 12:42:39

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Jan. 1904

MRS. A.W. DEAN

Clara A. Swarthout was born in Warren Co., N.Y., Dec. 31st, 1829. Her childhood days were spent in Copperstown, N.Y.

Later she moved with her parents to Waukegan, Ill., where she was married June 5th, 1848 to Edward Ricker of Davenport, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Ricker lived on a farm near Davenport until the spring of 1867 when they came to Grinnell. Mr. Ricker died in 1872 and was buried in Hazelwood.

Ten children, five girls and five boys, were born to them, all of whom are living except Clara who died in infancy and Frank who died in young manhood. Rufus lives in Harvey, Ill., George in Fresno, Calif., Mrs. Ella Pierce and Mrs. Grace Kratz in Cedar Rapids. The others, Mrs. D.S. Morrison, Mrs. A. McIntosh, B.J. and Chas. F. reside in Grinnell and were with their mother when she passed away.

In 1881 Mrs. Ricker was marridd to A.W. Dean who preceded her to the better land three years. Until 1885 when they removed to Cedar Rapids her residence was in Grinnell, where her cultured home was the center of a refined influence, felt not only among the people of the town, both young and old, but it was also a center of light and comfort to many a student, all of whom held her in high regard.

She became a christian very young and all her life she has been an active worker for the Master.

Since the death of her husband she has resided in Grinnell and has taken an active interest in church work and social activities of the city. Her return to the city was greeted with pleasure by the scores of friends who had learned to love her during her longer residence in previous years. Although somewhat advanced in years she readily entered into the busy life that had been hers and made friends of those who had not known her before her removal to Cedar Rapids.

Her large family of manly and womanly children are a monument that speaks more impressively of the noble qualities of womanhood she possessed than any mere words. They were her priceless jewels. All feel that a pure and lovely character has gone to the better land and mourn the loss of an earnest christian woman.

The funeral services were conducted from the residence of her son, Charles F. Ricker, by her pastor Rev. E.M. Vittum at two o'clock Wednesday afternoon and the interment was in Hazelwood Cemetery.