Magoun, Mrs. E.E. 1833-1897

MAGOUN, MILLER, BARNES

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/28/2012 at 15:13:25

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Jan. 8, 1897

--Mrs. E.E. Magoun died yesterday morning after a long and painful illness of nearly two years. Elizabeth Earle was born in Brunswick, Me., August 28, 1833. She was educated at Mount Holyoke Seminary, Hadley, Mass., where she graduated in the class of 1860. While an undergraduate she went south to teach and taught some time near Richmond, Va. After graduating she taught in Mount Holyoke Seminary, having the department of literature. Later she came west and taught in the State University, at Madison, Wis. In 1870 she was married to Rev. Dr. Magoun, then president of Iowa College, and spent the rest of her life in Grinnell, where her superlative qualities gave her a personal influence second only to that of her gifted husband. She acted as lady principal of the college for some time after Miss Mary Ellis left. She was the first president of the Iowa Branch of the Women's Board of Missions of the Interior and held the position till failing health compelled her resignation, when she was made honorary president. Mrs. A.L. Frisbie, of Des Moines, succeeded her in the active presidency. Mrs. Magoun was an able and eloquent speaker on the subjects that interested her. Her daughter, Mrs. Emily Magoun Miller, of Des Moines, has been present at the bedside of her mother. Rev. S.G. Barnes of Long Meadow Mass., a son-in-law, is expected. Mrs. Barnes is too much of an invalid to travel. Also Dr. G.H. Hill of Independence and Leonard Rumlet of St. Paul. The funeral occcurs Sunday afternoon at the Cong'l church.