Sterling, Matilda 1849-1932

STERLING, TINKER, REAMS, BACORN, WILSON, FIMPLE, JEWELL

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 7/19/2012 at 08:35:03

Obituary

MRS. MATILDA STERLING PASSES
(From The Brooklyln Chronicle)

Another pioneer of Brooklyn passed away Wednesday night when Mrs. Matilda Sterling died followng 6 years of poor health. During this time Mrs. Sterling has been cared for by her daughter, Florence. Another daughter, Mrs. Wilson from Honolulu, was here this summer, and a daughter, Lena, from Chicago, was also here the past summer for an extended visit and was here for the funeral last Friday.

Mrs. Sterling came to Brooklyn in the fifties with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tinker. They settled on the farm still known as the old Tinker place, where the Miller brothers now live, west of Brooklyn. Here Matilda Tinker grew up. She was married at this home to Martin V. Sterling, a civil war veteran, who had come here shortly after the war. They lived for a time on a farm between Brooklyn and Hartwick across from the old Hartwick church. It was a farm belonging to Mr. Sterling's cousin, Dave Sterling, for many years a prominent business man of Brooklyn. During this time the first Hartwick Congregational church was organized and built across from the Sterling place. Mr. and Mrs. Sterling were charter members of this church. It has since been moved to the town of Hartwick. It was organized about 1875.

Shortly after this Mr. and Mrs. Sterling and family moved to Texas where they farmed three years when they returned to Brooklyn. Sometime later they bought a farm three miles north of Brooklyn where Frank Richman now lives. This was in 1895. They attended the Presbyterian church at Brooklyn from this time on and were faithful members the rest of their lives. Three of the five daughters graduated from the Brooklyn high school and the others attended.

After Mr. Sterling's death in 1899, the family sold the farm and moved to Brooklyn in 1900 to the home on north Mill st., where Mrs. Sterling died. The farm was sold to Mr. Robinson.

Mrs. Sterling was a faithful friend, always unassuming and unselfish. She had many friends who appreciated her true worth and kindliness. She never failed to do her part in the church and the other organizations of which she was a member. She was a good mother and a kind neighbor and will be greatly missed not only by her family but by many friends.

Matilda Tinker, daughter of Edwin and Arabelle Tinker, was born Feb. 17, 1849, in Butler county, Penn., and departed this life Dec. 21, 1932. She came to Poweshiek county with her parents at about the age of five and has lived in or near Brooklyn since that time.

She was united in marriage to Martin V. Sterling Nov. 1, 1870. To this union were born seven children. Her husband and two children, Edith and David, preceded her in death. She is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Belle Reams of Malcom; Florence of Brooklyn; Lena of Chicago; Mrs. Ellen Bacorn, Oakland, Cal.; and Mrs. Bertha Wilson, Honolulu; also six grandchildren and one great grandchild. She is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Martha Fimple, San Antonio, Tex.; and Mrs. Belle Jewell, Lake City, Ia; and one brother, Edwin Tinker, Winfield, Kan.

She united with the church early in life and was a devout and active member of all its organizations as long as her health permitted.

She was a member of the Women's Relief Corps and always ready to serve in any capacity most willingly.

She was a loving mother, always thinking of her children before herself.

The past six years that she has been out of health, her fortitude, patience and kindness could not be surpassed.

Funeral services were held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Presbyterian church of which Mrs. Sterling had been a faithful member for many years. The Rev. Mr. Holler was in charge. Mrs. Beryle Green sang two selection, accompanied on the organ by Miss Thursia Manatt.

Pallbearers were old friends and neighbors: Harry Bickford, Jay Manatt, Fred Cunningham, Geo. Stone, John Gritsch and Chas. Polk.

Interment was in the I.O.O.F. cemetery.