Margaret Marshall Swanson

MARSHALL, SWANSON, BORTELL, JACKSON, CARLSTROM, DUFFUS, HAYS

Posted By: Kate Jackson (email)
Date: 1/17/2004 at 17:19:52

Mrs. Margaret SWANSON died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. E. BORTELL, on Friday, September 20, 1918. No greater courage has been shown by the heroes of the battle-fields than that with which this gentle soul met and conquered pain and suffering. Her one prayer was for strength to endure patiently to the end.
Mr. and Mrs. Alxander SWANSON was among the real pioneers of Poweshiek county. They were married in December 1878, at Kewanee, Ill., and came at once to Grinnell, where they engaged in farming until the year 1905. That year they moved to Olds, Alberta, Canada, where they bought a home, where they were largely instrumental in building a pioneer church of their faith, the Baptist Church. In August 1912, Mr. SWANSON passed away and in November 1917 Mrs. SWANSON returned to this community and since that time has made her home with her oldest daughter, Mrs. J.E. BORTELL. Her sickness has been long and her suffering great but all that loving hearts and tender hands could do has been done to ease her pain and to comfort her. All through the last, long night she kept repeating the Twenty-third Psalm. The sons and daughters have spoken of the fact that the words of this psalm were also the last words spoken by their father.
Margaret MARSHALL was born in Scotland, Decmeber 18, 1852 and was married to Mr. SWANSON in December 1878 and came to Grinnell, December 31, 1878. Mrs. SWANSON leaves one son, J.A. SWANSON of Alberta, Canada, and five daughters. The daughters are: Mrs. J.E. BORTELL and Mrs. Will JACKSON of Grinnell, Mrs. Harry CARLSTROM of Gilman, Mrs. Clyde DUFFUS of Brooklyn, and Mrs. H.W. HAYS of Spiers, Canada. Besides the sons and the daughter Mrs. SWANSON is survived by nineteen grandchildren.
Mrs. SWANSON was converted in her early years and brought her church letter with her to Grinnell where she and her husband united with the Baptist church. Her church, her home and her family were Mrs. SWANSON's chief interests. She was a wonderful wife and other - devoted, cheerful, loving and unselfish. She was a busy, hard working woman but she could always find time to visit a sick friend or neighbor. Few are the men and women who knew here but cannot recall a cheery word, act or a helpful gift. She had a great mother heart and never [illegible] of doing good.
Funeral services were conducted in the Baptist church yesterday afternoon by Rev. N.J. Peterson and Rev. Robert Linconln