Needham, Mary Elizabeth (Gordon) 1829-1922

NEEDHAM, GORDON, WELLS, MILLER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/15/2013 at 16:50:38

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; 1922

HAD LIVED HERE
OVER 60 YEARS
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Mrs. Stillman Needham Was
One of Grinnell's Real
Pioneers.
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Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Gordon Needham was born in Clyde, New York, on June 5, 1839. At the age of twenty-two she was united in marriage with Ananias Wells.

Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Michigan. After a brief sojourn there, they came to Iowa, arriving at Grinnell in 1859. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wells, Frank E., and Fred B. Wells, both still living in this city.

Mr. Wells passed away in 1870, and in 1872 Mrs. Wells was married to an old friend and neighbor, Edward S. Needham, Rev. Thomas Brande performing the ceremony. To them were born three children, a little son, who died in infancy, and Nina and Ward.

They lived for some time on Broad street in the residence now occupied by Dr. E.B. Wiley. In 1886, they moved to the little fruit farm in southeast Grinnell, and there Mrs. Needham lived until the accident occurred which brought about her death three weeks later.

Mrs. Needham in her early life was an active member of the Baptist church. In 1887 she with her husband and daughter united with the Congregational church, and was in the fellowship of that church at the time of her death.

Mrs. Needham was a kindly woman, whose main interest lay with her family, to whom she gave herself with full devotion. At the time of her death she was among the oldest of the pioneers of the Grinnell community.

She is survived by one brother, A.R. Gordon, of Jasper, S.D., her daughters and three sons, and by her six grandchildren, Gawain, Ruth and Brendon Wells, Mrs. Gladys Needham Miller, and Frank and Rosemany Needham, and one great granchild, Alfred Miller, Jr., of Osceola.

Funeral services were conducted at 2:30 this afternoon, at the home by Rev. E.W. Cross. A quartet composed of Mrs. Fred Morrison, Mrs. D.H. Snook, Miss Lucile Umbenhauer and Carl Johnston sang the hymns.