Hill, Sarah Wells Harriman 1827-1896

HILL, WELLS, HARRIMAN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/25/2013 at 12:16:12

The Grinnell (IA) Herald

IN MEMORIAM.

Mrs. Hill, a resident of Grinnell in the sixties, died in Des Moines last Friday night, and was buried here yesterday afternoon. Although constitutionally uninclined to consumption that disease terminated her life. It seems to have been contracted by her care of a consumptive daughter some two years ago. The following outline of her life was read at the funeral exercises in Des Moines.

"Sarah Wells Harriman Hill was born in Conway, N.H., April 24th, 1827. She was almost 69 years old. Her education was finished at Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary. Her marriage to Rev. Jas. J. Hill occurred at Dover, N.H., Oct. 8th, 1853. As the wife of a Home Missionary she lived in Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota, several years being spent in Grinnell. Her husband died at Fayette, Oct. 29, 1870. Mrs. hill moved from Fayette to Des Moines ten years ago.

She was the mother of six children, two sons and four daughters. Three were at her bedside throughout her last sickness. Her oldest son and her youngest daughter are in California. Her daughter Anna died in this house in Des Moines two years ago.

Her husband had two sons by his first wife, Dr. Gershom H. Hill of Independence, Iowa, who is present and Rev. James L. Hill of Salem, Mass. At the ages of seven and five years these two boys were most skillfully and lovingly taken in charge by their second mother. Mrs. Hill's oldest children were twins and 16 years old when their father died. The ages of her own children were respectively 16, 14, 11, 9 and 6 when they were left without a father and with meager means of support."

Her pastor, Rev. Dr. Frisbie, conducted the funeral exercises in Des Moines; the brief exercises at the cemetery here were in charge of Prof. L.F. Parker. Prof. Buck and Messrs. Haines, Lyman and Herrick were pall bearers.

Her memory will never fade from the minds of those who knew her here. Her queenly supervision of the home, her grace and wisdom in society and her Christian sympathy and helpfulness everywhere made her life a beautiful and impressive exposition of Christian duty and opportunity. She made many a sacrifice for others, but never appreciated it as a sacrifice. She found open doors of generous service on all sides and deemed them avenues of opportunity. She was a mother; no one would recognize her as a step-mother. To-day children and step-children alike, "rise up and call her blessed," children and step-children, in grateful memory of her early loving service, have crowned her later years with benedictions and benefactions.

Those of the family from other places who were present at the funeral here were the following children: Dr. G.H. Hill of Independence, Mrs. Charles Hill of Chicago, Misses Lizzie and Abby Hill of Des Moines.

The body was laid beside the remains of her late husband and the first Mrs. Hill.
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