Child, Mary Ella 1862-1907

CHILD, STOCKWELL

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 3/16/2014 at 13:11:06

The Grinnell (IA) Herald
March 1907

MRS. F.L. CHILD

Mary Ella Stockwell was born in Concord, Vt., Aug. 12, 1862. Her great-grandfather was the first settler in Lancaster, N.H., and her family were long prominent in that vicinity.

Like most of the other young girls of her neighborhood, she early began teaching school and was five times engaged to teach at Bath, N.H. The director who employed her was Franklin L. Child. He appreciated her fine womanly qualities and the acquaintance ripened into love. On Nov. 24, 1886 they were united in marriage at St. Johnsbury, Vt.

Shortly after their marriage they came to this city where so many from Bath had preceded them and here her intelligence and self sacrificing spirit won the hearts of all. She was a favorite in the group of women in the town circles and in the Congregational church of which she was a member.

In the home her life was and ideal one. The two sons who received unstintingly of her devotion , the husband, who returned her affection with a love equal to her own tender devotion and the father-in-law, who preceded her in death but a few days and who in life received the best attention which she could give--all these formed a family circle which was perfect in its happiness. She was honored and loved with the devotion which only such a woman can inspire in those who come closest to her.

She leaves to mourn the loss of wife and mother her husband and two sons while an aged mother, two sisters and brother still reside in or near the old home in New England. The brother arrived at her bedside just in her last moments, too late to be recognized.

Mrs. Child died Monday evening, March 4. The funeral services, conducted by Prof. L.F. Parker, who had conducted the services over the remains of her father-in-law, Dudley Child, Monday afternoon, were held from the residence Wednesday afternoon. Music was furnished by a quartette consisting of Misses Stella Bartlett, Mary Wheelock, Messrs. A.C. Harriman and Fred Morrison. The remains were laid to rest in Hazelwood cemetery.