Barnes, Edna Augusta 1870-1911

BARNES, PORTER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 8/23/2014 at 16:33:30

Poweshiek County Historical and Genealogical Society Obit. Files

EDNA AUGUST BARNES

Edna A. Barnes was born in Brewer, Maine, Oct. 9th, 1870. In March 1874, the family removed to Grinnell and here the rest of her life was passed. Educated in the Grinnell schools she gradated from the high school in the class of 1890, a careful and thorough student, always womanly, modest and sincere.

She afterwards took a two years course in music in Iowa College, and later the course in a Cedar Rapids Business College.

In her life she was essentially a helper. Modest, retiring and true, she was nevertheless active in so many ways, in church, Sunday school and society that she will be missed by an unusually large circle of acquaintances. For several years as organist in the Baptist church, as teacher in the Sunday school, as an active worker in the Baptist Ladies' Benefit Society, and as a member of the Literary Clan and the O.E.S., she performed a wide and most important part in local matters. Her active life has proven the true and sincere character that marked her high school days, and in her death the church and community lose one of the pure of earth.

More recently she has been stenographer and bookkeeper with German and Lincoln, having gone a few months ago to Craig, Mont., to enjoy a yearly vacation with her sister, Mrs. H.C. Porter. On October 1, while in apparent perfect health she was stricken with cerebral apoplexy, while enjoying a game of croquet with her sister. Her death occurred in the hospital at Cascade, Mont., October 6. On Oct. 9 the body reached Grinnell accompanied by Mrs. Porter. The funeral was held Tuesday, Oct. 10, at her late home in the open air conducted by Rev. L.D. Weyland. Abundance of flowers testified in a small way the esteem and love of many donors and included gifts from the Fire Department, B.Y.P.U., Literary Clans, O.E.S., the primary department of the Baptist Sunday school, the Ladies' Benefit, from former school friends, and other friends, both at Craig and in Grinnell. At the cemetery the services were in charge of O.E.S. Bearers were school and club friends: Anna Sanders, Darline Preston, Ella Cravath, Myrtle Hays, Anna Field and Mabel Spooner.