Susannah Manatt Gwin 1824 - 1906

MANATT, GWIN, BARKER, FOSTER

Posted By: Ann Jaber (email)
Date: 1/10/2006 at 21:13:06

OBITUARY OF SUSANNAH MANATT GWIN

Susan Gwin, The daughter of Robert and Sarah Manatt was born in Summerset Co., Penn., July 4, 1824 and died at Kewanee, Illinois, Nov. 4, 1906, age 82 years and four months. Two brothers, James and Thomas and a half brother George live at Brooklyn, One brother and two sisters are dead.

She was married to Jesse Gwin in Holmes Co., Ohio. The family came to Poweshiek Co., Iowa fifty years ago, bought and settled government land two and a half miles west of Victor on the state road. They were pioneers. The Indians were still in the land and frequently visited the homes unbidden and were often the cause of much fear. It was the frontier, Iowa City being their market place. The deceased often mentioned of those days as the days of great and unaffected hospitality, the spirit of which she never forgot nor ceased to practice during all of her active life. Early in her married life she was converted and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church and remained a member during her life. She made frequent reference to the establishing of religious service and continuing them for a long time in a log school house. She would speak of them as times of great spiritual joy and fellowship never to be forgotten.

What change she witnessed with in the last half century. Her health had not been very good for some time as might be expected in one of her age, having passed the four score years, yet she had expected to return soon to Victor which she called her home. Illness was short and she was summoned to that world where she will know more certainly that "To die is to gain." She often gave expression to her religious joy by singing her favorite hyam, "O How Happy are They, Who Their Savior Obey, and Have Laid Up Their Treasures Above." With the faith of her having a godly treasure in heaven the sorrows of bereavement are greatly alleviate.

Her husband had been dead for nineteen years. Three sons are living. Sampson Gwin of Wyoming, John Charles Gwin of Kewanee, Illinois. Her two daughters are Eliza J. Barker of Victor and Mary J. Foster of Kansas City.

The funeral was preached by Rev. Hall, at the Methodist Church in Victor Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 5. 1906.

Copied from microfilm of the "Brooklyn Chronicle." at the Brooklyn Library.