Mitchell, Mary Esther Mrs. George 1864-1953

MITCHELL, MCMASTERS

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 2/28/2011 at 12:23:14

From the Rock Valley Bee of Aug 20, 1953
Former Local Woman Buried Here Last Friday Afternoon.
Another Former Rock Valley Resident was buried here when services were held for Mrs. Mary Esther Mitchell nee'McMasters, on Friday afternoon in Valley View Cemetery, Rock Valley. Mrs. Mitchell died on Wednesday evening in the Cherokee hospital where she had been a patient.
Miss Mary Esther Mc Masters was born June 15, 1864 in Wisonsin and trekked acorss the country in a priarie schooner when only a small child to South Dakota and settled on a claim near Brookings SD, where she grew to womanhood. She was married to George Mitchell Jun 24, 1905 and came to Rock Valley to make her home where she lived until she became ill and could no longer care for herself. She was then taken to the Hawarden nursing home operated by Mr. Esther Jacobs, where she lived for six years before going to the Panska HOme in Hawadren and then to Cherokee hospital. Mrs. Mitchell was Rock Valley's last Civil War widow. As long as she was able she always flowers for Memorial Day.
Back in 1929 Mrs. Mitchell broke her leg while on the way to church and in April the same year her home was partially destroyed by fire.
Her brothers and sisters with exception of mrs. Alice Alexander at Annandale MN. have preceded her in death.
Rev. Peters of the Adventists church of Hawarden officiated at the services. He was accompanied by his wife in singing "In the Garden" the Van Etten funeral of Orange city was in charge of the sevice. A few of her friends were present at the grave.