Aronson, Hannah C. (Mrs. Alfred) 1868-1930

ARONSON, JOHNSON, MARTIN

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke--Volunteer
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:34

Source: Hawarden Independent (12-11-1930)

Born: January 22, 1868
Died: December 2, 1930

FUNERAL OF BELOVED HAWARDEN LADY HELD LAST FRIDAY

Funeral services for Mrs. Alfred Aronson, a long time resident of this city, who passed away Tuesday, December 2nd, were held at the Associated Church at 2 o’clock last Friday afternoon with Reverend R.J. Cornell in charge. Interment was made in the cemetery in Big Springs.

Hannah C. Johnson, youngest daughter of Peter and Gustava Johnson, was born in Westergotland, Sweden, January 22, 1868, and died at her home in Hawarden December 2, 1930, at the age of 62 years, 10 months and 10 days. In May of the year of her birth, when she was but four months of age, her parents came to the United States of America with a party of Swedish immigrants who journeyed to Sioux City by rail, and started by wagon train for the region now known as Big Springs, then a wildness, about ten miles southwest of Hawarden. It was in the spring of the year and because of the rains and heavily loaded wagons, the adults had to walk part of the distance. Mrs. Johnson became ill as they neared the Schooler cabin, nine miles south of their destination, and died there. The grief-stricken father preceded to the homestead site and prepared a “Dug-out” in the side hill for his family of motherless children. He then returned to the Schooler cabin for them and the body of his deceased wife which he buried on the homestead. Many years later these remains were disinterred by her children and removed to the Big Springs Cemetery to lie beside these of the husband and father.

The hardships which this family and other families endured in the wilderness sixty-two years ago are almost beyond the comprehension of the present generation. The heroic struggle of these early settlers deserve the consideration of all of us. What dangers and hardships they faced. What discouragements and desolation. Many times they were cold and hungry. Many times they feared that the Indians in their community would massacre them all. The grasshopper plague which lasted for seven years and took almost too much for some of the settlers and they moved out. There were many who stayed, however, the Johnsons among them, and became the foundation stock for the splendid community which now flourishes around Big Springs.

During that first winter the Johnson family would have perished from cold but for the timely assistance of John Selberg who lived six miles away but was a good neighbor in all that the best sense of that term implies. He started out at three o’clock one winter morning to go down to the timber along the Big Sioux River to get a load of wood for the Johnson family. On the way his oxen were frightened by a band of Indians and ran away. It was midnight when he arrived within a quarter of a mile of the Johnson home and found that the snow had drifted so deep that he could no closer with the wood. He preceded on foot to the dug-out and found that the faithful maid had carefully bundled up the little baby girl, the subject of this sketch, and put her to bed to keep her warm. She was glad to have the wood available even though it was a quarter of a mile away and said she would drag it up to the dug-out. She did not forget to be hospitable and made hot coffee for Mr. Selberg after which he started on the return trip to his own home six miles away. He arrived at day-break to find that his wife had walked the floor all night fearing that the Indians had killed him or that he had bee lost in the snow and frozen to death.

Henry Johnson, a brother of Mrs. Aronson, well known in this community where he had lived for many years prior to his death about two years, often repeated the following incident, which occurred during the winter of one of those early years: The family flour barrel was empty as were those of others in the community and one of the men had driven to Sioux City, forty miles away, to get a supply of flour. He arrived at the Johnson home about midnight and the faithful maid at once mixed up a batch of biscuit and baked them. She then roused the sleeping children who had gone to bed hungry and fed them.

Hannah Johnson grew into young womanhood under the influence of rigorous frontier conditions. She attended the district school, went to spelling matches, singing school and literary societies. She joined the Big Springs Baptist Church. She built into her personality the virtues of the pioneer.

In 1885, when she was about seventeen years of age, she came to Calliope to keep house for her brother Henry. During the forty-five years since that time which have elapsed since that time she has been a resident of this community and has endeared herself to large circle of friends and neighbors by her consistently Christian life.

In 1889 Hannah Johnson was married to Charles Martin who died in 1893 leaving the young widow with a small daughter, Clara, who through the subsequent years has been a blessing and comfort to her mother. In 1901 she was married to Alfred Aronson and they have enriched our community by the simple dignity of their home life.

Soon after coming to Calliope she affiliated with the Presbyterian Church which was then located in that part of our city. Through the years she was an active member until she was taken ill about five years ago. She became a member of the Associated Churches upon the merger about ten years ago.

During the past five years Mrs. Aronson has been a constant sufferer and has borne it with remarkable fortitude. Her husband and her daughter have provided the best of medical care and have sought the counsel of the best experts in the field of medicine. Everything possible was done for her but to little avail.

Last Tuesday evening she retired about nine o’clock after having visited with friends in the home, feeling as well as usual. Within an hour her soul had slipped away from the pain-racked body to be at peace with God. Through the manner of her going was a great shock to her loved ones in the thought that she was spared further surcease from its pain and her spirit is with the God who gave it.
In her Bible, her daughter, Miss Clara, found a small writing pad upon which her mother had but recently copied the Twenty-third Psalm. This was evidently done during the time when Clara was in the hospital for an operation and the mother-heart was torn with anguish because of the daughter’s peril. The Psalm is not complete and breaks off with the words, “Yes, through I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for Thou art with me.” What glorious faith! What triumphant trust! It seems that this passage of Scripture strikes the keynote of Mrs. Aronson’s personality. Her life was not spectacular but simple and quiet. She loved her home, her friends, her neighbors and her God. She will be greatly missed by her loved ones and her friends who will treasure the memories of her kindness and her loyalty to the better things of life.

She is survived by her daughter, Miss Clara Martin; her husband, Alfred Aronson; two brothers, Axel Johnson of Sioux City and Aaron P. Johnson of Alcester; a sister, Mrs. Hattie Bankson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; a half sister, Mrs. Nellie Olson of Fresno, California and a large number of more distant relatives and many friends. A sister, Mrs. Emily Edson, died about twenty-five years ago and a brother, Henry, died about two years ago. A half sister, Mrs. Hilma Martin, died about thirty-eight years ago.