Roxy Myrick James (1825-1917)

CAMPBELL JAMES MASON TODHUNTER

Posted By: Jerry Hale (email)
Date: 8/17/2009 at 12:02:07

The Collins Gazette 02-22-1917

Obituary

Mrs. Clarence Campbell attended the funeral of her grandmother, Mrs. Henry R. James, at Hartford, Iowa, Saturday. She left Collins Thursday evening and returned Tuesday. She brought with her as a keepsake, the Bible of her grandfather Henry R. James, which was his monitor in his old age. The following is Grandmother James' obituary:

Roxy Myrick was born April 12th, 1825 in Athens Co., Ohio and died Feb. 15, 1917 at the home of her son Stephen at Hartford, Iowa, at the age of 91 years, 10 mo., 3 days. She was a daughter of Elias and Lydia Myrick, both natives of Maine where they were reared and married. From that state they moved to Athens Co., Ohio and subsequently went to Lake Co., Indiana, where she grew to womanhood and was married to Henry R. James in 1841(?). They came to Iowa in 1845, settling on the farm three fourth mile north of Palmyra, known as the James farm, where they endured all the hardships and difficulties of the earliest pioneer life. She had often been heard to say she was the first white woman in Warren Co., To this union were born twelve children, eight boys and four girls, six of whom survive her; Stephen, of Hartford, Charles of Burt, Colorado, Millard of Spencer, Neb., Lydia Todhunter of Collins, Ia., Geo. E. of Fowler, Calf., John E. of Burt, Colo. Those who preceded her were her aged husband who died March 21st 1901, Warren who died in Andersonville prison, Irving of Orleans, Marilla Mason of Palmyra, Ia. and Mary, Joseph and Emeline who died in early childhood. Besides these sons and daughter, she leaves to mourn 18 grand-children, 48 great grand-children and a great great grand-child, two brothers, two sisters together with a host of friends. She became a member of the M.E. church at Palmyra about the year 1858 and remained a member until her death. No matter how urgent their home duties were their bible and family worship were never neglected.

Her last illness was about two months duration caused by a fall.

She passed peacefully away without pain Thursday morning about 8 o'clock.