Sophia Watney (1852-1932)

WATNEY, TWEDT, THOMPSON

Posted By: Alan Nicholson (email)
Date: 3/5/2010 at 21:33:21

Roland Record, 3 Feb 1932

Former Local Residents Died

B. J. Sevde and Sophia Watney Passed Away at Story City Last Week

Two former residents of Roland, both of whom were about 80 years old, died suddenly at Story City last week.

B. J. Sevde dropped dead on the street Friday afternoon and Miss Sophia Watney was found dead in bed at the Old Peoples Home Saturday morning. The former is thought to have suffered a stroke of paralysis and the latter's death was caused by heart trouble.

[This section omitted - see Ben J. Sevde obituary]

Sophia Watney

Miss Sophia Watney was born at Leland, Ill, February 15, 1852, and died at Story City January 30, 1932, at the age of nearly 80 years. Her parents were Eilert and Siri Watney.

At the age of 13 years she came to Roland where she has since resided with the exception of the last three years and three months, when she was an inmate of the Old Peoples Home at Story City.

She is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Christine Twedt and Mrs. Henry Thompson of this place, and a brother, Charles Watney of Leland, Iowa.

the funeral was held Monday afternoon at Salem church, Rev. Olaf Holen officiating. A. C. Molstre, superintendent of the Old Peoples Home at Story City, also spoke a few words. Interment was made in the Roland cemetery. The pall bearers were R. M. Peck, L. E. Quam, Elliot, Cyrus, Milton and Ervin Thompson.

The Roland Record, Roland, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, February 10, 1932.

ATTENDED WATNEY FUNERAL

Among those who attended the funeral of Miss Sophia Watney at Salem church were the following:

Charles Watney of Leland, Atty. F. E. Hanson of Nevada, Supt. and Mrs. A. C. Molstre, Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Myrah, Mrs. Micas Henderson, B. M. Rasmusson, H. T. Hauge, Ben Holm, of Story City, Mrs. Marion Prescott, Mrs. Russ Olson, and Mrs. Thomas Robinson of Des Moines, Mr. and Mrs. Eliott Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Ritland of McCallsburg, and Irwin Thompson of St. Anthony.

Miss Watney was one of the old settlers of this community. After she came here in 1865, she spent some time in Nevada, then went to Fort Dodge where she remained for three years and then returned to Nevada. After that she stayed at the M. Erickson home in Roland for 14 years and when her father died she went home to her mother and took care of her for a period of 20 years. Her whole life was spent helping others and there are many in the community who held her in the same high regard as a mother when they were children.

The survivors are two sisters, Mrs. Christina Twedt and Mrs. Henry Thompson of Roland, and a brother, Chas. Watney of Leland. She had 3 nieces and 8 nephews, was great aunt to 14 children, and great great qunt to 3 children.