Armetta (Mullen) Ballou (1842-1899)

MULLEN, BALLOU, SEWELL

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 8/4/2011 at 22:56:17

From Story County Watchman June 30, 1899

Only Gone Before.

On Friday evening last Mrs. Armetta Mullen Ballou, wife of the editor of THE WATCHMAN, was called to the Great Beyond where all hope and expect to go when through withthis world of pleasure and sorrow. At noon she had returned from a trip to Webster City where he had attended the funeral of her nephew*, the day before where he met her sister** and her husband who left her about ten o'clock that morning, reaching home at 12 o'clock. She talked of her trip with her daughter who about four o'clock went to her room returning in about an hour found her mother lying upon the floor, Dr. Smith was at once notified and Dr. Chamberlain being close at hand also was there but nothing that medical science could do did any good and shortly after whe was found the vital spark had fled.

This result has been anticipated for years and all that could be done to prevent tried. The local physicians and the best specialists have been consulted but with no avail. While long anticipated yet it came in such a way and time that it was a blow under which the family and neighbors have been really stunned. It was a case of heart failure and the effort was to get renewed action of that organ but without success.

Armetta M. Mullen was born in Hamilton county, Indiana, March 9th, 1842, and when a little girl came to Bremer county where she grew to womanhood. She was married to V. A. Ballou, by Rev. J. W. Clinton at Janesville, Iowa, on the 23d of Feb., 1868, and went to Boone where they resided for a few months, moving to Nevada the same year. Three daughters and one son and the husband survive her to look forward to a meeting in the future. Mrs. Ballou has been a life long memeber of the Methodist church and the last rites were carried out as was her expressed wish in every respect, as the end had been looked forward to and about every minutiae had been noted at one time or other. So far as possible her least wish was gratified.

The funeral was held at 4 p. m. at the home, Sunday under the dirction of Rev. Brown of the M. E. church, after which the remains were taken to the Nevada cemetery to await the last call.

Those present from out of the city were Mr. and Mrs. Victor Ballou of Marshalltown; Mr. and Mrs. Allen Sewell of Waverly, Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Welsh and Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Ballou and Mrs. Gallup of Boone.

We give the following extracts form the Representative of Wednesday:

The death of Mrs. Ballou came absolutely without warning and was a terrible shock to her family and to her friends throughout the community.

They have four children, Maud, Edith, Victor and Ruth, all of whom with their father survive their mother. Mrs. Ballou was an active member of the the Methodist church and to the duties of her home and of the church she gave the energies of an earnest and devoted life. She has the warm regard of all who came within her circle of influence. She was a woman whose loss will be severely felt among all of her associates and will be irreparable in the home that is bereft.

SUBMITTER'S NOTE: *The nephew referred to was Fred A. Mullens. **The sister was Lydia E. (Mullens) Sewell, wife of Allen Sewell.