Martha A. (Kellogg) Dyer (1856-1938)

KELLOGG, DYER, DOWELL, ROBARGE

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 1/17/2015 at 21:10:22

From Nevada Evening Journal December 27, 1938

Funeral Services Held Monday for Mrs. Geo. Dyer

The Dyer home at 922 Fifth street was well filled Monday afternoon by relatives and old neighbors and friends, gathered to pay their tribute of respect to the memory of one of Nevada's outstanding figures--first child born in Nevada to grow to maturity of the city--Mrs. Geo. W. Dyer, 82.

In spite of the severe weather the gathered group was composed of a large number of the older people of the community--men and women who had known and respected the deceased for scores of years.

The service for Mrs. Dyer, who had passed away at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday after a lingering illness, was in charge of a former pastor, Dr. Raymond M. Shipman of Des Moines, assisted by Dr. C. D. Loose of the Nevada Methodist Episcopal Church.

Dr. Loose made the prayer and read a suitable passage of scripture, while Dr. Shipman read a sketch of the life of the deceased and preached the sermon.

Three hymns were sang by Mrs. Beulah Freeland and Mrs. Homer Jacobs.

The pallbearers were Emmett S. Armstrong, William Drybread, Ray M. McHose, F. M. Boardman, Glen R. Newton and Carl Stone.

The following sketch of the long and useful life of Mrs. Dyer was read by Dr. Shipman:

"Martha A. Dyer, the only daughter of Dr. N. A. Kellogg and Hannah D. Kellogg was born October 28, 1856, at Nevada, Iowa--the first child born in the village, to grow to maturity and at her death was the oldest native citizen. She died at her home December 24, 1938.

"Her father and a small brother passed away the year the family arrived from Ohio in 1855.

"At the age of six she spent one year in Ohio, with her mother, but aside from that her entire life was spent within a few yards of the site of the log cabin in which she was born.

"She attended the local school and finished the prescribed course although formal commencement exercises were not held at that time. However, in 1932, Mrs. Dyer and Mr. E. H. Addison were made honorary members of the Alumni Association -- a courtesy which pleased her greatly.

"She taught in the rural schools of the county, attended Iowa State college for two years--bring a freshman student when the first class was graduated from that institution in 1872.

"Following her college training she was a successful teacher for ten years in the Nevada public schools and served as librarian at the Nevada public library.

"On September 16, 1886, she was married to George W. Dyer, who passed away in 1923. To this union were born three children: Ruth, who for the past 1 years has been with her mother at her home; Winthrop Kellogg Dyer of St. Paul, Minnesota; and Isabel, now Mrs. A. A. Dowell of St. Paul, Minnesota.

"Mrs. Dyer has been a member of Methodist Episcopal church for many years; a member of Chapter AM PEO since 1894; and during her active years was a member of the Nevada Woman's club, various church activities and social clubs.

"She is survived by three children and eight grand children Winthrop G. Dyer, Jr., Edith Martha, Mary and Patricia Dyer; and Hannah Kellogg, Margaret, Ruth and Annette Dowell. Her first grandchild, Jane Dyer Robarge, passed away Aug. 15, 1938.