Anna (Yarwick) Simmons (1824-1909)

YARWICK, SIMMONS, NEWTON, SALISBURY, LUND, CASEY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 12/4/2016 at 00:52:57

From Nevada Representative September 24, 1909 (front page)

OBITUARY

DEATH OF MRS. SIMMONS

Mrs. Nels Simmmons died at her home in Nevada at six o'clock Tuesday evening, September 21, after an attack of gastic trouble which had lasted nearly a week. It was the fist severe illness of her long life of eighty-five and a half years. Though shortened in strength by extreme length of life she had found pleasure throughout the winter and spring in accomplishing her household duties independent of other help than that of her son Sam; but July brought suffering, her daughter, Mrs. Salisbury of Chicago came hastily to her relief, and has remained to the end, though the resolute mother continued to share in household duties to the day of the fatal attack.

Brief funeral service was held at ten o'clock this morning at Mrs. Simmons' late residence, and then the remains were taken to Roland where further services were held at Salem church and burial was in the family lot in the Roland cemetery.

Anna Yarwick, the daughter of Simon, was born and reared on the Yarwick estate which was located on the coast of Norway, in the vicinity of the Bergen. She married in her early maidenhood, Canute Newton, a young soldier then serving the military period which the state exacts of each of her sons. When the period was ended a new home was established at Ida across the fiord from her father's home, and there amid peace, plenty and scenic beauty she wrought happily, and four little ones, Melinda, Elizabeth, John and Louise, came to bless her. Then the voyage to America in 1845 broke into their life, the journey from New York to Woodstock, Illinois, the death of her husband one month later of typhoid fever, the scattering of her children, and after a time her marriage to Nels Simmons, whose slight acquaintance she had made during the voyage from Norway. To her home with Mr. Simmons at Woodstock came a new flock whose individuals were known as Newton, Minnie and Sam and when Sam was two years old the home was transferred to Nevada, the eldest son, John Newton, having become a resident of Story county some time before.

Forty years she has lived in Nevada. The cottage whic she helped build on the common before the high school structure of any of the other buildings in that neighborhood had materialized, was a dear home which no enticements could draw her away from. Her strong religious nature made it a sacred retreat for communion with the infinite. Mrs. Salisbury says, "The picture of Mother which I shall cherish longest, was of her sitting in prayer on the porch this summer. I watched her a long time; finally I said, 'You do not have to work hard all of the time to get to heaven.' 'O, but I love to pray,' she said, ' I am always stronger after prayer.'" But she loved people, too, and was tenderly thoughtful not only of her household, but of her neighbors and friends, and appreciative of the warm regard which was shown for her.

Her thoughts have often reverted of late to her early days by the grand old sea. She has rehearsed stories of the fisher life with which she was familiar, of her wedding, when she wore the beautiful crown with which the patroness of the nearby village honored a worthy bride, and of the paternal endowment of her pretty home; and thus, filially tended, the extremes of her life have been beautifully blended.

Her eldest surviving daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Lund of Chicago, arrived early in the week, and one of the mother's last expressions was, "It is so good to see your both." Her sons, John Newton of Garden City and Sam Simmons, at home, are here, but Newton Simmons, the other son, is in Washington, and Minnie, Mrs. J. L. Casey, her youngest daughter passed away nearly twenty years ago, and is survived by Mr. Casey and their daughter Sylvia. Mr. Simmons died in April 1908. Mr. Thomas Simmons of Slater is Mrs. Simmons' only colateral relative in this country.