Elizabeth Jane (Matthews) Cessna (1834-1912)

MATTHEWS, CESSNA, NEASHAM, FITTON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:13

From Nevada Representative September 20, 1912 (front page)

OBITUARY

MRS. J. W. CESSNA

Mrs. Elizabeth Cessna, wife of J. W. Cessna and pioneer resident of Nevada died Friday evening last at the home in Ottumwa of her daughter, Mrs. John Wm. Neasham and she was buried in the Nevada Cemetery Monday afternoon. Mrs. Cessna came east last May from her home at Orange, California, to visit her children stopping first with her daughter Zella, Mrs. J. H. Fitton, in Omaha, then going to her daughter Wilda, Mrs. Neasham at Ottumwa, continuing her visit with her son, Prof. O. H. Cessna, at Ames, where her youngest daughter, Miss Geneva, is also stopping and coming thence to Nevada to see her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Minnie Cessna, and to renew associations with numerous old-time friends. Throughout her visit she had been non too strong, and after returning to Ames she showed signs of breaking down. Her married daughters came, and it was arranged that she should return to Ottumwa with Wilda, while Zella would go out to California and bring Mr. Cessna back, the plan being that both of the old folks should make their home with her at Omaha. Mrs. Fitton did go to California, where she joined her father a week or ten days ago; but in the meantime Mrs. Cessna failed so rapidly that the end came as stated. Mr. Cessna and Mrs. Fitton are now expected back about October first; but it was not practicable for them to return here in time for the funeral.

Elizabeth Jane Matthews was born at or near Ada, Ohio, April 7, 1834, was married to J. W. Cessna May 8, 1851, celebrated with him their sixtieth wedding anniversary last year, and died at Ottumwa, Iowa, September 13, 1912, aged 78 years, 5 months and 6 days. Mr. and Mrs. Cessna came to Nevada in 1856, reared here their family of two sons and three daughters, had this for their home for about forty-four years, removed to Indianola in 1900 thence two years later to California, where they have since resided. In all the years of her residence here Mrs. Cessna was known a woman of capability and worth, interested in what was good and as meeting well her responsibilities It was in her home, then on the corner immediately north of the Representative office, that she and six others became the charter members of the Methodist church organization of this city, her death leaving Mrs. Hannah Kellogg as the only one of the original seven yet surviving, and to the up-building of that organization she gave much of her time and effort. She is survived by her aged husband and four children, one only, LaMonte, having died in 1904. Her death brings sorrow in wide circle of friends.

The burial services at the grave were conducted by Rev. Dr. Chrisman of Boone in the presence of a considerable company of sorrowing friends. The services were very appropriate, and among those present were Prof. and Mrs. Cessna, Mr. and Mrs. Neasham, and Mr. J. H. Fitton, as well as President and Mrs. Stanton, Prof. and Mrs. Knapp, Prof. Marston, Prof. Briggs and other representatives of the college colony at Ames.