Mary J. (Johnston) Switzer (1862 - 1945)

SWITZER, JOHNSTON, VOGT, MCLAIN, CLARK

Posted By: Tamara Jorstad (email)
Date: 2/27/2005 at 12:28:15

Ames Daily Tribune (Ames, IA), Friday, December 28, 1945 (pg 2)

Obituary

Mary J. Switzer

Mary Hamilton Johnston was born in Liverpool, England, August 16, 1862, the daughter of Samuel and Rosanna Johnston, and died December 21, 1945 at the age of 83 years, 4 months and 5 days.

At the age of three she came to America with her parents on a sailing vessel. They came directly to Nevada, Iowa as that was as far west as the railroad came at that time. One of the first pioneer families to settle in Story County, they located in Section 20, Grant Twp., seven miles southwest of Ames on what is now known as the Harry Jordon Farm. Here she grew to womanhood, attending Union Grove School which was located in the the same section.

She was married to William I. Switzer, a schoolmate, February 19, 1884 and moved to the Switzer Farm two days later. She lived in the same section continuously for eighty years. Her husband died March 15, 1891 leaving her with small children to raise.

Mrs. Switzer was a charter member of the Shipley United Brethern Church, where she attended services as long as she was able.

She lived a typical pioneer life and saw the country develop from the oxen to the machine age. She saw the county grow from the one home (located on the Moran place) between her home and Nevada to the present thickly settled country. She had the wonderful experience of helping mold and develop a prosperous community.

One of her greatest thrills was to know that her own grandson flew the ocean in one day, where it had taken her nineteen days to cross in a sailing vessel.

She was a great lover of flowers and her greatest delight was to share them with her friends. Until the past two years she could be seen most any summer day working in her flower garden.

She passed away at the Switzer Homestead Friday afternoon and leaves to mourn her loss, two sons: Sam of Nevada; and Ralph of Ames; and two daughters: Rosa Vogt of Ames and Elizabeth of Nevada, and a sister, Elizabeth McLain of Long Beach, Calif. An adopted son, Sgt. George W. Clark of World War I died in France in 1918. She also leaves twelve grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Monday, December 24, 1945, 1:30 p.m., at the Adams Chapel with Rev. LeRoy Sargent of the United Brethern Church in charge. His text was taken from Matthew 27, 1-22. Mrs. Russell Childs and Mary Alice Riggs sang "Rock of Ages" and "Nearer My God to Thee." Pall bearers were Perl Postgate, John Barrett, Jim Day, John Ernst, Tom Steensland and Ole Halverson.

She was held in high esteem by all who knew her, and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.