Sarah Jane (Emery) Gossard (1840-1935)

GOSSARD, EMERY, SHAW, KELLOGG, KNOWLES

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 9/25/2021 at 13:06:28

From Nevada Evening Journal September 9, 1935 (page 4)

Early Pioneer Nevada Woman Died at Onawa

In the burial of Mrs. Sarah Jane Gossard in the family lot in the cemetery at Ames, Saturday afternoon, one of the earliest pioneers of Story county was laid to rest. Mrs. Gossard, as wife of the late T. L. Gossard, Civil war veteran, lived in Nevada and in and around Ames for many years and the family is well remembered in Nevada and other parts of the county.

Sarah Jane Emery, daughter of Thomas Emery and Elizabeth Shaw Emery, was born on August 29, 1840 at Sedalia, Madison Co., Ohio, where she spent her girlhood with the exception of some time which she spent at the home of grandfather at West Alexander, Penn., where she attended school at a young ladies seminary.

She moved with her family to Nevada, Story county, Iowa in the spring of 1857, coming by boat to Keokuk and overland by team. She and her family were warmly welcomed to their new home by a number of old time friends from her former home in Ohio, who had preceded them to this new pioneer country.

Soon after her arrival she became one of the pioneer school teachers of Story county, teaching her first term in 1858, when seventeen years of age, her school being two miles south of where the town of Ames is now located. She afterward taught the first school within the present site of Ames teaching the first term in the first school house built in the present limits of Ames beginning her term in June 1862.

During the first years of teaching she followed the pioneer plan of "boarding round" at the different homes of her pupils. During one term of school she boarded with a family who occupied the farm house at the Iowa State college, during its construction and immediately after its completion.

On July 4, 1865 she was united in marriage at Nevada with Thomas M. Gossard of Ames, a soldier in the Civil war the marriage taking place while he was at home on furlough. The young husband left very soon after their marriage to return to army, but soon received the glad news that the war was over and was mustered out and returned home after about a months absence.

She and her husband established their home on a farm in the vicinity of Ames, and while changing their home they continued to reside in that vicinity and took an active part in the rural community life, until the death of the husband on April 11, 1890, after which she removed with her children to Ames which continued to be the family home until 1908, when she accompanied her son, T. L. Gossard and daughter, Miss Blanche Gossard to Onawa to make her home, residing here since that time.

She was the mother of four children, three sons, Harry A. Gossard, who preceded her in death on December 18, 1925; Wm. E. Gossard of Webster City; T. L. Gossard of Onawa, and one daughter, Miss Blanche Gossard, also of Onawa.

She became a member of the Methodist church at Sedalia, Ohio when sixteen years of age, and continued her fellowship with this church until the time of her death. As long as she was able to do so, she was active in the auxiliary organizations of the church and was an active member of the Womans Relief Corps.

But it was as a wife and mother, where her devotion and efficiency were especially marked, inspiring the members of her family by both precept and example to the best that was in them.

She was quiet and retiring in disposition, but was steadfast in her friendship, and was ever appreciative of and devoted to her friends. She never ceased to manifest a keen interest in community and national affairs and was a persistent reader of current events. Her mind continued to be a rich store house of information until the close of her life.

She celebrated her 95th birthday on Thursday, August 29 very pleasantly, her son and wife, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Gossard of Webster City, giving her a pleasant surprise by arriving unexpectedly on the previous evening to spend the day with her.

She had been a sufferer from frequent spells of invalidism throughout all of the later period of her life and had been in failing health during the past year. She became ill so that she was confined to her bed on Monday of this week, failing rapidly until Thursday afternoon when she passed away at 3:20 o'clock.

Besides the three children, William E., Thomas L., and Miss Blanche, she is survived by five grandchildren, Mrs. Oliver Kellogg of Ames, Iowa; Mrs. Lyle Knowles of Webster City, Iowa; Prof. Atherton Gossard, of Meridan, Miss.; Thomas E. Gossard of Akron, Ohio; Arthur Gossard of Wooster, Ohio; and Tom Gossard of Onawa. There are also five great grandchildren, Billy, Marvin and Martha Eloise Kellogg, of Ames, Iowa; and Edward and Lura Ellen Gossard of Meridian, Miss.

Funeral services were held at the Gossard home at 106 E. third street south at 9:00 o'clock Saturday morning being conducted by Rev. Daryl Williams, pastor of the M. E. church, who was assisted by Rev. Manson Miller of Webster City. "Jesus Lover of My Soul" and "Abide With Me" were sung by Mrs. Donald Rose with accompaniment by Miss Edna Boulden. Following the service the funeral party left for Ames, the old family home, where the final service was held at the Adams mortuary, being conducted by Rev. Miller and the hymns "Rock of Ages" and "Nearer My God to Thee" were sung by Mrs. Florence Young. Burial was in the family plot in the Ames cemetery.