Sarah Jane Whitson Conner (1842-1916)

CONNER, WHITSON, DE SART

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 5/28/2005 at 12:34:09

HENRY INDEPENDENT, Aug. 1916, Henry, South Dakota; "LIFE SKETCH OF GRANDMA CONNER - Mrs. Sarah J. Conner, died at the home of her daughter south of town August 29, 1915**, age 73 years, 7 months and 28 days. Sarah J. Whitson was born Dec. 31, 1842, near New Castle, Ind. On April 5th 1866 she was united in marriage to Samuel Conner and to them were born four children: Mrs. F. M. De Sart and J. F. Conner of this place, E. T. Conner of Maxwell, Ia., and C. L. Conner of Rhame, N. D., all whom survive to mourn the loss of a most devout mother. All were present at the funeral. She was converted to the Christian faith in her girlhood days and lived a true Christian life till the time of her death. She belonged to the M. E. church at Peoria City, Iowa. The funeral services were held in the M. E. church, Maxwell, Iowa, near the home of her son, and was conducted by Rev. Wadding, after which the remains were laid to rest by the side of her husband in the beautiful cemetery at Peoria City. Mrs. Conner has lived near Henry for the past seven years except the few months spent in Iowa, and none but speak of her in terms of, highest praise. She had been a great sufferer for many years but her last sickness lasted but a few days. Few members of the community have gone to their graves more universally loved and mourned, than this dear old lady. She was endowed with some of nature's rarest gifts, her loving disposition, generous appreciation of others, and modest opinion of herself, won for her a large place in the affections of her friends. The sterling qualities that go to make a useful life were hers. Pleasant, obliging and unyielding in her convictions of right, made her life above deceit, and all manner of shame. CARD OF THANKS - We wish to render our sincere thanks to our neighbors and friends for all their kindness shown us in our dear mother's illness and death. Mrs. F. M. DeSart, J. F. Conner, E. T. Conner, C. L. Conner." **Editorial note - should say 1916 instead of 1915.

MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, September 7, 1916, page 1. "MRS. SARAH J. CONNER - Mrs. Sarah J. Conner, mother of E. T. Conner, of this place, passed away Tuesday of last week at Henry, S. D., after an illness of but a few days, at the age of seventy-four years. The remains were brought to Maxwell Thursday evening and Friday afternoon the funeral was held at the Methodist church, with interment beside her husband in the Peoria cemetery. Rev. S. C. Wadding delivering the sermon. Mrs. Conner had resided in Maxwell for the past two years up to about two months ago when she went to Henry, So. Dak., the home of her son and daughter, J. F. Conner and Mrs. F. M. De Sart. Both were present at the funeral, as was also another son, Clarence Conner, of Rame, N. D. We are unable to give complete obituary notice at this time but same will appear in our next issue."

MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, September 14, 1916. "OBITUARY - SARAH JANE WHITSON, born 31, Dec. 1842, near New Castle, Indiana; moved with her parents to Iowa when age of 12 years; settled near Peoria City, Iowa, where she spent the greater part of her life. On April 1 (should be 5th), 1866, she was married to Samuel Conner and lived on a farm near Peoria until about 24 years ago, except a few years spent in the West. She then removed to Maxwell and lived in a home where Mr. and Mrs. Smeltzer now live and where Mr. Conner died on Jan. 5, 1900. After this she lived at different places, with her children; spent the last year in Maxwell, until about 2 months ago, going to Henry, So. Dak., where she remained with her daughter until her death. She passed peacefully away on Aug. 29, 1916, 73 years, 7 months, 28 days. She was converted to the Christian faith, and united with the United Brethren Church, at the age of 18 and remained a faithful Christian throughout her entire life. Her membership was transferred to the Methodist-Presbyterian Church at Peoria in 1880, where it remained until her death. She leaves to mourn her death 4 children: John Franklin Conner and Mrs. F. M. DeSart (Mirian) of Henry, South Dakota. E. T. Conner of Maxwell and C. L. of Rhame, North Dakota. All were present at the funeral. One brother John Whitson, who lives at Whitter, Colorado, one sister Mrs. Oliver Conner at Tabor, Iowa and a half brother Jesse Lamb in Florida. She also leaves 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. The memory of their mother's life is fragrant with love and sweetness; she was kind and loving and good. She was true to her God and a true friend to humanity. Her life for the last 30 years gives to us a lesson to her patience where she suffered all these years without complaint." "CARD OF THANKS: "To all of our friends who so kindly came to our assistance during our late bereavement. We wish to express our appreciation of the beautiful tribute paid to our beloved mother by Dr. Wadding. Mrs. F. M. DeSart, J. F. Conner, Ed. T. Conner and C. L. Conner."

Tribute to Mother by Rev. S. C. Wadding
"Her life was well lived and stands a monument of truth. She was mother to us and a neighbor to all. It will be easier to live for heaven now that mother is there. Language fails us in our endeavor to portray the love and beauty and power e of a sweet praying mother. A child can have no greater earthly blessing than a praying mother; a mother no greater comfort than a praying child. If you want a praying child be a praying mother. A biography of the prophet Samuel would not be complete without a review of the life of Hannah. The praying mother who dedicated him to the Lord and now every year brings him a little coat made by her own hands. She soon drops out of sight, but Samuel, her offspring, glorifies her in his great life. My prayer for every mother here is that her boy or girl may grow up to perpetuate the memory of mother, to adore the church, to be a factor in the conquest of our King, to stand as a monument of mother's prayers. Chas. Leach, D. D., of Manchester, England, that great man of God, said: "When I was a little boy my mother would have me kneel and she would lay her hand upon my head and pray for me. My mother was removed by death and I went into sin and traveled in foreign lands and was exposed to many temptations but I always felt that soft, tender hand upon my head and could not forget my mother's sweet voice in prayer." And today one of England's greatest preachers is a product of mother's prayers. I want to co-operate with the mothers of this city in your endeavor to bring up these boys and girls in the Sunday school and church and the kingdom that they may become men and women of character. I think of the hand of Elizabeth and the hand of Zachariah both together enclosed in the strong hand of God and he upholding the two as one - a Christian father and mother. There are a thousand things that add beauty to a home. Carpets, upholstry**, pictures, draperies, gardens, lawns, trees, flowers, modern and expensive architecture, Standing off you can view such a home in the relief of fair flowers and green foliage and you exclaim: "What a beautiful home," but if it lacks a praying Christian mother it is like a landscape without sunshine, a dark night without stars, a garden without flowers, a harp broken and unstrung. What is home without a Christian mother? Mothers are you poor and have no heritage to leave to your children? Leave them the fragrant memory of a praying mother, a tender hand, a sweet voice, a dear face. You have been called upon to say good bye to mother for a little while, but the angel spirit of a dear Christian mother abides with you. An infidel was standing on the street defame Christianity and speaking against the church and the Bible when a big rough man stepped up (a man who was a sinner) and said: "Sir, will you oblige me by ceasing to defame my mother's religion. Though I am a hard and wicked man, my mother was s sincere Christian and I will defend her." Tired mothers, a little flock to be cared for, tired fingers, weary limbs and aching head: years pass, the flock is scattered; the mother's headache is gone but the heart is aching now. Men have great tasks, but the greatest task, one that requires the most wisdom, the keenest judgment, the greatest tact, the most prayer, the cooperation of schools and churches, is to raise a family of boys and girls for the kingdom of heaven. This mother's task and we pay tribute today to the strongest of our race, the most capable, the most heaven-like, the highest and the best. May God bless the dear Christian mothers of our land. Tender hands will lay this body away to wait the resurrection, but the voice from the portals of the building not made with hands will call us ever to the higher and better life." **Editorial note - the spelling follows that in the newspaper article.

BURIAL: Iowa Historical Library, Des Moines, Iowa. POLK COUNTY, IOWA CEMETERIES WASHINGTON TWP., Geneal * F 627 .P7 C4 V.6, Peoria Cemetery, page 4. CONNER, Sarah Jane, born 12/31/1842, died 8/29/1916, sec. CS, tier 6, row 1.