Sarah Hall Dempsey (1822-1901)

DEMPSEY, HALL, COE, REAGAN, BAILEY

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 5/29/2005 at 10:30:41

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, September 26, 1901, page 12, column 1. "OBITUARY. The subject of this notice, Miss Sarah Hall, was born July 26, 1826, near Canton, Ohio. At the age of 17, she removed with her parents to Noble county, Indiana. She was united in marriage to Perry Dempsy** August 12, 1844, and moved to Washington twp., Polk Co., the summer of 1865, where she lived till removed by death September 17, 1901, aged 75 years, 1 month and 22 days. She was the mother of six children, all living except Mary Coe, who preceded her mother August 7, 1877. Those living are Mrs. Anna Reagan, Fredonia, Kansas; Mrs. Jane Bailey, Valeria, Iowa; Mr. Wm. H. Dempsey, Winona, Kansas; Lydia A. Coe, Ottumwa, Iowa; Eugene Dempsey, who lives in Washington township, Iowa, and the only child at her side when the message came. The writer has personally known Mother Dempsey for nearly forty years and can truly say none ever knew her but to love her. She was a devoted Christian, her life an open book read and known by all. Her counsels were sought by the inquiring ones who needed knowledge of the King's highway. She bore her sufferings with Christian patience; she sat on the margin just waiting for the boatman to say, "The Master has come, and calleth for thee." She talked of death as a change of homes, but all the days of her appointed time she waited till the change should come. She had gained the victory over death and the grave and the sable angel was a welcome visitor, as she was then released from the untold agony she had suffered by the internal eating of a fatal cancer. "Mother is dead!" is never said but once. Her children, though men and women, are motherless; it is mother's home no more. O, the speechless witnesses that tell in silent tones mother is gone! Her empty chair, her place at the table and the sanctuary. But her aged husband will find comfort in the thought that it will not be long till he will follow her and realize there is rest for the weary in the sweet bye and bye. The day of her funeral tae** weather was so inclement. There were none of her children present except Eugene, her youngest son, who lived near, and to him it is a sad blow. He was a great comfort to her, as he and his wife were always ready to run to mother's call. But her gentle voice will call them no more, therefore their burden will be the greater; but she is calling them yet with a perfect voice to come and make their abiding place with her forevermore where there is no sickness of death. By her own request her funeral was preached by the Rev. Beetley in the Peoria church. He spoke words of comfort to her friends and neighbors who came through a dripping rain to follow the remains of Sarah **Editorial note - should be spelled Dempsey.

BURIAL: Iowa Historical Library, Des Moines, Iowa, POLK COUNTY, IOWA CEMETERIES INC. WASHINGTON TWP., Peoria Cemetery, DEMPSEY, Perry, born 1822, died 1903, Sec. WS, Tier 6, Row 9, misc. inf. erected by their daughters. DEMSEY, Sarah, born 1826, died 1901, Sec. WS, Tier 6, Row 9, misc. inf. W/O PERRY, erected by daughters.