Elizabeth Ann Tomlinson Gardner (1850-1924)

GARDNER, TOMLINSON, MAXWELL, SWALWELL

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 6/5/2005 at 09:43:03

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, January 1, 1925, page 4. "PIONEER WOMAN OF PEORIA CALLED BY DEATH - Mrs. William Gardner, aged seventy-four years, passed away about nine o'clock Tuesday morning at her home near Peoria, following a three weeks' illness of pneumonia. Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the M. P. church at Peoria, with Elder E. D. Fiscel, of Yale, officiating. Mrs. Gardner is survived by her aged husband and five children, Everett, John and Mrs. C. F. Maxwell, of Maxwell; Stephen, of Cogswell, N. D., and Mrs. Chas. Swalwell, of Collins."

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, January 8, 1925, page 1. "MRS. WILLIAM S. GARDNER - Elizabeth Ann Tomlinson was born August 10, 1850, in Marion county, Indiana, where she spent her early life, moving to Iowa in November 1868, settling in Jasper county. She was united in marriage to William S. Gardner May 28, 1874, to which union eight children were born, three having preceded her in death. The five remaining are: Stephen H. and John W., of Coggswell, N. D.; Everett S. and Mrs. Chas. Maxwell, of Maxwell, and Mrs. Chas. Swalwell, of Collins, all being with her in her last sickness, except Stephen, who arrived soon after her death. She passed from this life at her home, three miles southeast of Maxwell, December 30, 1924, at the age of seventy-four years, four months and twenty days. She leaves her husband and one brother, Geo. A. Tomlinson, the above mentioned children, twenty-two grandchildren and two great grandchildren, beside other relatives and a large circle of friends. In early life she embraced the Christian faith and united with the Baptist church, with which she continued to affiliate until her death. As a Christian she was steadfast in her faith, a true wife and a loving mother and a good neighbor, and we mourn her not as those that have no hope but realize that our loss is her gain. The funeral was held Thursday afternoon, January 1st at the Peoria M. P. church, conducted by elder E. D. Fiscel, of Yale, assisted by Rev. C. R. Green. She was laid to rest in the Peoria cemetery by the side of the loved ones gone before. "At Peace" My beautiful dead who had known the strife, The pain and sorrow that we call life; She had never faltered beneath her cross Nor murmured when loss followed swift on loss. And the smile that sweetened her lips away. Lay light on her blessed mouth that day. I smoothed form her hair a silver thread And I wept, but I could not think her dead. I felt with a wonder too deep for speech, She could tell what only the angels teach And over her mouth I leaned my ear, Lest there be something I could not near. Then out from the silence between us stole a message that reaches my inmost soul, "Why weep you today who have wept before That the road be rough I must journey o'er? Why mourn that my lips can answer not, When anguish and sorrow are both forgot? Behold, all my life I have longed for rest, Yea even when I held you on my breast. And now that I lie in breathless sleep Instead of rejoicing you sigh and weep. My dearest I know that you would not break If you could, my slumber and have me wake. For though life was full of things that bless I have never till now known happiness." Then I dried my tears and with lifted head I left my mother, my beautiful dead. - Author Unknown. CARD OF THANKS - We wish to thank our friends and neighbors for the help and kindly sympathy extended us during the sickness and death of our beloved wife and mother and also for the beautiful flowers. Wm. Gardner and Children."

BURIAL: Iowa Historical Library, Des Moines, Iowa. POLK COUNTY, IOWA CEMETERIES WASHINGTON TWP., #0178, Geneal * F 627 .P7 C4 V.6, Peoria Cemetery, page 485. SEC – 2, ROW – 8, LOTS 20 – 21. LOT 20: William S. GARDNER Sept 18 1851 – Dec 26 1940, Elizabeth GARDNER Aug 10 1850 – Dec 29 1924; LOT 21: GARDNER Lillie A. Feb 25 1875 – Aug 21 1875, James C. Feb 18 1885 – April 10 1888, Albert : Jan 20 1891 – Aug 12 1891.