Cerilla "Rilla" Jane Thatcher (1858-1939)

TOMLINSON, THATCHER, PRING, SHAFFER

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 6/24/2005 at 08:00:46

MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, November 2, 1939, page 1. "MRS. HENRY TOMLINSON PASSES AWAY - Mrs. Henry Tomlinson, 81, passed away at her home early Monday morning, having been ailing for quite some time. Mrs. Tomlinson was a pioneer resident of this community, having come to Iowa with her parents from Valparaiso, Indiana, when quite young and settled in the Cory Grove neighborhood. In December had she lived, they would have been married sixty years. She is survived by her husband, three sons, George G., of Boone; Harve H. and Alonzo, of Maxwell; one daughter, Mrs. Ethel Pring; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren and a brother, J. F. Thatcher, and a sister, Mrs. Minnie Shaffer, both of Des Moines. Services were held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Church of Christ, with Rev. C. A. Neel in charge. Interment in the Peoria Cemetery."

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, November 2, 1939, page 1. "OBITUARY - Rilla Jane Thatcher, oldest daughter of Joel and Melissa Thatcher, was born near Valparaiso, Indiana, May 20, 1858, and passed away at her home in Maxwell, Oct. 29, 1939, at the age of 81 years, 5 months and 9 days. In the year of 1867 she came with her parents to Iowa and settled at Petersburg, now known as Cory Grove. She grew to womanhood here, later moving to the Peoria community. On Dec. 31, 1879, she was united in marriage with Henry Tomlinson. To this union 4 children were born: George J. of Bondurant; Harvey E., Ethel M. Pring and Alonzo S., all of Maxwell. At the early age of 13 years, she pledged her faith to Christ and was baptized through a hole cut in the ice on Skunk River; always holding her faith in the Christian belief. Upon moving to Maxwell in 1930, she placed her membership in the local Christian Church, to which she has always been faithful. She is survived by her loving companion or nearly sixty years together, with all of their children, 5 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren; also 1 brother J. F. Thatcher, and 1 sister, Minnie Shaffer, of Des Moines: besides a host of other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by four sisters, one brother and one grandchild. Services were held Wednesday afternoon, at two o'clock at the Church of Christ, with the Rev. C. R. Neel in charge. Mrs. Ray Gooden sang two solos, "Shadows" and "Perfect Day." The pallbearers were George, Harve and Alonzo Tomlinson, Dan Pring, Glen Morrison and Donald Tomlinson. The flower girls were Mrs. Kenneth Tomlinson and Mrs. Donald Tomlinson. Interment in the Peoria Cemetery. Out-of-town relatives: Mr. and Mrs. G. G. Cook, Mr. J. F. Thatcher, Minnie Shaffer, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Carlson, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Coakley, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Coakley, Mrs. Jack Munt, Mrs. Edna Mathews, of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Milo Thatcher, Mr. and Mrs. Tinley Hilsabeck, Marshalltown; Sam Backous, Collins; Mr. Guy Hutchins, Mrs. Frank Maxwell, Elkhart. CARD OF THANKS - To all the friends who sympathy and services were so kindly tendered in our time of bereavement, we desire to extend our sincere thanks. Henry Tomlinson, Mr. and Mrs. George Tomlinson, Mr. and Mrs. Harve Tomlinson, Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Tomlinson, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Pring.

BURIAL: Iowa Historical Library, Des Moines, Iowa, POLK COUNTY, IOWA, CEMETERIES, WASHINGTON TWP., general *F 627.P7C4V6, Peoria Cemetery, page 18. TOMLINSON, Rilla Jane, born 1858, died 1939, sec. ES, tier 11, row 1.