Adelia (Potter) Spring (1843-1922)

POTTER, SPRING

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/17/2024 at 16:26:22

From Story City Herald September 28, 1922 (page 3)

MRS. A. J. SPRING

Adelia Potter Spring, daughter of David and Mary Potter, was born at Clarendon, Vermont, Aug. 29th, 1843. She was educated in the public schools, afterwards attended four years at Castleton Seminary. After teaching school three years she was married to Andrew J. Spring in 1865. They went to Saratoga Springs, N. Y., where they lived ten years. They came to Iowa in 1875, settling on a farm three and one half miles south of Story City, living there until spring of 1897, when they moved to Gilbert. Then in 1909 they moved to Scranton, Greene county, where she made her home until about seven months abo when she went to Udell to make her home with her only son.

There were three children in this home, Amos, died in infancy, Amos Jay of Udell, Iowa, and Will Andrew, who died Feb. 13, 1922, at Manitou Springs, Colorado. Her husband died six years ago in 1916.

Early in life she was received into the M. E. church but transferred her membership a number of times due to changes in residence. She belonged to the Foreign Missionary Society and for a good many years was an active participant in all that belonged to the church. About three weeks ago her health began to fail. Thursday, Sept. 15, she went to St. Joseph's hospital at Centerville, where she fell asleep quietly Monday, Sept. 18, 1922.

She leaves to mourn one son, two grandsons, and one great grandson; also one brother and sister in Fair Haven, Vermont.

Her age was 79 years and 19 days.

Funeral services were conducted in the Grace church, Story City, on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 20. A large number of her old time neighbors and friends were present to pay their last respects. The pastor, Rev. Smith, preached from the 11th chapter of Hebrews and vocal duets were rendered by Mrs. Stanton James and Mrs. Oran O'Keefe. As a prelude to his sermon he read the following beautiful poem, which had been composed by the deceased:

Sundown

When my sun of life is low,
When the dewey shadows creep,
Say for me before I go
Now I lay me down to sleep.

I am at the journeys end,
I have sown and I must reap
There are no more ways to mend
Now I lay me down to sleep.

Nothing more to doubt or dare,
Nothing more to give or keep
Say for me the children's prayer
Now I lay me down to sleep.

Who has learned along the way,
Primrose path or stony steep,
More of wisdom than to say
Now I lay me down to sleep.

What have you more wise to tell
When the shadows round me creep
All is over, all is well
Now I lay me down to sleep.