Melissa Belle (Cowan) Hendricks (1871-1938)

COWAN, HENDRICKS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 9/7/2024 at 14:02:47

From Story City Herald June 30, 1938 (page 6)

MRS. H. W. HENDRICKS

Melissa Belle Cowan was born January 6, 1871, in Fithian, Ill., and died in the Zenorsville Evangelical parsonage, west of Gilbert, Iowa, June 9, 1938.

She was married to H. W. Hendricks, February 22, 1890. They came to Iowa the following year and located on a farm near Anita.

She gave her heart to Christ in 1896 and united with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ and two years later affiliated with the Evangelical Church, where she found a most blessed and fruitful sphere of service.

In 1903 her husband entered the Christian ministry of this denomination and together they labored humbly and with great blessing on the following fields: Correctionville, two pastorates at Winterset, Fairview, Ringgold, Anita, Cairo and Zenorsville.

She carried herself with fine Christian grace and with a kindliness of spirit that won many friends for herself and for her Lord. To know her was to love and respect her. As a Sunday school teacher and Christian worker and pastor's wife she served with real distinction in the circles in which she moved. At various points she served as president of the local Woman's Missionary Societies and Ladies Aid groups.

God graciously blessed this happy marriage with four children, two of whom preceded the mother in death. She is survived by her husband, one son and one daughter, 12 grandchildren and one sister.

Funeral services were conducted in the Zenorsville Evangelical church Sunday afternoon, June 12. There were 15 ministers present, several of whom assisted the undersigned in the services. --J.A.H.