Laura (Densmore) Whitaker (1850-1939)

WHITAKER, DENSMORE, FINDLEY, FAIR, ROBISON, BELCHER, PRIME, MILLER, WOOD, SMITH, MOFFIT

Posted By: Sandra Breitkreutz (email)
Date: 4/30/2003 at 08:40:36

FUNERAL SERVICES AT MAXWELL TODAY FOR MRS. WHITAKER
(From the "Nevada (Iowa) Evening Journal," Oct. 21, 1939)

Funeral rites were held at the Maxwell Methodist church this afternoon for Mrs. Laura Whitaker, 90, pioneer Indian Creek woman, who died at her home in Maxwell Wednesday(1). Interment was in the family lot in the Iowa Center cemetery following the funeral service.

The services which were in charge of Rev. P.R. Epley of the Elwell and Loring Evangelical churches and Rev. Judson Perkins of the Maxwell Methodist church, were attended by a large group of relatives and longtime neighbors and friends.

Mrs. Whitaker was a real pioneer woman who had been active in school and church work, as well as being an ideal homemaker.

The following sketch of the life of the deceased was read during the funeral service:

Mrs. Laura Whitaker, daughter of Alexander Findley and Caroline D. Densmore, was born in Hardin county, Ohio, on January 5, 1850 and died at her home in Maxwell on October 18, 1939, aged 89 years, 9 months and 13 days.

In November, 1853 she came, with her parents, to Iowa and settled on a farm near Nevada. She was educated in the Nevada township schools. She was one of the early teachers in Story county. Her first school was the Bailey school, now known as the charter Oak school. She taught in the Wireman, Whitaker, Wilderness Bryant and Robison schools. She also taught one term in Ohio.

She was converted and united with the Evangelical church when she was 18 years old. Except for a few years of fellowship with the Brethren church she remained a member of the Evangelical church, having reunited with that church in 191. She lived a radiant Christian life. Just a few days before her death she talked of going Home as confidently and naturally as we would talk of going to Des Moines. Such was her faith. She was held in high esteem by all who knew her.

On March 5, 1874 she was married to Samuel Whitaker at Ames. To this union one daughter was born, who still survives. After their marriage they lived on his farm near Iowa Center where they resided until March 5, 1901, when they moved to Maxwell. Mr. Whitaker died on October 11, 1915. She has continued to make her home in Maxwell. Two brothers died previously, one in infancy and one 6 years ago.

Surviving are her daughter Mrs. Carrie Fair (2) and three grandchildren, Veta and Donald Fair, all of Maxwell and Ross L. Fair of Des Moines; three great-grandchildren, Wendell Fair of Chicago, Ill., Irwin D. Fair and Carolyn Martha Fair of Des Moines.

Also one step-son, Grant Whitaker of near Nevada; three step-daughters Mrs. Mattie K. Robison(3) of Maxwell, Mrs. Ida M. Belcher(4) of Nevada, and Mrs. Emana Prime (5) of Lincoln, Neb.; 17 stepgrandchildren, 29 step-great-grandchildren, and 6 step-great-great-grandchildren. Many other relatives and a host of friends mourn her death.

Laura Whitaker was "one of the active spirits in the annual celebration of the Wilderness school anniversary observance of the cyclone which swept that district in 1881(6).

FOOTNOTES from Sandra Breitkreutz:
1. Death occurred at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, 1939, and cause of death was a heart attack suffered three weeks earlier, according to a separate newspaper obituary
2. Caroline/Carrie (Whitaker) Fair was the wife of I.D. "Lou" Fair. Carrie Fair made her home with her mother Laura (Densmore) Whitaker for "many years" according to a separate newspaper obituary.
3. Mattie (Whitaker) Robison was the wife of E.R. "Buzz" Robison
4. Ida May (Whitaker) Robison was the wife of S.A. "Sam" Belcher
5. Name misspelled. It should be EMMA Prime. Emma (Miller Wood) Smith Moffit Prime was the daughter of Sam Whitaker’s first wife Harriet (Miller) Whitaker and the step-daughter of Sam Whitaker.
6.) Wilderness school anniversary observance information from a separate newspaper obituary.