Mary Frances (Callison) Golden (1830-1909)

CALLISON, GOLDEN, BINGHAM, BOND, HORTON, FULTZ, KIRKENDALL, FINLEY, CUMMINGS, MOORE, TAYLOR

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 12/7/2016 at 23:11:09

From Nevada Representative October 26, 1909 (front page and continued to page 8)

OBITUARY

DEATH OF MRS. GOLDEN

Mr. Mary Golden, widow of the late Williams Golden, died Wednesday, October 20, at the home in Colo of her daughter, Mrs. Home Cummings, and her funeral was conducted from the same place Saturday afternoon by Rev. Hilsley of the Cumberland Presbyterian church of Maxwell. The interment was beside her husband in the cemetery at Iowa Center. Thus closes the chapter for a pioneer couple who were among the sturdiest in Story county. Mr. and Mrs. Golden came here in comparatively early life, reared here a large and most worthy family, worked and prospered and bore their part in what was for the welfare of their community. Their active years were spent in the conscientious meeting of the responsibilities of life, and their declining years were marked by the quiet enjoyment of the fruits of their endeavors. Their story had in it no sensational features; but the conclusion is that they did well and were happy. Such is the best of all conclusions, and its "finis" suggests to friends and descendants pride and not sorrow.

Mary F. (Callison) Golden was born in Bath county, Virginia, March 1st, 1830. Died in Colo, Iowa, October 20th, 1909, aged 79 years, 7 months and 19 days.

When she was three years old her parents moved from Virginia to Vermillion county, Illinois, where he grew to womanhood and was married to William Golden March 30th, 1850. In 1860 they moved from Georgetown, Vermillion county, Illinois to Iowa, settling on a farm a few miles west of Des Moines where they remained four years.

In 1864 the father came to Story county in search of a new location and purchased the northeast held section in Union township which was prairie land. His mind was agitated to fear of being called to the army so he made every effort to get the family located. He traded the horse he was riding for a forty acre farm know as the "Minton Farm" where they resided one year when he traded this property for forty acres joining the land he previously had purchased. Here they remained four years when he purchased and moved on the Maxwell farm one-half mile east which became the homestead and on which they continued to reside until the father died there December 6, 1904. It was on this homestead that Mr. and Mrs. Golden had the great pleasure of celebrating their golden wedding and here Mrs. Golden continued to reside for about a year and a half after his death. Then the old home was broken up and she had since spent her time in turn with her children, her last months and days being with her daughter, Mrs. Cummings at Colo.

About twelve years ago Mrs. Golden became lame and remained a semi-invalid and in the effort to walk, she suffered intensely at times yet did not complain of her condition. She was a deeply religious woman and when about sixteen years old she was converted and joined the Cumberland Presbyterian church. During prevailing circumstances of conditions she often remarked, "It is all for the best. It will all some out right." In her nature she was quiet and reserved. She was a good mother, kind and gentle in the administration of discipline. A good neighbor, loved and respected by all, she was always mindful of the needs of others to the neglect of her own, and she could not bear to have man or animal suffer if she would relieve their pain. She had high ideals of truthfulness and had a great dislike for any unfair dealing. In these and many other things she was model woman.

She leaves two sisters and three brothers: Mrs. Agnes Bingham of Manning, Iowa, Mrs. Minda Bond of Abingdon, Ill., Siras G. Callison of Cummings, Ia., Woods Callison and Lashore Callison of Winterset, Ia. Also eight children, two having preceded her to the Spirit world. The departed are Mrs. Matilda Horton who died at Santa Ana, Cal., and Mrs. Estaline Fultz who died at Nevada, Ia. The living are Fraser F. Golden of Crawford, Nebraska; Mrs. Eliza Kirkendall, Mrs. Elsie Finley and J. H. Golden of Nevada; Emma Cummings of Colo; Rev. A. L. Golden of Boone; Isaac C. Golden and Laura Moore of Ayreshire, Ia. She was also a first cousin of Bishop William Taylor, the illustrious missionary.