Clarissa/Clara Ellen (Wells) Kenworthy (1851-1909)

WELLS, KENWORTHY, SMITH, ALLEN, ROBERTSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/30/2017 at 09:12:35

From Nevada Representative May 11, 1909 (page 3)

OBITUARY

DEATH OF MRS. KENWORTHY

Mrs. Clara Ellen Kenworthy of Rock Island, daughter of Mrs. Hannah Wells of Nevada and sister of Mrs. Dr. Smith and Mrs. Lou Allen died May 3d at her home in Rock Island, and her funeral was attended on Wednesday the 5th, her mother and sisters going on from Nevada for the occasion. She had been in delicate health for a long time, but had retained cheerfulness and ability to go about, and had occasionally made visits to Nevada. A few weeks ago she moved into a beautiful new house such as would fill the ideal of almost any woman; but toward morning a a week ago when the whole household were asleep, her spirit passed to the "house not made with hands." Rock Island paper says:

"She was born at Cleveland's Ferry on the Rock river, about three miles above Barstow, Ill., Sept. 7, 1851. She was a daughter of the late Rinnah Wells, who was one of the most respected pioneer settlers of this county, and most honored citizen. At the age of fourteen years, she removed with other family members of the Wells family to Andalusia, where her father purchased 220 acres of the rough land, for farming purposes, and remained there for twelve years, after which he retired from active farm life, and conducted a hardware store in Andalusia.

"She was united in marriage to Hon. John T. Kenworthy at Andalusia, May 19, 1870, nd moved to Rock Island in 1873, where they have resided ever since. She was a member of the Rock Island Old Settlers' association. Surviving besides her bereaved husband are the following children: Charlotte F., and Clara at home, and one son, Hon. Samuel R. Kenworthy of this city. Her mother, Mrs Hannah Wells, and two sister, Mrs. Amanda Smith and Mrs. Lucy Allen, all of Nevada, Iowa, and Mrs. Mary Robertson of this city also survive. Mrs. Kenworthy inherited those traits of character which marked the lives of parents--sterling, true, honest, they felt that all that was worth having was worth making sacrifices to attain. Her life was a life of devotion to family and to those who formed the circle of her home. Nothing could divert her from the path of duty, as she saw it. Here was a womanhood which makes womanhood the synonym of virtue, and motherhood the sacred halo of eternal love and reverence. The circle of her friends and home have received an irreparable loss and her husband and family have the sympathy of the entire community."