Elizabeth Oxley Backus (1835-1908)

BACKOUS, OXLEY, DUESBURY, CHEVILL, LUNN, TOMLINSON

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 5/19/2005 at 22:46:08

MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, April 30, 1908 "OBITUARY Mrs. Elizabeth Backous: Elizabeth Oxley Backous was born in Carleton, Yorkshire, England, February, 1835, and died at her home near Maxwell, April 25, 1908. Aged seventy-three years and two months. She was married to George Backous December 3, 1857. To this union ten children were born - five sons and five daughters, eight of whom survive her; her husband and two daughters having preceded her to the spirit world. The surviving children are Wm. H. Backous and Mrs. Thos. Duesbury, of Collins; John Backous, of Cambridge; Geo. Backous, who lived with her at the old home; Walter Backous and Mrs. Geo. Chevill, of Maxwell, and Mrs. Geo. Lunn, of Selby, England. She also leaves two brothers, Thos. and Wm. Oxley, and a sister, Mrs. Ann Tomlinson, of Maxwell. During her last moments there were present at the bedside her two daughters, Mrs. Geo. Chevill and Mrs. Thos. Duesbury, and her brother, Wm. Oxley. She came to America with her husband and family in the year 1885 and resided in this community until her death. She was a quiet home-loving mother, always glad to have the children come home to visit with her and happy in doing for them. She was a firm believer in her Lord, ready to go without fear when the summons came. She made the remark just before she expired that she wanted to go home to heaven and not live to suffer longer. Mother Backous has been a great sufferer for some time, but bore it patiently. Her children were devoted to her and did all that loving hands could for her recovery. Mother is gone, none can fill her place, but her children have the blessed assurance that she is with Him who said "Come unto me and I will give you rest." Mother Backous leaves a host of relatives and friends in whose memory she shall ever live. The nephews acted as pallbearers: Sam, Henry and Mede Tomlinson, John, Robert and Thomas Oxley. The funeral was conducted by Rev. T. F. Martin on Monday, April 26th, at 2 o'clock from the Peoria church, assisted by the Maxwell choir who rendered very beautiful and comforting hymns after which the remains were laid to rest in the Peoria cemetery to await the final call." CARD OF THANKS: We desire to thank our friends for their kind assistance during the recent sickness and death of our beloved mother, Mrs. Backous. We also wish to extend our thanks to the choir of Maxwell who so kindly assisted at the funeral. The Children.

BURIAL: POLK COUNTY, IOWA CEMETERIES OF WASHINGTON TWP, # 0178, Geneal * F 627.P7 C4 V.6, Peoria Cemetery, page 2. BACKOUS, George, born 2/7/1835, died 3/17/1904, sec. CS, tier 4, row 6, BACKOUS, Elizabeth, born 2/18/1835, died 4/25/1908, sec. CS, tier 4, row 6, misc. inf. W/O GEORGE.