Mary Alice Carr Salmon (1853-1942)

SALMON, CARR, WALKER, ROCHESTER, FLORA, CONNER, GIBSON, AKINS

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 6/19/2005 at 08:25:21

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, April 2, 1942, page 1, column 2. "PIONEER WOMAN LAID TO REST. - Funeral services for Mrs. Mary A. Salmon were held at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, March 25th, at the Maxwell Church of Christ. A resident of Maxwell for 39 years, Mrs. Salmon died Monday evening, March 23rd, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. A. Gibson. The services were in charge of her pastor, the Reverend H. G. Darling, and he used as his text Matt. 16:16 and 25 and the theme of his sermon was "Service," the keynote of the life of Mrs. Salmon. The music was furnished by a mixed quartet, composed of Mrs. J. B. Scott, Mrs. H. G. Darling, C. C. Severson and O. O. Holtby, accompanied at the piano by Mrs. Arthur Porter. The selections included "Some Day We'll Understand," "Safe in the Arms of Jesus" and "Ivory Palaces." The pall bearers were elders and deacons of the church, including J. D. Miller, E. R. Bell, C. L. Kirk, R. L. Thompson, Dorus Myers and F. Nicodemus. Mrs. O. O. Holtby and Mrs. Venice Moore assisted with the flowers. Interment was in the Maxwell cemetery by the side of her husband. "Early or late, come when it will, At midnight or noon; Promise of good, or threat of ill, Death always domes too soon." Mary Alice Salmon was born Nov. 22, 1853, the daughter of Reverend James and Lucinda Carr, at New Paris, Indiana, and death come Monday evening, Mar. 23, 1942, at the advanced age of 88 years, 4 months and one day. To her the scene of life was much nearer midnight than at noon and yet it rings, "Death always comes too soon." For more than four score and eight years she went about doing good but at last tired mortality must rest and after a long, busy and useful life she died as she had lived - trusted and loved. She reared her own monument while she lived in the hearts of all who knew her. Her life was completed, if work all done and well done constitutes completion. Her Christian life was beautiful from its beginning to its close and through all sorrows that she met in the way, her faith in God never wavered. She had a great capacity for friendship and numbered her friends by her acquaintance. She will be missed as a cheerful, loving, consecrated mother and friend. None ever entered her home without a warm welcome, nor left without feeling the warmth of a genuine hospitality and old age did not diminish her unselfish solicitude for her friends and loved ones. Mrs. Salmon became a Christian early in life, uniting with the Church of the Brethren south of Maxwell and soon after moving to Maxwell she became a member of the local Church of Christ. She loved the church and was a zealous attendant at all services as long as her health and strength would permit. Mrs. Salmon, a pioneer of Iowa, came to this state with her parents in a covered wagon in 1854 at the age of six months. Locating in Jasper county, where she continued her residence until the year 1903, she moved with her family to Maxwell from the farm homestead, west of Mingo. Mrs. Salmon experienced many of the hardships and trials of the early pioneer and recalled when Indians occasionally stopped at her parents home to beg for food. Her father, the Reverend J. B. Carr, was a pioneer missionary minister and organized and opened new territory from Green Castle to the Iowa river. He also started church groups in Boone and Story counties. She was married Feb. 14, 1874, at Greencastle to Henry F. Salmon, who preceded her in death thirteen years ago. To this union were born eight children, six of whom survive: Mrs. John Walker, of Los Angeles, Calif.; William J., of Des Moines; Milo F. Rochester, Wash.; Mrs. J. H. Flora, Mrs. T. L. Conner and Mrs. W. A. Gibson, of Maxwell. She is also survived by 29 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren; one brother, William H. Carr, of Mitchellville, Iowa, and one sister, Mrs. Martha Akins, of Hinckley, Minn. "Beautiful toiler, thy work is done, Beautiful soul, into glory gone."

BURIAL: Iowa Historical Library, Des Moines, Iowa. STORY COUNTY, IOWA GRAVE MARKER INSCRIPTIONS Geneal. * F 627. S8 V. 1-6, pages 1-368, V. 7-11 pages 369-792, V. II pages 793-1128; Indian Creek Township, Inc. City of Maxwell, Maxwell Municipal Cemetery, page 456. SEC 1, ROW 6, LOT 2, mother (SALMON); LOT 3, SALMON Henry F. 1847 - 1929 Co A. 2nd O. Cav. (CW); Mary A his wife 1853 - 1942; LOT 4, father (SALMON) (CW).