Sarah Matilda (Allen) Byers (1845-1921)

ALLEN, BYERS, MORTON, TUMMEL, BUCK, BACON, CORY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 11/8/2021 at 20:25:07

From Nevada Representative August 2, 1921 (page 2)

Obituary of Mrs. James M. Byers

Martha Matilda Allen [should be Sarah Matilda Allen] was born October 28, 1845, at Port Byron, Ill. and died at her home in Colo, Iowa, Wednesday, July 27, 1921, aged 75 years and 9 months. When 13 years of age she moved with her parents to Polk county, Iowa, where she grew to womanhood, and on February 26, 1865, was united in marriage to James M. Byers Six children were born to, a son, Charles Abraham, died in infancy. In 1880, Mr. and Mrs. Byers and children moved to Story county, which has been their home, with the exception of nine years, when they resided in State Center. Mrs. Byers was reared in a Christian home. Her mother, Hannah Morton-Allen, being a devout Christian of the Quaker faith. At an early age she accepted Christ as her personal savior and became a member of the United Brethren church. While in State Center she transferred her membership to the Methodist Episcopal church. While for several years she has been physically unable to take an active part in the church work her faith was strong to the last. Hers was a quiet retiring disposition, but her Christianity was daily demonstrated in her home and her influence was felt by the neighbors as well as by the members of her family. She bore her sufferings with patience and fortitude. Her death was due to creeping paralysis. She leaves to mourn her loss, her husband and five children: John S. Byers of Colo, Mrs. Mary G. Tummel of State Center, Mrs. Guy Buck of Union, George Byers of Elkhart, and Mrs. Jessamine Bacon of Hazelton, and seventeen grandchildren and three great grandchildren, one brother, William Allen, of Indianola, Nebr., an one sister, Mrs. Susan Cory of Cory Grove, besides many other relatives and a host of friends. Funeral services were held in the Methodist Episcopal church at two o'clock Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. A. B. Adams. Interment was made in the Colo cemetery. All of the children and most of the grandchildren were present. Other relatives present from a distance were: Mrs. Susan Cory, the sister, of Cory Grove, Mrs. Josephine Allen, a sister-in-law, and family of Maxwell, S. J. Byers, a brother-in-law, and wife and son, Bert Byers, and family, and daughter, Mrs. John Keltenheiser and family of Elkhart; Verl Veneman and son, Vern Veneman and wife, and Miss Eva Blyler of Des Moines and Bert Cory of Marshalltown, all of whom are cousins. Sincere sympathy is extended to the sorrowing ones.