Elizabeth Kean

KEAN, WILLIAMSON, CASSIDAY, BARBER, RAY, BOYER

Posted By: Jean Wenke, volunteer
Date: 3/25/2009 at 15:16:36

Elizabeth Williamson, daughter of Francis and Eva Williamson, was born in Scioto county, Ohio, December 26, 1822. When she was eight years of age her father's family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where they resided until she was 17 years old. In the fall of 1838 they came to Iowa and settled on a farm three miles east of Bonaparte.

April 8, 1841 she was united in marriage with Joseph A. Kean, at the home of her sister, Mrs. William Cassiday in Bonaparte, Esqu. R. W. Willoughby solemnizing the marriage. Mrs. Kean was the first bride married in the town of Bonaparte.

To this union seven children were born, three sons and four daughters. One daughter and three sons died in infancy, vis. Mary, Lewis, Charles, and Arthur. Three daughters grew to womanhood, vis. Nellie M., Emma, and Carrie. Carried was married to G. W. Barber Nov. 28, 1871 and died June 25, 1906, leaving one son, Harrie J. Barber. Nellie and Emma survive her. Her husband, J. A. Kean, died August 5, 1904.

Mrs. Kean was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, having united with it under the pastorate of Rev. J. A. Coleman sixty-three years ago. Through all these years she has lived a consistent Christian life, enjoying to the last day of her life the assurance that all is well, and died in the triumphs of a Christian faith.

She leaves to mourn her, two daughters, Nellie M. and Emma of Bonaparte; one grandson, Harrie J. Barber of Sioux City, Iowa; two sisters, Mrs. Ray of Boyd, Oklahoma, and Mrs. Louis A. Boyer of Goshen, Mo.; and one brother, Aaron Williamson of Placerville, California.

She died at her home in Bonaparte, Iowa, Monday, January 7, 1907, aged 84 years and eleven days.

Funeral services were held at the home Thursday afternoon, Rev. Jones officiating, in the presence of a large number of sympathizing friends and relatives. The remains were laid to rest in the Bonaparte cemetery.

From Dorothy Watson's scrapbook, Bonaparte, Iowa Library