Sarah Van Cleave Johnson 1846 - 1933

VAN CLEAVE, JOHNSON, SIMMONS, HUTCHINSON, STARRETT

Posted By: Rich Lowe (email)
Date: 9/27/2001 at 13:19:11

Aged and Honored Citizen Was Laid to Rest Saturday Afternoon
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Sarah Catherine Van Cleave, the daughter of John and Sarah Van Cleave was born in Orange county, Ind., April 15, 1846, and died at her home in Bonaparte Jan. 5, 1933, aged 87 years, 8 months and 21 days.

When a small child she moved with parents to northern Indiana, residing in Pulaski county, near Winnemac. She acquired a good education for that day and began teaching in the Indiana schools in 1865.

In 1866 the family moved to Iowa, locating near Bonaparte. Here she continued her career as a teacher and many older people of this vicinity still remember the instruction of Kate Van Cleave.

She was married to Joseph A. Johnson May 19, 1871, and began housekeeping on the farm four miles southwest of Bonaparte, which place remained her home for 45 years.

Five children were born to this union. The husband and father died on Nov. 14, 1886, leaving this young family, and Mrs. Johnson bravely carried on the duties of both parents in a noble manner.

In the spring of 1916 Mrs. Johnson moved to Bonaparte where she has since lived, making her home with her son, Everett, until his death June 4, 1930.

The oldest son, Hugh, also preceded his mother in death. The children who remain are Mrs. Della Simmons, Leslie Johnson and Alice Johnson, all of whom were with her near the end.

Beside the children she leaves seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and two sisters to mourn their loss. The sisters are Mrs. Cynthia Hutchinson of Carlisle, Iowa, who is here today, and Mrs. Melissa Hutchinson [sic] [name was Starrett] of Washington, D.C., who could not be present.

During her later years Mrs. Johnson was handicapped by deafness which cut her off from many activities she might have enjoyed, but she maintained an active interest in life until the last. She was always happy to be at home, being a great home lover.

He health was excellent throughout her life, never having a serious illness until the last. On Dec. 13, 1932, she fell but the injuries did not seem serious; but from that day she never regained strength and on the morning of Jan. 5, her magnificent life was finished as quietly and peacefully as it had been lived. Truly hers was the perfect ending of a well spent life.

Funeral services were held at the late home on Saturday afternoon, at two o'clock, Rev. D. D. Flanagan officiating. Interment in Bonaparte cemetery.

[I would like to hear from anyone with connection to this family. - Rich]