Nancy Crain Johnson Rabb 1799-1881

RABB, WHITLEY, CRAIN, JOHNSON, CHRISTY, WILLITS, GEORGE

Posted By: Karen Bergquist Uhr (email)
Date: 3/25/2003 at 08:59:08

Died

At the residence of her son-in-law, Joseph W. Whiteley, Wednesday evening, Nov. 9 of dropsy of the heart, Mrs. Nancy Rabb, in the 83rd. year of her age.

Deceased was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1799. Her maiden name was Nancy Crain. When but a child she removed with her parents to Warren County, Ohio, during the early settlement of that state and while the Indians were still in that section. At the age of 19 she was married to Wm. Johnson. They remained in Ohio about ten years and then moved to Fountain county, Indiana, where they remained seven years. They then decided to try their fortunes in the then far west and in the spring of 1837 moved to Van Buren county, Iowa. Here Mr. Johnson died Sept. 23, 1845, leaving his widow with ten children, five boys and five girls, to make her way in a new county.

In the spring of 1849 she married Jos. Rabb, who died in June, 1866.

Nine of her ten children survive her, vis: W. J. Johnson, T. B. Johnson, Mrs. Thos. Christy and Mrs. J. W. Whiteley of this place, Jos. A Johnson of Farmington, J. C. Johnson of Missouri and O.H.P. Johnson, Mrs. Willits and Mrs. George now residing in California.

Mrs. Rabb was one of the earliest settlers of Van Buren county and a woman of a great deal of energy. In her death another of the links binding the original settlers and pioneers together is broken.

The funeral will take place to-morrow (Friday) afternoon at 2 o'clock.

Source: Newspaper unknown Meek Scrapbook