Florence Shipley Sturdivant 1863-1905

SHIPLEY, STURDIVANT, MARRIOTT

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 2/9/2012 at 05:57:34

FLORENCE STURDIVANT

OBITUARY SKETCH.

Florence Shipley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jas. G Shipley, was born near Bonaparte, Iowa, January 22, 1863, and died at her home in the same town Friday, July 14, 1905, aged forty-two years, five months, and eleven days.

Her death was caused by heart failure while under the influence of an anaesthetic [sic] , preparatory to under going an operation.

In the family there were eight children of whom but three survive their sister, viz. Agnes E. Marriott and James Shipley of Silver City, New Mexico and Edgar of Texas.

Feb. 21, 1883, she was married to Albert N. Sturdivant of Bonaparte and to this union five children were born, of whom but one, Elizabeth aged twelve, is living and now an orphan, the husband and father having passed away Jan. 2, 1900.

Funeral services were held at the Presbyterian church Tuesday afternoon, July 18, the pastor, Rev. Clark, officiating. The remains were interred in the White cemetery.

Although the operation was not considered dangerous, Mrs. Sturdivant had sent her daughter to Douds to visit the Cheney family, and had not told her father and mother that anything of that nature was to be done.

Dr. Maxwell of Keokuk was present to assist Dr. Cresap of Bonaparte. The actual operation was not yet begun, the heart ceasing to beat while the anaesthetic [sic] was being administered.

A startilng [sic] group of fatalities seems to befall this family. The father died while seated in a barber chair; only a short time afterward the son, Kearn, was drowned wile skating on Honey creek; and now the mother is suddenly taken. Only one, little Beth, remains.

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Source: Entler Scrapbook Collection, vol 3, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA Historical Library, Iowa City, IA