PRALL, Gretchen Clara: 1889-1909

DUCKWORTH, PRALL, HARTSON

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 8/30/2013 at 05:04:02

MRS. EARL PRALL.
**Handwritten: 1909

Gretchen Clara Duckworth was born in Keosauqua, Iowa, Nov. 7, 1889, and died in Ontario, California, July 27, 1909, aged 19 years, 8 months and 20 days. Dr. Duckworth, her father, died when she was two years old. Mrs. Mary Duckworth, her mother, died, after a lingering illness, in October, 1906. Gretchen united with the Congregational church when in her 15th year. She had been trained in its Sunday school. She graduated from the Keosauqua high school in 1907, one of a class of seven girls. Her death is the second of this little group, Amy Watkins, a classmate, having passed to the other world last fall. Gretchen was married June 10, 1908, to Frank Earl Prall, who survives. They began housekeeping in her own home. Previous to her marriage and following her graduation, she taught school in Leando with good success.

A short time ago she went to California hoping the climate would improve her health. Later her husband, and her aunt, Miss Clara Hartson, went there to be with her. Tuberculosis had fastened its hold upon her life and death came at the date above named. Of her immediate family she leaves a half sister and three half brothers, two aunts and an uncle, a great aunt and an grandfather, besides other relatives and a large circle of friends.

The body, with its attendants, arrived at the home town Keosauqua at 11 o'clock Monday forenoon, and the casket, beautifully decorated with flowers, was taken to the Christian church, where funeral services were held by Rev. Chas. E. Perkins, pastor of the Congregational church, at 2 p.m. Every seat in the church was filled, while quite a number remained outside on the church lawn. The burial was in the Purdom cemetery.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 210, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA