PITMAN, Jennie M.: Born 1853-1944

MCKIBBIN, PITMAN, FERGUSON, WELCH, CRAMER, WHITE, WAGGONER

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 12/10/2013 at 05:49:29

Obituary

Jennie M. Pitman

Prepared by her brother Charles A. McKibbin.

Jane McNary, daughter of John and Susanna McKibbin, was born in a log cabin on a clearing near Pittsburg, Van Buren county, Iowa, September 14th, 1853.

In the spring of 1868, the family moved to a farm two and one half miles northeast of Bloomfield, Davis county. There Jennie as everybody knew her, resided and cared for her parents, until the death of both of them, at the age of eighty-five years, in the spring of 1906.

Upon the death of her father and mother, she continued to live with him on the old home farm, until her marriage in 1910 to William Harrison Pitman, an old friend and neighbor. With her husband she moved to the north part of Bloomfield, and cared for him until his death 1919.

Soon after the death of her husband she went to make her home with her sister, Mary and her husband Frank W. Ferguson. After their death she stayed on in the same home, with her niece Maude and her husband Arthur B. Welch, where throughout the closing decade of her life, she received all the loving care and affection that a daughter and son could bestow.

It was at their home she passed away on September 16th, after a brief illness, only two days after her ninety-first birthday.

Mrs. Pitman is survived by her brother, Charles A. McKibbin of Bloomfield, five nieces and nephews and four step children, Arthur S. McKibbin of Bloomfield of Chaplin, Saskatchewan, Canada, and George B. McKibbin of Chicago, children of her brother, Dr. George B. McKibbin; Mrs. Arthur B. Welch, of Bloomfield, daughter of her sister Mary Ferguson; Helen Cramer White, of Monta Vista, Colorado and John Cramer of Grand Junction, Colorado, children of her sister Elizabeth Cramer; and the following children of her late husband, John Pitman of Bloomfield, Charles Pitman of Belknap, Roy Pitman of Hannibal, Mo., and Mrs. Cora Waggoner of LaBelle, Mo.

Funeral services held at the Wagler Funeral Home, Sunday, September 17th, at 2 oclock, were conducted by Rev. Arthur M. Eastman, pastor of the Methodist Church. Burial in the I.O.O.F. cemetery.

Mrs. Pitman was all her life a devout and active member of the Presbyterian church. She had a lovely personality and her friends were legion. If there ever was a grain of selfishness in Jennie Pitman, no one ever detected it. Her whole life was spent in doing for others. Everyone who knew her will always remember her gentleness, her kindness, and her unfailing serenity.
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A tribute of love and respect.

Over forty years ago it was my good fortune to become by marriage a part of the McKibbin family. At that time I formed a close acquaintance which ripened into love and affection for Aunt Jennie McKibbin. The last twenty years of her life was spent in our home as one of our family.

She was a woman with a strong personality, utterly devoid of selfishness. It seemed her motto of life was, Service Above Self.

She was a member of Ivanhoe club, an organization of women formed some fifty years ago, and was their secretary for over twenty-five years. The pleasant associations of these women were a real part of her life, in which she had so much enjoyment.

Aunt Jennie loved poetry and flowers. She kept a daily diary for over thirty-five years, mostly concerning the family life. She was always busy at some work, either with the household duties or some useful employment.

At ninety years of age her eyesight was remarkable. She knit several pairs of stockings and if any sewing or mending was to be done that was her work.

In her last illness of a few weeks she did not suffer, only in the thought she might be a burden to her family. We were doubtful if she would live to see her ninety-first birthday, but providence spared her. At her death she was ninety one years and two days old.

We will miss such a fine character from our family circle, and we know her life will be an inspiration to us to carry on, come what may. So kind, so cheerful, loved by everyone, born of sturdy pioneers in a family of three boys and three girls, all of whom lived well into the eighties. The most happy events in our memory were the time we would go to the old McKibbin farm for Thanksgiving and other special occasions, Aunt Jennie was the mother to us all, and was delighted to prepare the lovely meals and superintendent of everything on such occasions. After the dinner the family would gather around the organ and sing religions hymns, all the family lived music and all had a part in these pleasant hours together.

The chapter of her life has been written, she has gone to her reward, but the memories of her life will be enshrined in the hearts of her friends and loved ones and will never die.
--Arthur Welch.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 370, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA