WHITCANACK, Mary (FRANKLIN): Died 1935

WHITCANACK, FRANKLIN, ROSS, WILSON, BARKER, DUNLAP, KISLING, MUHS, MCCARTY

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 7/25/2014 at 08:18:23

**Handwritten: KEO REP APR 1935

Mary Franklin Whitcanack

Mrs. Mary Franklin Whicanack daughter of Mary Wilson Ross and John Franklin, was born in Canton, Ill., June 1, 1854, and passed away at Marshalltown, Iowa, at 6:20 a.m. Wednesday, April 10, at the age of 80 years, 10 months and 10 days. She moved with her parents to Bentonsport, Iowa, in 1859 where she grew to womanhood and was educated in the Bentonsport Academy. In 1885 she moved to Bloomfield, Iowa to the home of her sister, Mrs. J.S. Barker, where she was married to Solomon Whitcanack, a Civil war veteran, April 13, 1887 and to this union one daughter, Ruth was born. They moved to Mammouth Springs, Ark. in 1910 where the daughter died in 1915 and the husband in 1917, after which she returned to Bentonsport, making her home there until 1925, when she moved to Marshalltown, Iowa. She was a member of the Presbyterian church in Bentonsport and the Woman's Relief Corp and Rebekah Lodge in Marshalltown.

She is the last of a pioneer family of two brothers, Benjamin and Fremont Franklin and one sister, Elizabeth Barker who preceded her in death.

Mrs. Whitcanack for several years has been in frail health, suffering from heart complications, which, together with her advanced years produced a general decline.

She came to the "Home" from Bentonsport, Iowa, as the widow of Solomon Whitcanack who was a member of Co. D. 14th Kansas cavalry. So reads the report of the Chaplain of the "Home" in Marshalltown. He adds, "In these passing years at the home she revealed traits of life that endeared her to everyone. She was quiet and becomingly humble. She was kind, thoughtful and sympathetic, and unselfish in a marked degree. She carried the advancing years with their consequent burdens patiently and without murmur. In the greater part of the past few months she has been a patient in our Soldiers Home Hospital where she received the best of care. It was here that the Chaplain and others came to see the strength and beauty of her live. She received with avidity, eagerness and appreciation the quiet ministrations of things spiritual. She loved the old hymns and was responsive to song and prayer. She was looking forward with hope and expectancy to the 'Land where we never grow old'. She gave every evidence of being ready for the Lord's harvest. The presence of her niece, Mrs. W.T. Dunlay, who was with her quite a considerable time in the last weeks as well as others of her kinfolk, who came to see her greatly comforted her. She passed peacefully on, beloved by all.

She is survived by three nephews, S.S. Barker, Ottumwa; Kenneth Franklin, of Bentonsport, and Benjamin Franklin, of Lewiston, Mont.; four nieces, Mrs. W.T. Dunlap, Ottumwa; Mrs. Ray Kisling, Oskaloosa; Mrs. Stella McCarty, Irwin, and Mrs. Mabel Muhs, of Spokane, Wash., on sister-in-law, Mrs. I.O. Franklin, of Bentonsport, Iowa.

Funeral services were held in Ottumwa, Iowa, at the S.S. Barker home, Friday, April 12, 1935 with the Rev. Lloyd Tennant, of Bloomfield, in charge. Music by Mrs. A.F. Steffen and Mrs. Lloyd Tennant. Interment was in the I.O.O.F. cemetery in Bloomfield.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book D, Page 51, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA