STIDGER, Mrs. Mary

STIDGER, BONNEY, LINSLEY, WALKER

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 8/8/2015 at 13:50:10

Mrs. Mary Stidger.

Mary Bonney, the second daughter of Capt. J.H. Bonney and wife, was born at Keosauqua, Iowa, Dec. 1, 1844. At the age of 22 she was married to William C. Stidger, son of Dr. George Stidger. The most of their life together was spent at Red Oak, Iowa, where Mr. Stidger published a weekly paper, the Red Oak Democrat, and where he died in 1880.

Left a widow with four young children, life was a hard struggle to her for many years, but she always had kind friends to help her. Her eldest son, 12 years old, soon became the breadwinner and the head of the family and took a father's place in the younger children, to one of whom he was the only father she ever knew.

The last three years Mrs. Stidger and her two daughters lived at Milton. On Oct. 3, she came to Keosauqua to stay while they attended the world's fait in St. Louis. Seemingly in perfect health she came to the old home. The next day, while calling on Mrs. John G. Brow, she was taken violently ill, the cause being Bright's disease. For five days her life seemed to hang by a thread, and all her friends were summoned. The two daughters, Ella and Willa, and the eldest son, Josiah B., of Colorado Springs, were privileged to care for her during much of her illness. The second son, Otto C., of Brookfield, Mo., could not be present on account of illness in his own family.

As the days went by, she grew better until at the end of two weeks, she was moved to the home of her mother, Mrs. O.F. Bonney, but it was only to stay there three days when she went to her Father's home above, about which she had talked so much during her illness. She told her friends, "I am going to a world's fair worth going to. It is prepared for me and I have a special invitation." Many prayers went from her lips for her (friends) and she often said, "I don't want to forget anybody. I would not have one left out." Her's was a most happy sickroom. The one great longing of her heart being for the presence of her children and relatives that she might give them her best words of love. When all who could come were at her side and messages came from others, she rested perfectly content. Her death came suddenly on the evening of Oct. 21.

She leaves, besides her children mentioned, her aged mother, Mrs. O.F. Bonney; three sisters, Mrs. L.O. Linsley, Miss Orpha Bonney, and Mrs. W.M. Walker all of this place, and a brother C.H. Bonney of Plattsmouth, Neb.

"There is a smile on the lips so silent,
The hands are folded in rest;
The heart with its unfilled longing
Lies silent within her breast.

"In the sleep that knows no wakening,
'Till the Lord in His glory shall come,
She waits the glad dawn of the morning
When the children shall all come home."

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book E, Page 121, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA