LEACH, Miss Sarah Amelia:Died 1916

LEECH

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 4/8/2016 at 00:23:24

Obituary of Sarah A. Leach

The funeral of Miss Sarah Amelia Leech, whose death occurred Saturday, July 15, 1916, was held at the late residence in Van Buren township, Monday forenoon, and the burial was in the Kilbourne cemetery, Rev. C.E. Perkins of the Keosauqua Congregational church conducting the services. Hymns were sung by a quartet. Neighbors and friends were present in large numbers. Miss Leech was born on the estate where she died, though not in the same house, Dec. 13, 1850, and was 65 years, 7 months and 2 days old. Her parents, William and Margaret Bell Leech, were among the early settlers of our county, and she was one of 9 children. She is survived by two sisters, Misses Jennie and Adelaide Leech. Deceased had been an invalid for several years, and for more than six months preceding her death had been a great sufferer. She was a well educated, cultured woman, and might have succeeded as a teacher, but chose to devote herself to home duties. In these she found a field of usefulness to which she gave herself with unstinted earnestness. The care of an invalid mother, shared by her sisters, took much of her time for many years. Born of christian parents and reared in a christian home, she early in life took to the step that is so natural where these are the conditions, and united with the church. The church of her choice was the United Presbyterian of Birmingham, Iowa, and until her health became impaired she was an active member of it. Reference is made above to Miss Leech's suffering during the last months of her life. It is said of her by those who are in a position to know that she endured her severe afflictions with a Christian fortitude and patience rarely witnessed. Her long sickness elicited the sympathy and furnished the occasion of much kindness on the part of her many friends. All this was deeply appreciated by herself and by her sisters, who will never cease to remember such tokens of neighborly friendliness with gratitude. So passes another of our excellent women, one whose life embodied those graces and virtues that enrich, not alone the home circle, but the community.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book F, Page 261, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA