APPLETON, Mrs. Ann: Died 1904

APPLETON, BELFIELD, RICE, FERREN

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 8/24/2016 at 05:35:40

**Handwritten: St. Line Dem. Wed. 15 Nov. 1904

NOBLES OF WOMEN

Eulogy on the Late Mrs. Appleton of Bentonsport.

Mrs. Appleton, who was for so many years postmaster at Bentonsport, died at 9 o'clock Friday night, Nov. 4, aged 91 years 10 months and 13 days. She was truly one of the noblest of women, and was beloved and esteemed by all who knew her.

A large concourse of friends and neighbors gathered at the Presbyterian church in Bentonsport on Monday morning, Nov. 7, 11 o'clock, for the funeral services, which were conducted by Rev. C.S. McElhinny of Fairfield, after which the remains were laid to rest in the Bentonsport cemetery. Mr. McElhinny spoke as follows:

In the passing away of Mrs. Appleton, the town and vicinity of Bentonsport have sustained the loss of one of the early pioneers of southeastern Iowa; and more than this, the community will mourn the departure of one who was held in the highest esteem by all who knew her. Although through age and infirmity she has long been confined to her home, seldom being able to walk farther than the garden gates, she will be greatly missed, for who can measure the power of such a godly life and the influence of her prayers in behalf of all whom she carried to the throne of grace? Mrs. Appleton will be mourned by old and young, for she was a friend of all. All who knew her could not help being benefitted by her calm, quiet and holy life; and even in the coming years, she being dead will yet speak to us in the memory of a life hid with Christ in God, and a death which is no other than a sleep in Jesus.

Ann Belfield was born in Nottingham, England, on the 22d day of December, 1812. Had she lived to her next birthday she would have been ninety-two years old, and age far beyond the general average of human life. About the age of ten, in 1822, she came to American, and with her family made her home in Baltimore, Maryland. She could distinctly remember her native land, and describe some of the scenes of her childhood in Nottingham, but she was never permitted to visit her old home. When about fourteen years old, her family removed from Baltimore to Philadelphia, where she lived until thirty-two years of age. In this city she was married in 1838 to William M. Appleton. It was here also in Philadelphia that she united with the Congregational church, of which Rev. John Chambers was then pastor. To her pastor she was deeply attached, and many happy memories of her early Christian life and experience were brought back to her by the steel engraving of Rev. Mr. Chambers which adorns a space in her sitting room.

From Philadelphia she with her husband came to Iowa, settling on a prairie farm on Little Cedar, not far from Hillsboro, Van Buren county. From Philadelphia to Iowa in those early days was a great journey. It was accomplished by rail, by boat and by ox team. The country was then sparcely settled by the whites, Indians being many along the route. It took three weeks time and toil to make the trip which was in 1845. But Mr. Appleton was not strong enough to endure the rigor and hardship of frontier life upon the farm. He was not strong at any time, and after leaving his chosen occupation, he was appointed postmaster at Bentonsport, a position which he held for fourteen years. In this way both he and Mrs. Appleton drew about them a large circle of acquaintances and friends. Four children were born to them, three of whom are living this day, Elizabeth, the second daughter, Almira, their third child, and Cornielia, the fourth daughter. The eldest child, Sarah, died some years ago. Since the death of Mr. Appleton, which occurred on the twenty eighth of February, 1865, Mrs. Appleton has made her home with her two daughters, Mrs. Elizabeth Rice and Miss Cornelia Appleton, living in the old Richards home here at Bentonsport. Besides her two children who have made their home with their mother, one sister, the youngest of the eight children who grew to adult age, Mrs. Mary B. Ferren, of Springfield, Mo., is here today. Mrs. Ferren has reached the age of eighty years, and is the only surviving member of her family.

Mrs. Appleton was a woman of many virtues. Added to rare intellectual culture, her religious and spiritual life impressed all who knew her. Her Bible was the one great book of her choice. She was a great reader, not only of the best books, but of the leading magazines and newspapers. Although not permitted to be often in the house of God to attend public worship, her heart was there, and in sympathy and prayer she mingled with the worshipers. To have her it was a time long to be remembered, a red letter day, so to say, to be able to attend the preaching services in person. She was one of the charter members of the Congregational church of Bentonsport, which was organized in 1846 by Rev. Erastus Ripley, its first pastor. Mrs. Appleton was a woman of prayer. She was not only in the spirit on the Lord's day, but every day. She prayed much and with a simple, trustful, child-like faith and confidence. Her first thoughts on waking in the morning were a prayer for God's help and guidance for the day, and they found expression in this little couplet, often repeated by her:

"Direct, control, suggest this day,
All that I do, or think, or say."

Her mind was stored with rich and noble thoughts, and she treasured in the chambers of her soul the happy memories of a well spent life. Often she would repeat a verse of scripture or the stanza of some favorite hymn, thus showing the general trend of her thoughts. One who knew her only as weak of body and almost of constant invalid at the last could imagine her power for good when she was stronger in her earlier years. To the last she retained her unfailing cheerfulness, her remarkable memory and her kindly sympathy. Her intellectual gifts, as well as true piety, impressed us all. She kept in touch with the church of her choice by her church papers, and the Sabbath school lessons were her great delight. She seemed in the last few years to get more and more help from her Bible study for which she had used the best of helps. She was always in sympathy with the church and Sabbath school work, and the record of revivals in the churches and the progress of the kingdom of God in the world were of great interest to her and a cause of great rejoicing.
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We do not doubt that Mrs. Appleton has joined the great host who have gone before her to their heavenly home to sing the praises of Him who has redeemed them and called them to Himself. We shall miss her, but it will be but a short time until there will be a glad reunion. Let us cherish her virtues and follow her as she followed Christ. Of her it may truly be said, "The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."

On the jasper threshold standing,
Like a pilgrim safely landing,
See the strange, bright scene expanding;
Ah, 'tis heaven at last.

"What a city! what a glory!
Far beyond the brightest story
Of the ages old and hoary.
Ah, 'tis heaven at last.

"Not a tear drop ever falleth,
Not a pleasure ever palleth,
Song to song forever calleth,
Ah, 'tis heaven at last.

"Christ himself the living splendor,
Christ the sunlight, mild and tender,
Praises to the Lamb we render,
Ah, 'tis heaven at last."

**Handwritten: Also see 148

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book G, Page 176, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA