Margarette Ann Sturdivant 1821-1909

STURDIVANT, CAVIN, HENRY, GLASSER, HARRINGTON, LEE, BLACKMER, DAWSON, SADDLER, SMITH, ALEXANDER, PAGE

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 10/24/2005 at 17:30:58

Grandma Sturdivant.

Margarette Ann Sturdivant passed from this life Wednesday, July 7, 1909. She was, at the time at the home of her daughter, Mrs. L. H. Henry, in Harrisburg Twp.

The deceased was born Dec. 21, 1821, in Tenn. Her father was John Cavin and her mother whose maiden name was Mann, were of the best families of the commonwealth of Tennessee. The family moved to Iowa at an early day, and settled near Bonaparte. Margarette married Dr. Robert J. Sturdivant, and they lived in Harrisburg Twp. Dr. Sturdivant was a widower, with four small children, the young wife took these orphans to her heart, and was all a mother could have been to them, and the love and respect they held for her was equal to that of her own children. One step child is still living: Mrs. Lucretia Glasser of Cincinnati, Ohio. John Sturdivant, the oldest son, died at Centerville a few years ago, George W. is also deceased, and the youngest, Wayne, went south before the Civil War, and his fate is unknown. Dr. Sturdivant died Dec. 3, 1880. She has another sister, Mrs. Melvina Harrington, living in California and another step son, Ben Sturdivant.

Mrs. Sturdivant was also the mother of seven children. First was Robert, who died at the home of his mother in Bonaparte not many years ago. Mrs. Josephine Page and Mrs. Mary? Henry, both living in Harrisburg Twp., Wm., deceased, Mrs. Anna Lee, deceased. Mrs. Colusa Blackmer, wife of Dr. B.P. Blackmer of Bonaparte, also deceased. Mrs. Ida Dawson, who at the present time is in Colorado, and was unable to attend the funeral.

Mrs. Sturdivant had several sisters, all of whom were married and lived in this vicinity. One was Mrs. Irene Leffler, another married a Saddler, another married a Smith, and a fourth was the wife of Harvey Alexander. Mrs. Page’s children and grandchildren, together with her step grandchildren, and several great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews in the third and fourth generation make a vast number of relatives to whom she was always been the beloved Grandmother or Aunt Margrette.

After her family was grown, she married the brother of her deceased husband; Geo. W. Sturdivant. He did not live long.

Mrs. Sturdivant was a good woman. There are scores of people who can testify to that statement, and who are indebted to her for deeds of kindness for, words of comfort, or for help during times of sickness. She was not only an excellent mother, but a neighbor who was ever ready in time of need. She early united with the Baptist Church, and all her life gave it the ardent support of her strong character.

Mrs. Sturdivant possessed a remarkable memory. To within a few years of her death, she could tell incidents of the people and happenings of real worth that reached back to a period before the memory of most of us began.

Death came naturally as the culmination of a long life filled with helpfulness and love for others. She was in her eighty eighth year.

An exceptionally large company of people attended the funeral, all of whom, with very few exceptions, were bound by some tie of relationship with the deceased.

Source: Entler Scrapbooks, vol. 5, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA