Martha Pipe Chapman 1828-1892

PIPE, CHAPMAN

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 11/30/2001 at 20:52:49

Died.

At her home in Bonaparte, Nov. 28, 1892, Mrs. Martha Pipe Chapman.

Born in London, England, January 27, 1828, Martha Pipe came with her parents to America in 1845 and was married to Alfred Chapman April 22, 1849. At the time of her death she was 64 years old. Her surviving relatives are a husband, [unreadable] sons, six daughters and a brother in America, and two sisters in England. These are the outward fact; the inner ones are not easy to [unreadable]. About her bedside at the time of her death, were gathered the children she had reared, and the husband she had loved. All were there save two, a son in Montana and a daughter in Kansas. To these children, with their [unreadable] and [unreadable] she might well point, as did [unreadable] to her and say, "These are my jewels." For these children -- ten in all -- she has given her life. A woman seldom seen on the street, she gave her life in constant and beautiful service to those she loved. And out of this perfect surrender of herself to the claims of love there came a life all full of "sweetness and light." A sweetness and light which even a stranger could discover. There was in her a grace and truth which only self sacrifice [came?], which only "daily [unreadable] unto self" through long and patient years can bring.

To her that saying of Jesus, "It is more blessed to give than to receive," had become a veritable fact; and in her best days, when her hands had grown too feeble to serve others it was her greatest trial that she was forced to be ministered unto when she longed to minister.

One thing which helped to make more gracious this mother's life was her love for literature. In her quiet hours, especially in these later years she thus came in contact with [paper torn] spirits and made their [paper torn] The funeral was held at the house [paper torn] Rev. Leon Harvey of Des Moines [paper torn] services. The choir sang "Nearer My God to The. , Bless be the Tie that Binds, Come unto me and I will give You Rest.

Source: Entler Scrapbook, vol. 6, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA

I am NOT related and am posting this obit for those who may find this person in their family history.