Rebecca McCausland 1824-1907

MANNING, NEISWANGER, MCCAUSLAND, PENDER, MCCOOK

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 1/21/2004 at 10:16:15

DEATH’S HAND
HEAVY

Mrs. Rebecca McCausland, an [balance of this article cut off]

=========== 2nd article

Early Settler.
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LAID TO REST HERE
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Death’s heavy hand has again desolated a home in this city, and relatives as well as many friends are mourning because of the visitation. This time is was the soul of Mrs. Rebecca McCausland that was called to the everlasting rest, putting a period to the life of one who had lived for more than an average span amid scenes that have become dear to our people.

Rebecca Manning was the daughter of Robert and Nancy Manning, and was born in New Lisbon, Ohio, March 3, 1814. She was of a family of nine children, and on the death of the father when she was six years of age, she was bound out to the family of Dr. McCook and made this home hers until she was twenty years of age, when she met and married Martin Neiswanger, a young man of that place. This occurred in the year of 1845, April 28 and one child, Azem, was born to them.

Immediately after the marriage the young people immigrated to this city, then a town of five business places, and the husband started a tailor shop, although there was already one such institution here. They resided here and prospered. Two years later, Mr. Neiswanger was called to Ohio on business and while in the east he sickened and, before the wife could reach the bedside, died of typhoid fever, and was buried at the old home. The wife remained in Ohio some eleven months and then came back to the home here. With this exception, Mrs. McCausland resided here continuously since 1845.

On December 17, 1850 she was married to Robt. McCausland, of this city and three children blessed the union: Kate, who died in infancy; Mrs. Ollive Pender and Wm. McCausland both of this city who are left to mourn the loss.

Mrs. McCausland resided in Bonaparte 62 years, more than the allotted three score years that shall constitute the natural life, and in all that time she was never absent from town more than a few days at a time with the exception noted and even then the residence was maintained here. The first home was located on the corner where the J.H. Cresap building, occupied by the Farmers telephone office, the building then being a two story brick, and the home was there in1851when the Des Moines river covered the town. Later the family moved to the corner now owned by F.L. Eason, and after Mr. Neiswanger’s death the present home was purchased, and has continued as such since, for a period of 51 years. In all this time there has never been a death in the home.

Early in life Mrs. McCausland joined the Christian church and continued a member until the removal here, there being no church of this denomination, she placed her letter in the M.E. church.

Mrs. McCausland was a quiet, unassuming woman, a good neighbor and everyone seems to have a good word for her. He whole duty lay in her home, which she seldom left. In her death the children lose a parent that lived for them. The son, Wm. McCausland, has devoted the major portion of his life in caring for the mother, returning in part the great debt he owed to the one who gave him existence, and he suffers keenly the loss of the care worn face.

The last sad rites were observed on Tuesday, April 10, at 2 p.m., Rev. Clark officiating, and the body was laid away in the Bonaparte [Iowa] cemetery.

[handwritten on article “Apr 7 –07”]

Source: Entler Scrapbooks, vol. 3, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA

Note: Her cemetery (and census) records all indicate she was born 1824, so the 1814 date above was in error. If you have information on this family please contact Melissa at Majohnson1737@cs.com .