WILCOX, Frederica (1871-1923)

WILCOX

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 5/14/2020 at 11:47:24

Frederica F. Wilcox
(December 21, 1871 – July 3, 1923)

Mrs. W. V. Wilcox
Frederica F. Carson was born December 21, 1871 at Burlington, Iowa. She died July 3, 1923, at her home in Indianola. She was married March1, 1893 to W. V. Wilcox at Des Moines. Three children were born to this union, Donald F. Wilcox of Chicago; George L. of Indianola and Margaret F. of Des Moines, all of whom were present at the funeral of their mother, Friday, July 6th. Three sisters and one brother also survive her: Mrs. W. H. Burnett, Delta, Colo., Mary G. and Meya A. Carson, Denver, Colo.; Isaac Carson, Nampa, Idaho and her father, J. H. Carson of Quincy, Ill; also a sister-in-law, Mrs. Nina Carson of Humboldt, Iowa. Of these Mary Carson and Nina Carson were present at the funeral.
Rev. J. W. Edwards conducted the funeral service and said in part: “Mrs. Wilcox gave her heart to Christ early in life and united with the Christian church. Upon moving to Indianola ten years ago she united with her husband with the Methodist church. She remained a faithful and valued member until her death.” A minister, who lived neighbor to her for a number of years, bears this testimony, “In all my churches, I think I never met a purer, more sincere devoted follower of Christ than Mrs. Wilcox. She was very intelligent and well informed and her mind and spirit were as clear as a sunbeam.”
Never possessing a strong physical constitution, she bore up bravely until her mental powers broke down, and the sad end came. She was a woman highly respected and deeply loved, whose departure leaves the world poorer for her absence but richer and better for her coming. I cannot speak her full worth today. The finest eloquence in the world is the eloquence of noble deeds and a life unselfishly devoted to others. If not a word were spoken here today, that constraining eloquence would not be wanting at the bier of our friend. She gripped the members of the home circle with hooks as beautiful as gold and as powerful as steel. She toiled not only by day, but many times far into the night, patiently, persistently working for the best of those whom she loved. We grieve that we shall see that good, familiar face no more, but were would not call her back. We cannot restrain our tears, but above them all sits the rainbow promise of the morning. Life is indeed a tangled skein, but the good Father who made us will one day unravel and we shall see clearly. [copied from a scrapbook of newspaper clippings at the Warren County Historical Society Library, Indianola, Iowa]