SARAH KELSO RICHARDSON 1839-1925

KELSO, NELSON, RICHARDSON, BETTIS, BREES, SOUTHARD

Posted By: Dana Roquet (email)
Date: 3/25/2011 at 20:07:50

Wayne County Democrat
Aug. 27th 1925

Sarah E. Kelso was born in Tazwell County, Illinois, April 25th, 1839. She was the daughter of Wm. and Matilda (Nelson) Kelso who came to Iowa in the year 1854, when the deceased was a girl of 15 years. They made the journey with a covered wagon and ox team and settled on a farm near Warsaw. When the civil war broke out her father and her brother Robert enlisted. She and her husband looked after the mother and children until the father’s return. She was of a family of eight children, six brothers and one sister, all having preceded her to the grave.

She was married to Thomas H. Richardson, February 7th, 1860. To this union were born six children: Mrs. Ida Bettis of Clio; Mrs. Tillie Bettis and Mrs. Effie Brees of Allerton; Wm. Of Denver, Colo.; Mrs. Jennie Southard of Lebanon, Oregon; and one son Dirl, who died at the age of 21, four weeks following his father’s death, September 24th, 1888.

She leaves 13 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren; also one brother-in-law, J. B. Richardson of Bell, Cal.; two sisters-in-law, Mrs. John Richardson of Noblesville, Ind., and Mrs. Mary Kelso of Sewal, Iowa; besides a host of other relatives and friends to mourn her departure.

The deceased was stricken with paralysis on January 25th, 1919 from which she never fully recovered, never being able to walk. Last Thursday morning, August 20th, she suffered another stroke and lay unconscious until early Tuesday morning, August 25th, when she quietly passed away, aged 86 years and 4 months at her daughter’s home in Clio.

She lived on the same farm all her married life where her children were all born and lived until all were married. Afterwards she made her home with her children. She knew not what it was to give up. She was always hopeful and looked forward to the time when in regained health she would again be permitted to enjoy life. How little is known of what is to be. With all her ambitions, all her high and worthy purposes, the dreaded destroyer preyed on her physical being, gradually wasting her away until death came. The early tabernacle was dissolved and the spirit returned to God who gave it.

The funeral services were held at Richardson Chapel, Wednesday afternoon, August 26th at 2:00 p.m. conducted by Rev. Guy J Winslow. The body was laid to rest by the side of her husband’s in the Richardson Chapel cemetery.