STIRLING, Mrs. Harriett Amelia: Died 1935

STIRLING, MORRISON, GUTHRIE, THOMAS

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 9/30/2014 at 05:48:25

**Handwritten: V.B. Record 4 April 1935

MRS. STIRLING PIONEER LADY, PASSES AWAY
(Corydon Times Republican)

Mrs. John Stirling, 88, passed away in the home of her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. John Morrison on West Jefferson street at six o'clock Saturday morning, March 16. She had been in failing health and was confined to her home for over three years and for the past year and a half was confined to her room, where she was always happy to meet her many friends, who so generously gave of their time to make the life of a shut in more pleasant. She was a pioneer of Iowa and had spent her entire life in Lee, Van Buren and Wayne counties, the greater part of it in Corydon, where she took great interest in the activities of the community. She was a great reader and kept in touch with national and state affairs through the daily press, until the last few weeks, when she lay in a state of coma the greater part of the time.

The funeral services, which were largely attended by friends, were held from the Methodist church Sunday afternoon, March 17, and were conducted by her pastor, the Rev. J.J. Johnson, who was assisted by the Rev. Wm. Sessions, pastor of the local Christian church.

Harriett Amelia, daughter of Geo. and Mary Guthrie Thomas, was born in Van Buren county, Iowa, Dec. 26, 1846, and passed away at Corydon March 16, 1935, at the age of 88 years, 2 months and 20 days. When a child of eight years she came with her parents, brothers and sisters to Wayne county and the family settled on a farm in Benton township. The trip was made overland with teams and covered wagons, as was the mode of travel of the pioneer families who settled the country. She attended the little country school and church at Hazel Dell. Her father and a brother passed away within a week of each other in 1860 before the civil war, and lie buried in Hazel Dell cemetery. The oldest son of the family went to the civil war and the family was broken up.

Our subject returned to Van Buren county, and made her home with her sister and her family on a farm for awhile, later going into the town of Bonaparte where she secured work in the Meek Woolen Mills and became a very efficient weaver of blankets. Here she met John Stirling, a son of the superintendent of the mill who also worked there, as did all the young people of the town, and they were married March 1, 1870, at Keosauqua. Her husband at the time of their marriage was working at the printing trade, and for several years they made their home at Keokuk, later returning to Bonaparte, where he published the Bonaparte Journal. In September of 1886 they moved to Corydon, where the husband had purchased the Wayne County Democrat, and since that time their home has been at Corydon. She was the mother of seven children, three of whom have preceded her in death. The eldest son, A.Z. passed away Dec. 9, 1922, at the age of 52 years and is buried at Colorado Springs, Colo. The second son, John J. passed away Jan. 10, 1923, at the age of 50 years and is buried at San Diego, Calif. Rob Roy died at the age of one year and is buried at Bonaparte.

The living children are Mrs. Hattie Morrison of Corydon, where she has lived since the death of her husband, July 14, 1924; George T. Stirling of Hoquiam, Wash.; Maude Stirling of Portland, Ore., David M. Stirling of Estes Park, Colo. There are four grandchildren: Harold and Eugene Stirling of Hoquiam, and Hattie and John Stirling of Estes Park, Colo.

Her parents were Methodists of the old school and she was raised in that faith and has been a member of the Corydon Methodist church for over forty years and a member of the adult Bible class since it was organized and was a regular attendant at the church and Sunday school until the infirmities of age confined her to her home. She was the last member of a pioneer family of twenty-two children.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book D, Page 146, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA