Nancy Francis Gates Eslinger

GATES, ESLINGER, MEISSNER, MASTERS

Posted By: Pamela Sopp (email)
Date: 9/30/2007 at 16:58:32

Obituary - Nancy F. Eslinger was born in New York, November 27, 1829 and died at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. W.G. Meissner in Fort Dodge, Iowa. November, 14, 1913, aged 83 years, 11 months and 17 days. She with her parents moved to Ohio, when about two years of age then to Indiana and from there to Iowa reaching Ottumwa, September 22, 1854 where she resided until her marriage to Ephriam D. Eslinger, in 1873. Soon after her marriage she and her husband moved to the farm north of Albia, where father Eslinger died September 21, 1889. She resided on one of the old farms in what was known as the Salem neighborhood, where her influence was felt for good, both morally and spiritually, always working for the Master's kingdom. When about thirteen years of age she united with the Presbyterian church in Indiana, later in Iowa she united with the Methodist Episcopal church of which she remained a faithful member until her death. The last three and a half years of her life she spent with her granddaughter, Mrs. W.G. Meissner. She leave two brother, Levi Gates of Ottumwa and Edward Gates of Flagler, Colorado, also D.W. Masters, who came into her home when ten years of age, and Nettie, who came into the home when seven years of age, to whom she has been a true mother, and a large muber of relatives and friends. She was taken sick November 9th, with abscess of the brain. Loving hands ministered to her during her last hours of suffering until she passed away. The funeral was preached by Rev. H.C. Millee, who also conducted the funeral of Father Eslinger, assisted by Rev. Heiner at Lovilla M.E. Church Internment being at Osborn cemetery, beside her husband.
The pall bearers were six young ladies from her old home neighborhood. The funeral sermon was preached from 2 Tim. 4 chapter, 7 verse: "I have finished my course, I have