Adams, Elizabeth (Douglass) -- 1821 - 1905

ADAMS, DOUGLASS

Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 2/12/2012 at 13:12:28

ELIZABETH DOUGLASS ADAMS – Death Released her from Earthly Bonds at 5:30 O’clock, Thursday, July 11th.

The death of Mrs. Ephraim Adams at Waterloo was intimated as a possibility by a paragraph in last week’s REPUPLICAN. The expected intelligence of final release came by telegraph on Thursday evening. The event took place at 5:30 o’clock. She had been failing health for several months, but the malady was not known until a short time ago. And thereafter she failed very rapidly. Her life measured 84 years, 6 months and 11 days – a beautiful, loving and worthy Christian life. Fifteen of her busiest years were spent in this community – in the formative pioneer years, from 1857 until 1872 – and it seemed but natural that hither her remains should be brought to rest until the resurrection morning.

Rev. Ephraim Adams came to Iowa in 1843. He was one of twelve who, at college, dedicated themselves to the ministry, and chose Iowa as their field. They were ordained at Denmark in November, 1843, after the Congregational form. Mr. Adams was assigned to Davenport, and in 1845 he returned to Massachusetts, and September 16th he and Elizabeth Douglass were united in marriage. They speedily returned to Iowa, and since then they have been perfectly united in the service to which her husband was called. Ten years they spent in Davenport, and then they came to Decorah, where they remained fifteen years. At the end of this period his associates in the Congregational ministry of the state agreed in calling him to the superintendency of home missionary work. It seemed a Providential call. By the outdoor life it demanded he regained lost health, and entered upon a second period of usefulness. For ten other years he tilled this position, with Waterloo as his headquarters. Six years he served the Eldora church, and for a shorter time was associated with Iowa College. For Upwards of fifteen years he has been retired from service. During all of this time Mrs. Adams has been a most efficient helper, as she was while they lived in Decorah. In their memory we think this place was regarded by them, more than any other, as “home.” Here their eldest son and daughter, Theodore and Lizzie C., and another daughter Sara, died and lie buried by her side. Here also are the remains of her mother. There still remain to follow her, the second son Prof. Henry C., and her last born child, Ephraim D. along with the aged husband and her sister, Miss Esther Douglass.

Appropriate funeral services were held last Saturday at the family home in Waterloo, and also in the Congregational church in this city on Monday afternoon. Rev. Dr. Willett and Rev. C. A. Marshall of Cresco participating.

Source: Decorah Republican July 20, 1905.

Submitted by Stacey Gossling

Phelps Cemetery
 

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