Widner, Mary A. (Cameron) 1841 – 1903

WIDNER, CAMERON, ALLEN, BLACKBURN, CARTER

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:43

Source: Decorah Republican Mar. 5, 1903 Page 1 Col 5

OBITUARIES
Mary A., eldest daughter of Kenneth and Margaret Cameron, natives of Inverness. Scotland, was born at Lockport,N. Y , May 8th, 1841, and died in Sioux City, Iowa, Feb. 25th, 1903. After several years’ residence of the family in Ontario, Canada, and in Dane county, Wis., where she was first married in 1859, they removed to Iowa. On Nov 1st, 1882, she was married at Hesper to Henry Widner, a prominent lawyer of Cresco, Iowa, living thereafter at Alexandria and Howard, S, D., where Mr. Widner was engaged in banking, until their removal in 1892 to Sioux City, where they have made their home until now, with the exception of two years that Mr. Widner was State’s Attorney for Butte Co., S. D.
At the time of her death Mrs. Widner was press correspondent for the Sioux City Women’s Relief Corps, in which she was an active and prominent worker, having had three brothers and numerous relatives in the army. Her oldest brother, John C. Cameron, served in the 4th U. S. Infantry and, with Lieutenant Slaughter, met death in a night attack by the Indians, Dec. 4th, 1855, during an uprising of the latter in Washington territory. James L. Cameron served in the 34th and 38th Iowa Infantry and Robert M. Cameron in the 18th Iowa Infantry. Mrs. Widner was also a frequent contributor of verse to the Sioux City Journal, where a portrait and sketch of her appeared last year among the writers of the city.
For forty-six years she had suffered from heart trouble; and her death after three weeks’ illness was from heart failure following a severe attack of erysipelas.
The funeral service in Sioux City was conducted by Rev. E. H. Gavnor, formerly pastor of the Episcopal church in Decorah when Mrs. Widner was a teacher there in the public school. He was assisted by Rev. Dr. McClintock of the First Presbyterian church and Rev. John Franklin Watts of the First Baptist church of which she was a member.
Rev, Mr. Gaynor said “All who knew her loved her;" and the friends there, with the W.R.C. who were present and had been most faithful sisters, expressed their love and sorrow by many beautiful floral offerings.
The. remains were brought home to Hesper by her husband and her sister who was also with her; and were laid to rest beside those of her son, Bert K. Allen, after the service by Rev. H. F. Dorcas in the M. E. church, where relatives and old-time friends paid the last tribute of love.
Mrs. Widner leaves a husband, Henry Widner: one son, J. G. Blackburn; a sister, Mrs. E. M. Carter, and a brother, K. Cameron, to mourn her loss.

Hesper Public Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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