Eliza M. (Root) LANTZ

LANTZ, ROOT, GRANGER, COWAN, WEBSTER, GOLDFINCH, HOPE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/4/2012 at 15:52:55

July 9, 1839 --- November 11, 1916

Death of Pioneer Lady

Mrs. Eliza Lantz, one of the real pioneers of Sioux county, died Saturday. Nov. 11th at the home of her daughter, Mrs. T. F. Granger, at Eagle Grove, Iowa, at the age of 77 years, 3 months and 22 days. Interment was made at Ireton Wednesday afternoon beside the grave of her husband. Members of Lantz. Post, G. A. R., so named in honor of the husband of the deceased, and members of the W. R. C. of Ireton, met the body at the train and escorted it to the grave. Funeral services had previously been held at Eagle Grove.

Eliza M. Root was born near Marietta, Ohio July 9, 1839. In 1852 she moved with her parents to Denmark, Iowa, at which place she became a member of the first Congregational church ever established in Iowa. Later she moved to Cincinnati where she went to school and taught until the close of the war. In 1867 she was united in marriage to Henry H. Lantz. To this union were born five children, three of whom died in infancy. In 1869 she moved with her family to Calliope, now Hawarden.

Mrs. Lantz had the honor and distinction of being the mother of the first white child born in Sioux county. That child is now Mrs. T. E. Granger of Eagle Grove. After residing in Calliope a short time they moved onto a homestead six miles east of Hawarden. It was the first residence built on the road between here and Orange City.

Those were real pioneer days. They resided upon a farm until the death of her husband in 1880. In 1881 she moved to Hawarden in order that her two girls might attend school. Later she lived with her daughter Pearl at Mount Vernon, Iowa, and later resided at Centerville. Iowa, for seven years, She was called back to Hawarden on account of the feebleness of her mother, Mrs. G. H. Root, who died at the age of 89 years. Six years ago she went to Eagle Grove and has made her home since with her daughter, Mrs. T. E. Granger. Mrs. Lantz lived a beautiful Christian life. In her younger years she was very active in church work and was always doing something to help others.

She leaves to mourn her loss, two daughters: Mrs. B. R. Hope of Pawnee, Okla., and Mrs. T. E. Granger of Eagle Grove; two brothers: W. E. Root of Greencastle, Wash., and Chas. O. Root of Pringle, S. D.; one sister: Mrs. Mary Goldfinch of Everett. Wash.; five grandchildren: Mrs. Harley Cowan of Eagle Grove. Mrs. Clarence Webster of Hines, Wis., Miss Florence Granger, Miss Helen Granger, and Thomas Granger, Jr.. of Eagle Grove: two great grandchildren: Shirley and Barbara Cowan of Eagle Grove.

Hawarden Independent - Iowa
November 16, 1916