Amelia M. (Phelps) HECKART

PHELPS, HECKART, CLARKE, ADAMS, WILLIAMS, RUDY, SCHAFFTER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:59

Amelia M. Phelps Heckart
1 May 1839 ---- 3 July 1907

Death and funeral of Mrs. J. C. Heckart

In the death of Mrs. Heckart on Wednesday of last week, her family loses a devoted wife and mother and her many friends the present influence of a beautiful and noble character. Mrs. Heckart was a consistent christian, not only in profession but in daily life. Her friends found her always cheerful and patient even in great suffering which fell upon her the last two years of her life. No one ever heard a complaint and she bore it all with the greatest fortitude. She was ever kind and thoughtful and sympathetic during the many years she lived among our people. Her family, and those friends who knew her most intimately felt her presence to be an inspiration in good living. To her husband and children her loss is irreparable.

Amelia M. Heckart was born in the state of New York May 3, 1839, and she was 68 years and two months old at the time of her death. She removed when a child to Fond du Lac, Wis., and lived there until 1865 when she made her home at Algona, Iowa. On November 13, 1866, she married J. C. [John Calvin] Heckart and they made their home in Algona until 1899 when they moved to Eagle Grove with two children Hattie and Jessie, a son, Grant W. having gone to live in Minneapolis. Mrs. Heckart became a member of the Congregational church in 1873 and was for many years an active member of the church retaining her membership to the end. The illness of the past two or three years made it difficult for her to actively participate in church work but her heart was always with the activities of that organization.

Mrs. Heckart's declining health dates from six years back and took the form of a greatly impaired digestion which increased steadily until about a year ago when the decline became more marked and rapid. During the past winter she has been a constant sufferer, much of the time confined to her bed. Nothing was spared to alleviate he suffering and the continual care of her daughters did all that was humanly possible to prolong her life. Her disease was organic and defied cure, but her last days were made cheerful and happy, and she so expressed herself many times during the past month.

The funeral services were held at the home on Iowa Avenue on Friday morning, the 5th. Instant. Rev. L B. Hix of Marshalltown, the former pastor of her church, and Rev. Fred York the present pastor conducted the services, which were brief. A quartette composed of Mrs. Blanche Peterson, Miss Fanny Bandy, Messrs. Baker and Keith, sang two of the songs that were dear to Mrs. Heckart in her lifetime, accompanied by Miss Prehm. The pallbearers were Messrs. R. M. Smallpage, Armbruster, Blake, F. M. Hicks, W. H. McVicker and Parsons. A perfect mass of flowers covered the casket and many friends and relatives sent beautiful floral pieces of appropriate design. Burial was at Rosehill cemetery. There were present from abroad G. W. Heckart of St. Paul, Mrs. A. D. Clarke and daughters, Mrs. F. M. Williams of Minneapolis, and Mrs. H. C. Adams and husband of Algona.

Mrs. Heckart leaves to mourn her loss her husband J. C. Heckart, and her children Mrs. J. M. Rudy, Mrs. E. Schaffter and G. W. Heckart. In the sadness which has fallen upon them, they can derive the comfort which comes from memory of their mother's many beautiful traits of character, and the knowledge that nothing was left undone by them to lengthen her life and to make it happy to the close. Among our people there will be a feeling of personal loss and deep sympathy with the sorrowing family.

Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
July 11, 1907