Diantha (Thompson) Sherwood (1845-1932)

BANNING, JOHNSTON, POOLE, SHERWOOD, THOMPSON

Posted By: Eileen Reed
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:07:00

April 16, 1845 --- August 29, 1932

Another Goldfield Pioneer Passes To Her Award

On Monday morning Goldfield residents received a message telling of the death of a woman who has been for years well known to all of us.

Mrs. Diantha Sherwood had been till the accident occurred which caused her removal to the Lutheran Hospital at Fort Dodge, a resident of Goldfield for fifty years. A fall which resulted in a broken hip, was the occasion for her being moved from her home very close to the business section of this city. During her stay in the hospital she became quite a favorite with the attending doctor and nurses. This was due to the fact that she was jolly and entertaining in spite of her pain. Mrs. Sherwood nee Diantha Thompson was born April 16, 1845, in Sterling, Illinois.

1860 she married George Sherwood of the same city. They later removed to Holland, Iowa, where they lived till 1882, the year of their arrival in Goldfield.

Six children were born to these parents, four of whom died in infancy. A son, Elva, died in Goldfield during a very serious epidemic of diphtheria.

Mr. George Sherwood, the husband was in business in Goldfield in pioneer days. Upon his arrival here he was in the livery business. Following this he operated a hotel called the Sherwood House and later was associated in the local drug store. He passed away in 1894, but Mrs. Sherwood was never alone for she was a mother to many homeless, who never lacked care as long as she was physically able to care for them. They surely could rise up and call her “blessed”. A brother Steve Thompson, was cared for by Mrs. Sherwood till his death. Several nephews and nieces were cared for in the Sherwood home, so they might receive schooling in our public school.

Mrs. Banning, a sister, lived with Mrs. Sherwood for a number of years and was tenderly and lovingly cared for till her death.

Those most intimately connected with Mrs. Sherwood spoke of her as an untiring, unselfish, character, a type we find described in the Bible as Dorcas. “She gave alms and went about doing good”. After all, that is the secret of Christian character.

She will be missed, but the heritage she leaves to her dear ones is one worthy of emulation. Many could profit by following such an example.

At the time of her death she was eighty-seven years, four months and thirteen days old. A nephew, Maynard Banning (one of two brothers) living with her in late years, when her age caused her unflagging energies to halt, is left to mourn besides Mr. Henry Banning, who lives in California, Mr. George Thompson, Mrs. Stella Johnston, Mrs. Delia Poole, Miss Ada Thompson, also of California.

Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood were charter members of the local Christian church and they kept their membership in force during their lifetime.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon in the Christian church, conducted by Rev. L. A. Hudson, pastor of the church. The body was laid to rest in the Goldfield cemetery.

Goldfield Gazette --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
September 1, 1932