Iowa
Old Press
Centerville Daily Citizen
Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa
October 18, 1909
Mrs Mary Root, Aged Pioneer Is Laid To Rest.
Woman Who Saw Citys Growth Succumbs To A Lingering Illness.
Mrs. Mary Root, who had resided in Centerville for more than half
a century, and who was known by practically everybody in this
vicinity, passed away Saturday night about 9:00 o'clock at her
home 622 North Tenth street, where she had lain ill with
paralysis for weeks which had extended into months of patience
under the trying circumstances. Successive strokes of the
paralysis left her weaker and more helpless until last Sunday
when the final attack came, and she lapsed into an
unconsciousness and rapidly sank under the weakness due to
inability to take nourishment until her feeble frame could no
longer retain its vitality, and she peacefully passed into
eternal rest and her life's reward. At her bedside during her
last illness and as the end came was her only surviving child,
her son, Charles, who is the only one of the family now
remaining.
Mother Root was born November 2, 1832, in Middle Port, Ohio, the daughter of Benjamin and Maria Guildart who will be remembered by the older residents of Centerville as among the earliest settlers of this vicinity. She was married to John Root, lately deceased, in Chester Ohio, September 27, 1848, and they came to Centerville May 19, 1854, this county having been the family home ever since. There were four children but all are dead save one, Charles, who has resided in Pueblo, Colorado.
Mother Root for many years had lead a retired
life, respected by her neighbors and many friends. She held
membership in the Christian church and was loyal to its
principles. She was intensely patriotic and could trace
her ancestry back to the Revolutionary times. Coming here before
the incorporation of Centerville she has seen its growth from a
few rude buildings in a clearing to the modern and prosperous
commercial center it is
today. It is certainly sad to reflect that so many of these
settlers are passing away, the representative of the period
during which the foundation of only present prosperous era was
laid.
Funeral services were held this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the
little home on North Tenth street, conducted by Rev. John H.
Booth, of the Central Church of Christ, and the remains were laid
to rest in Oakland cemetery.
[transcribed by M.S., June 2006]