Iowa
Old Press
Oskaloosa Herald
Oskaloosa, Mahaska co. IA
January, 1916
McWILLIAMS -- Eliab Jane McWilliams, known locally by her many
friends as Grandma McWilliams, who died January 2, 1916, at the
old McWilliams' home, six miles southwest of Oskaloosa, was born
October 25, 1826, in Richmon, Clermount County, Ohio. At the age
of three, she was left an orphan in the care of kind friends. At
eleven years of age, she united with the Presbyterian Church at
Hanover, Indiana. In 1846, she was married to William N.
McWilliams, and in 1856 they came to Iowa and settled near
Oskaloosa. Mr. McWilliams departed this life October 19, 1894,
but she continued to live on the old homestead, which has been
her home for almost sixty years. Few have a more stable record.
And to come through a long residence like that with untarnished
character or reputation is in itself a recommendation for the
eternal habitation of the children of God. In the pockets of
these staunch old pioneers, as they journeyed to the Iowa
frontier, were church papers, which were promptly placed in the
Presbyterian Church in Oskaloosa, but in 1895, Mrs. McWilliams
united with the new Reformed Church at Six Mile, which was near
at hand. Later, her membership was transferred to the First
Reformed Church of Oskaloosa, where it remained to the end.
Grandma McWilliams died full of years; but also abounding in
faith. Only two days before her death, her daughter-in-law, Mrs.
Reece McWilliams, with whom she lived, heard her singing an old
Psalm of praise to God. Thus lived to the end one of Mahaska
county's oldest and noblest pioneers. Very appropriately could
her pastor, the Rev. C. D. Loehr of Oskaloosa, select the same
text which was used for Mr. McWilliams' funeral sermon: "For
me to live is Christ, and to die is gain"--Phil. 1:21. The
funeral was held from the old Six Mile church at 2 p.m., January
5, 1916. Two of the children preceded their mother in death. Baby
Curtis died when but three; and Mrs. Ellen J. Woods after
reaching womanhood. Seven children still survive her. They are
John E. of Tacoma, Washington; Chas. L. of Oskaloosa; Phillip A.
and Mrs. Tirzah S. Rodgers of McKinzie, N.D.; William E. of
Rockwell, Texas; Mrs. Ada L. Thomas of Brookfield, MO; and Reese
H. of Beacon, on the old home place. Besides the children, there
are twenty grandchildren, and twenty-two great grand-children,
who follow in the train of this noble woman, and who, with a host
of friends and neighbors have been blessed by her almost ninety
years of consistent living. Mahaska County bows in reverence at
the passing of this noble pioneer.
[transcribed by J.D.P., February 2005]