Mills County, Iowa
Family History Stories

Mother Lee's Experience
In "Fifteen Years' Rescue Work" with Thrilling Incidents of Her Life

"I have chosen you and ordained you that you should bring forth fruit." John 16:16
Come, let us go and find them, In the paths of Death they roam;
At the close of day, 'twill be sweet to say, "I have brought some lost one Home."
Omaha, Nebraska, 1906

As the children grew older, I found it more difficult to care for, feed, clothe and keep the older ones in school.  We decided to find them a temporary home at the "Soldiers' Orphans' Home," which had been opened at Glenwood, Iowa.  I took four of them, together with eight other children, and while staying for a day or two with them, I obtained a promise from the superintendent, William Hale, that as soon as a vacancy occurred which I could fill I should be sent for.  How glad I was when the summons came for me a week later. This necessitated separation from my baby, only one year old.  He was too young to be kept in the Home and my mother kept him until such time as I could have him with me again.

My husband found employment about the Home and several years of comparative freedom from anxiety followed.  I could be with my children in sickness and see them every day, and contented myself with this.  At this place a daughter, Sadie, was born to us, who took hold on my heart as Belle had on her father's.  To say she was my idol fails to express one-half of what she was to me, and when God in His mercy, seeing my unfitness for such a charge, took her to Himself, I was for a time bereft of reason.

I rebelled, declaring that there was not a God of love, justice, or mercy; but that He did this to show his power.  When I found that she was really gone, that I should never see her again in this life, and in the state of mind in which I then was, I had no hope of meeting her in the life to come, better thoughts came; and there by that little mound I promised to live so that I would meet her again. 

I had but little idea of the course I must take to attain to this, I was very ignorant of the great plan of salvation; but at this time, had I had the right teaching, I would have given my heart to God and my life to His service.  As time went on I grew more reconciled and quite as careless as ever.  The little Richard that came to us soon after filled in a measure her place and our removal to Missouri Valley, Iowa, caused the sad event to gradually become indistinct.

The children were sent home on the removal of the Home to Davenport, Iowa, and I again began the struggle for the necessary things of life.  The boys were not yet able to do much, and our family now had eight members. 

I found many friends, some of whom I heartily wish I had never met.  God pity and save other women situated as I was from such friends. I finally opened a boarding house, and by working early and late managed to exist.  We soon tired of the constant responsibility of this place, and moved thence to Omaha, Nebraska. Only two years more and I was a widow.  My husband had been on a visit to his parents and I was sent for, to go to him.  I could not leave home at the time, and so sent word to have him brought to me, and the condition he was in on his arrival would make hearts sad that were unused to such a feeling.  The whole lower body and limbs were paralyzed into helplessness.  He never took another step.  He lived some time in this sad state to bemoan his awful fate, tears running from his sightless eyes at his helpless condition, knowing he must die soon, leaving his young family without means and his wife broken in health and courage.  We cared for him in those days as well as possible.  No sacrifice was too great for any of us to secure his comfort.

Rev. J.P. Roe was a friend indeed at that time.  He was able, by the grace of God, to help our dear patient to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.  Husband died July 23, 1876. We took the beloved clay to Glenwood, Iowa, and laid it away in a soldier's grave, where, year after year the flag for which he fought waves over him, and the flowers, of May, show that he is still appreciated and his memory kept green in the hearts of those that knew that he as much gave his life for the country he so dearly loved as those who died shouting victory on the field and fell there with face to the enemy.

He no more hears the volly fired at each recurring Memorial Day over the nation's honored dead.  His ears are closed to the rolling of the drum and the shrill whistle of the fife that call to the minds of his veteran comrades the days of strife and struggle, of bloodshed and death, but he will hear the sound of the trumpet on the resurrection morning and come forth to meet Him who is his Redeemer, and the loved of earth from whom he parted with such reluctance and from whom he has been separated so long.

Notes from Alyson Grupp

(The only two places I've found info about people in the Orphans' Home are the census on the Mills County site and in this book. According to the book, the census was probably inaccurate in two places:  

• First, Laura is really Laura Belle (she was called Belle), and her age is probably closer to 4 than 6.
• Second, Mary Lee, Cook should read Martha Lee, Cook

  Shortly after her father's death, Belle, who had inherited his weak eyes, was sent to the same Institute for the Blind as Mary Ingalls. Her mother was much relieved to have Belle well cared for at the Institute. She is listed on the 1880 census. She remained there till her marriage to William Franklin Groseclose (b. 4 May 1861) on September 5, 1886 in Omaha. They had 11 children. Belle died in 1918 in Fallsville, AR, and was buried beside her mother in Sunny Lane Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  

  Submitted by Alyson Grupp