REGISTER OF
OLD SETTLERS
BOOK ONE
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MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA REGISTER OF | |
Source: REGISTER OF OLD SETTLERS , BOOK One, page 175
submitted by Neal Carter, Aug. 14, 2007
Death of Mrs. H. Q. Jennison
Aug. 21, 1885Muscatine heard with great suddenness and surprise last evening of the death, at Golden, Col., of Mrs. Henry Q. Jennison, formerly of this city and for many years one the leading members of its society. The news was received by a dispatch from Mrs. Rebecca Cass to Mr. Geo. D. Magoon, simply stating that the death took place Monday night and that the remains would be brought to Muscatine for funeral service and burial.
In an interview to-day of a JOURNAL representative with Mrs. Col. Kincaid, sister of deceased, she remarked that the sad intelligence was a great shock to herself and other relatives here, as no word had been received of Mrs. Jennison’s illness, and that probably no particulars would be known until the arrival of Mrs. Cass.
Deceased was born in Pike County, Ohio, where her youth was passed and where she wedded the late Henry Q. Jennison. She and her husband removed to Iowa, at Muscatine, then Bloomington, in the spring of 1839 and here they made their home until subsequent to the war when their residence was transferred to Kansas. Since Mr. Jennison’s death, Mrs. Jennison has spent most of her time in residence with or near one of her daughters, in Kassas or Colorado, though occasionally renewing old associations by visits to Muscatine. During her last visit, made some two years ago, she was contemplating the establishment of her abode in this city, and the pleasure of this anticipation was still lingering in the hopes of her numerous circle of friends here, when blasted by yesterday’s dispatch.
Mrs. Jennison belonged to the distinguished Virginia family of Steenbergen, and her mother’s sister was the wife of Governor Lucas, the first Governor of the Territory of Iowa. Deceased was one of a family of five sisters, all of whom were prominent in Muscatine society, they being Mrs. Wm. Miller of the Island bluff road, Mrs. David R. Warfield, Mrs. George Porter now of Algona, Mrs. Col. G. W. Kincaid. Of them, only the last two survive, the oldest and youngest of the circle. Deceased also leaves three surviving children – Mrs. Rebecca Cass, Mrs. Louisa Greenhouse, and Walter Jennison.
There were few among the early settlers of Muscatine who brought to the pioneer town so bright an impersonation of eastern society as Mrs. Jennison. She possessed a remarkable cheerfulness, wit, social tastes, a fine address, and the Steenbergen spirit of hospitality. She early joined in the organization of the Congregational society and was among the most prominent and active of Dr. Robbin’s parishioners. She was sympathetic with and helpful of all movements tending to social and benevolent progress, and was one of the earnest members of the Ladies’ Aid Society during the war. Her death will come as a personal loss to a large circle of friends in Muscatine. She died in her seventieth year, aged 69 years, 8 months and 23 days.
The funeral will take place from the Congregational church in this city, to-morrow (Thursday), at 2:30 p. m.
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