Ringgold Record
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa

Adelaide Jemima OSBORN, daughter of George and Jemima Belle OSBORN, was born in New York City April 5, 1853, and died at her home in Mount Ayr April 17, 1926, aged 73 years and 13 days. Her father died while she was a baby, and at the age of seven, death very suddenly called her mother, leaving the little girl alone at Red Hook, New York. No relatives coming to claim her, she was within a few days adopted by Orison GRAVES of Red Hook, and with this family she lived until her tenth year when because of financial and domestic difficulties this family was broken up. The little orphan was placed in the New York Juvenile Asylum and remained there throughout the winter. In April of 1864 she was brought to Monmouth, Illinois, with a large group of orphans [orphan train] and here she was adopted by Thomas AVENEEL. She remained with this family until she was 18-years-old; then she came to Mount Ayr where she enjoyed a very happy home with Rev. William BROWN, first pastor of the U.P. church.

She taught one term of school in this county, and then on August 11, 1874, she was united in marriage to Capt. Robert F. ASKREN, who died in March of 1909. She was the mother of four children, all of whom survive her; also a loving grandmother to ten grandchildren. The children are Dr. D. L. ASKREN, of Fayoum, Egypt; Mrs. Mame PALMER, Robert H. and Louise, all of Mount Ayr.

Mrs. ASKREN was baptized in the Old Trinity church, New York, while an infant; in the GRAVES family she was an attendant at the Lutheran church; after coming to Mount Ayr she united with the U.P. church, and in this church was an active devoted member to the day of her death. During a few years she transferred her membership to the Presbyterian church in order to have a church home with her husband, and for five years she was an active worker in the South Methodist church in St. Joseph, Missouri. She so often said "I love to serve the Lord." To the day of her death she had an abiding faith in her Lord, a great love for her family and many friends, and an active interest in affiars of the day.

The funeral was held at three o'clock Sunday afternoon at the United Presbyterian church, being conducted by the pastor, Rev. W. L. THORNBURG, and the burial was in Rose Hill cemetery. The funeral was largely attended and the floral offerings were profuse and beautiful.

During her illness Mrs. ASKREN was appreciative of the thoughtfulness of friends and expressed the wish that thanks be expressed for the many letters, cards and the flowers received from friends. The family wishes to express thanks to the neighbors and friends for the kindly offers of assistance, for the sympathy so generously bestowed and for the floral tributes.

Transciption by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2010

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