Phillips, Maria Wise – 1806-1894

ALLFREE, BAIR, MORRIS, PHILLIPS, SCARBROUGH, WISE

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 10/19/2010 at 10:40:55

Marie Phillips died at the home of her son T. R. Phillips, in this city, on Sunday morning, January 7th 1894, aged 87 years, 9 months, and 14 days.
Maria Wise was born in Frederickburg, Pa., March 24th, 1806. She was married to Henry Phillips, of Steubenville, Ohio, October 6th, 1826.
During a revival meeting at that place about the year 1836, conducted by the noted evangelist, Lorenzo Dow, she, with her husband, was converted, and united with the Christian church of which she remained a faithful member for over fifty-seven years, and died in the blessed hope of the full realization of all the gospel promises.
In 1840 the family moved to Knox county, Ohio, where they built up a home in what was then the frontier district of pioneer life. In April 1860 they retired from the farm and active farm life and took up their residence in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. On March 25th, 1876, after a union of over fifty years, Grandma Philips was called to give up the chosen companion of her youth and husband of half a century.
In June 1884, she came to Jasper Co., Iowa, the most of her children then residing here. Here she has made her home with her son, T. R. Phillips, spending much of her time with her other children, with whom she was closely surrounded.
On Christmas morning she was taken seriously ill with la grippe, and the weight of years was too great for medical skill and kind hands to overcome. A struggle for two weeks enabled disease and death to overcome the frail body, put the spirit rejoiced in the midst of affliction and triumphed in the hour of death. It had long been her heart’s wish and desire that she might leave this world of sorrow and tears and go to that better land, there to meet the loved ones gone before and to receive her everlasting crown. She was a very patient sufferer and had no fear of death. She has made an exchange of age and infirmity for endless youth and blessedness.
Ten children blessed this union of half a century, seven of whom grew up to man and womanhood, and five of them were permitted to attend at her bedside and administer to her wants during her last illness. The children are Mrs. Elizabeth Scarbrough, of New Lisbon, and Mrs. Mary Ann Bair, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio; Wm. H., Thos. R., and Harry H. Phillips, and Mrs. J. W. Allfree, of Jasper County; and Mrs. Martha J. Morris, of Warren County, Iowa. There are 23 grand and 14 great grandchildren, while the entire family from Grandma Phillips down numbers sixty-seven. The funeral services were held at the residence of her son T. R., conducted by Rev. Aylesworth, of the Christian church, who was her last earthly pastor, assisted by Rev. Harrah, of the Congregational church, and was attended by nearly 40 of her own family and a large number of friends and neighbors.
She had given many directions regarding her burial and had made with her own industrious hands most of the clothing in which she was laid to rest. Nearly two years ago she made the request that the husbands of her six married granddaughters should act as her pall bearers, and the request was carried out. She was to be buried by the side of her husband in the family lot in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and was to be accompanied from Newton by two of her children.
After the services at the house the body was sealed in a metallic casket, and her son Harry and daughter Mrs. Allfree started on their sad journey.
Source: Newton Herald; January 19, 1894, page 1