Isabella "Belle" (NAUGHTEN) McWILLIAMS

NAUGHTEN, MCWILLIAMS, RABB

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 12/17/2008 at 18:53:07

The Mount Ayr Record-News, 1922

AGED LADY BURNED to DEATH.

The shadow of deep sorrow settled over the community last Saturday morning when the fact became known that Mrs. Belle McWILLIAMS had been found dead at her home in the north part of the city, having been burned to death. Less than a half hour before she was found her sister, Mrs. Jacob RABB had been to her home and she was then well and in her usual good spirits. How the accident which resulted in her death happended (sic) will never be know. Mrs. McWILLIAMS, who was eighty-seven-years of age and afflicted with rheumatism, was in the habit of using a coal oil lamp and it is presumed that her clothing caught fire from the lamp, which was standing upright near the body. The floor was covered with linoleum and this prevented the house from burning.

The funeral was held Monday afternoon at two o'clock from the United Presbyterian church, conducted by Rev. W. L. TORRENCE assisted by Rev. Jay KIRKENDALL, and the body was laid to rest in Rose Hill cemetery [Mount Ayr].

Isabella, daughter of James and Nancy McNAUGHTEN, was born at Utica, Ohio, November 29, 1836, and died at Mount Ayr, Iowa, December 16, 1922, thus being past eighty-six years old. She was the eldest of six children. Samuel and Elizabeth have preceded her, while Mrs. Hettie RABB, John and James with other relatives remain bereft.

Mrs. McWILLIAMS was of the conservative covenanter stock, reared faithfully in the knowledge of the sacred word. She acknowledged Jesus Christ as her Savior and joined the Convenanter church at Utica, Ohio, when sixteen years old.

After being in the west about two years she was married in February 1879, to Mr. Samuel Telford McWILLIAMS. They made their home at Indianola, Iowa, about three years then moved to this county in the fall of '82. Their home was four miles north of Mount Ayr until the death of Mr. McWILLIAMS, AUgust 9, 1908. Since that time she has made her home in Mount Ayr. She was a woman of strong Christian character. While on the farm she was with her husband members at the Wishard CHapel. In Mount Ayr she was a loyal member of the United Presbyterian church. We shall miss her but we believe our loss is her gain in the presence of the Savior.

NOTE: Samuel Telford McWILLIAMS, husband of Isabella "Belle" (NAUGHTEN), was born on October 24, 1839, and died August 9, 1908 with interment at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr. Hettie A. (NAUGHTEN) RABB, Belle's sister, was born in 1840, and died in 1923 with interment at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, 2008