Eliza Ann Farris (SNELLGROVE) MICHAEL

SNELLGROVE, MICHAEL, STULL, PRICE, WALLER, SACKETT

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 12/17/2008 at 19:40:55

The Mount Ayr Record-News, 1931

OBITUARY - MRS. ELIZA MICHAEL.

Mrs. Eliza MICHAEL passed away to her heavenly reward at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Roy STULL, in Poe township, Wednesday evening, October 21, 1931, at 10:15.

She had been in declining heath for some time with liver trouble. She with her daughter, Maggie and husband, had gone to spend Sunday at daughter Lizzie's home, when she was taken very ill and continued to grow worse till Wednesday night, when she passed away at 10:15. All that medical skill could do was done, but to no avail.

Her six children were with her all the time and she rallied Tuesday evening long enough to recognize and put her arms around each one and call them by name and told them she wanted to see them all again.

Mrs. MICHAEL's maiden name was Eliza Ann Farris SNELLGROVE, daughter of Samuel and Susan SNELLGROVE. She was born in Tennessee February 5, 1849, being at the time of her death 82 years, eight months and 16 days. When a child she moved with her widowed mother to Illinois. There she married to John H. MICHAEL, December 24, 1871, and came to Ringgold county six years later in a covered wagon and settled in Poe township, where they resided 44 years till the death of her husband April 14, 1921. Later that year she moved to Mount Ayr, where she had since resided.

To this union ten children were born, three dying in infancy. Those growing to manhood and womanhood were: Mary E. PRICE, who died November 3, 1928; Ida B. WHITE of Mount Ayr; Maggie M. WALLER of Osceola; Bertha G. SACKETT of near Redding; John H. and Ernest of Leon; and Lizzie STULL of Poe township. There are also 22 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

She and her husband together united with the Baptist church in Mount Ayr with about 42 years ago. She was alsway a loving wife to her departed husband and wonderful mother, as all her children testify.

Her children and friends weep for the loss of one of the noblest examples of christian character, one whose ideals came near perfection and whose daily life and humble ministry was a reflection of our Lord.

There is but one consolation and that is that death is not an end in itself, but it is a place where streams of life are merged into the ocean of eternity. It is but the turning path in the endless path of existence.

Not now but in the coming years,
It may be in the better land
We'll read the meaning of our tears,
And there sometime we'll understand.
Why what we longed for most of all
Eludes so oft our eager hand,
Why hopes are crushed and castles fall,
Up there sometime we'll understand.

God knows the way; He holds the key,
He guides us with unerring hand,
Sometimes with tearless eyes we'll see
Yes, there, up there we'll understand.

Funeral services were held at the Baptist church in Mount Ayr Saturday afternoon, at 2:30, conducted by the pastor, Rev. C. J. HAMILTON, and interment made in Rose Hill cemetery [Mount Ayr beside her husband].

NOTE: John H. MICHAEL, Eliza's husband, was born in 1845. Of Eliza and John H. MICHAEL's children: Maggie M. (MICHAEL) WALLER was born in 1880 and died in 1966, interment Maple Hill Cemetery, Osceola, Clarke County, Iowa; Bertha G. (MICHAEL) was born in 1883 and died in 1938, interment Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, the wife of L. W. SACKETT; and John H. II was born on May 25, 1887 and died November 1, 1962, interment Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, 2008