Hannah M. (OGDEN) SLENTZ

SLENTZ, OGDEN, ROYCE, HUBBARD, FELIX

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/9/2009 at 13:48:41

The Mount Ayr Record-News, 1932

DEATH CLAIMS AGED AND RESPECTED PIONEER WOMAN.

Another aged and most highly respected pioneer woman of Mount Ayr was called by death Friday night when Mrs. Hannah SLENTZ, widow of the late G. A. SLENTZ, pioneer merchant of Mount Ayr, passed peacefully away at her home in southeast Mount Ayr. She was 79 years of age and, while frail of body, was enjoying her usual health and retained her faculties of mind until the end, which came peacefully and without warning.

The death of Mrs. SLENTZ marks the passing of one of the community's best known women and one whose friends were numbered by her acquaintances. For many years she was associated with her husband in the SLENTZ store and after his death continued the business and with the assistance of her brothers, the late J.E. and Geo. E. OGDEN, and trusted friends closed out the stock in an orderly manner before retiring from the active business life of Mount Ayr.

Funeral services, conducted by her pastor, the Rev. Dr. Jesse JOHNSON, were held Monday afternoon at 2:30 at the United Presbyterian church and interment was in Rose Hill cemetery. The following obituary was read at the service:

Hannah M. OGDEN was born on July 8th, 1853, at East Liverpool, Ohio, where she grew to womanhood. She received her education in the public schools of East Liverpool and in Mount Union College, Alliance, Ohio.

She was the only daughter in a family of five children, having one brother older and three brothers younger, than herself. The mother died when the daughter was but sixteen years of age, and the care of the family fell upon her young shoulders. The testimony of those who knew the family at that stage comes down to us, to the effect that no mother could have been more gentle and faithful in caring for the family and guiding the boys than was this young sister of theirs. All four of the brothers grew into good and useful manhood. They have all preceded her in death.

She became the wife of George A. SLENTZ, originally of Beaver, Pennsylvania, but of Mount Ayr at the time of marriage. They were married at East Liverpool, Ohio, on November 23d, 1881, and came to Mount Ayr, where Mr. SLENTZ was engaged in business. The home was here until the death of Mr. SLENTZ on February 6th, 1920. Since that time Mrs. SLENTZ has spent some winters with relatives, but Mount Ayr was her home continuously until she entered the eternal home about midnight, July 29th, 1932, at the age of 79 years and 21 days.

In early life she united with the Presbyterian church in East Liverpool, and when she came with her husband to Mount Ayr she became a member of the United Presbyterian church.

It was at her home that the Women's Missionary society of the congregation was organized on March 13th, 1883. She conducted the devotional exercises at that meeting. In her passing the last one of the charter members of the society enters upon the heavenly service.

Together with her husband while he lived, and not less since his passing, she was a faithful, active helper in the church's work, and was always interested in enterprises that look to the upbuilding of God's Kingdom and the glory of her Lord.

Gentle, unobtrusive, happy, loveable, helpful, she leaves to a large circle of friends a memory fragrant of the finest flowers and fruits of christian character.

Relatives from a distance who came to Mount Ayr to attend the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. H. L. ROYCE and daughter Nina and Mr. and Mrs. Willis ROYCE of Creston; Mrs. A.B. OGDEN and Ben OGDEN and family of Des Moines; Mrs. Clara HUBBARD of Lincoln, Neb.; Mrs. George E. OGDEN of Auburn, Ind.; Glen FELIX of Chicago, Ill.

CARD OF THANKS.

For the kindness of neighbors and friends at the death and funeral of our loved one we are profoundly grateful.

- THE RELATIVES.

NOTE: George A. SLENTZ, husband of Hannah M. (OGDEN), was born in January of 1852, the son of John and Mary E. SLENTZ, and died February 6, 1920 with interment beside Hannah at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. George's father John SLENTZ was born in 1822, and died August 20, 1902; and his mother Mary E. (?) SLENTZ was born in 1823, and died August 17, 1902; both interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr.

Hannah's brothers were George E. OGDEN, born March 15, 1866, and died in 1927; and John Elmer OGDEN, born March 16, 1863, and died in 1924; both interred at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, 2008